"The Hobbit": A Commentary by Fr. Barron

Biblical, Christian themes in "The Hobbit". Insightful; yet another reason to appreciate this work. I wonder if director Jackson or the actors are aware their work is bringing forth such a powerful Christian message, or how many of the audience get it.

What's With This Vampire Craze? Fr Barron Explains

I've been pondering for awhile this cultural fascination with vampire lore. I just don't get it. Here's the best explanation I've found so far.
 
http://youtu.be/0ChnQE7DO0U

Father Barron on The Financial Crisis

We’re $trillions in debt, an unimaginable number. Added to that is all our personal debt. Paul Ryan has come up with a budget, two years running that have been attacked, and it really only nibbles at the margins of the problem. If we just stopped what we’re doing now with the spending, and politicians stop stealing money from citizens to line their own pockets, pay bribes and and pay off their donors, three or four generations down the road our fiscal problem may be on the road to recovery. Parents and grand parents, you are enslaving your children and grand children. Is there any shame in this?

Money is also a moral issue. Is it moral for the government to confiscate nearly half of the income of citizens? Is it moral for half the population to support another half that doesn’t pay income tax? Is it moral to spend our great great grandchildren’s income and wealth so we can live large?

Fr. Barron on this issue:  

http://youtu.be/RwX1tPjOaVY

Father Barron: On Lent

Here's a brief explanation of Lent which serves as a good reminder for Christians and a clear explanation for non-Christians. 

http://youtu.be/Vm3JK7JYAKs

Pope Benedict- "Love in Truth", The Great Commission, Government and the Church

Recently Pope Benedict published an encyclical and there was much furor over a part of it suggesting there be a world governing body, a “Global Authority”, to balance economics and charity; for a more equitable distribution of wealth globally. It set every conservative’s and capitalist’s mind on edge. Governmental authority with the best of intentions always corrupts and oppresses and has the force of law, man’s, not God’s. I would rather we live according to God's law, natural law, based on a foundation of prayer. Governments have secularized themselves, denounced God, and theirs' is a more dangerous greed than that of capitalist as a result. They have the force of secular man made law we are forced to obey. God at least gives us free will; we ignore it at our own peril.    

The Catholic Church, like the Episcopal Church has, in the West, found itself in a minority. The largest numbers of members are in the southern hemisphere, in “developing” countries, seeing the West as decadent, uncharitable, oppressive and greedy. Protestants, my tradition, has embraced that liberal notion while at the same time often not living up to the giving and sacrifice they espouse; let someone else, like governments, do it by confiscating money from producers. Not so far from what the encyclical was stating.  

I watch to struggle in the Catholic and Episcopal churches between members in Asia and Africa and the Western church. Non-Western churches embrace the traditions about divorce and contraception (Catholic view), homosexuality, female priests and ministers and the rest. Western churches, both Catholic and Protestant are ignoring or jettisoning those traditions. The Episcopal church is on the verge of splitting in two. Demographics show nearly two thirds of Catholics are in developing countries, and I suspect the encyclical was for that audience. Mainstream Protestant denominations have been toying with these Marxist views for awhile, diluting the “Great Commission”. If Protestants would practice the Great Commission they wouldn’t need to be compromising and diluting their Christianity by letting the State do, with much failure, corruption and damage, what they themselves should be doing.

I’ve written on being “radical” in our practicing the Great Commission here. I do have my own personal challenges with walking the Great Commission confessed here. 

Here’s Fr Barron on this latest encyclical “Caritas in Veritate” 

  

http://youtu.be/LhlwPgUkwWE

What's so disturbing about this discussion is Christians are turning to secular, often anti-Semitic, anti-Christian governments to do the work of charity and care that should flow from their own love and hearts. 

Fr. Barron Comments on Movie "Of Gods and Men"

I watched this film last weekend. It speaks to the truth of Christianity and its meaning.

http://youtu.be/fWLTZqzK6XU

Fr. Barron Comments on Celebrating Bin Laden's Death

This is a tall tough order. I think I can pray for the man, but love him?

http://youtu.be/hlRtlJnLN68

Certainly we shouldn't celebrate his death.

Protestantism, Catholicism and Authority

Another great thought piece by Fr Barron. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWYwBDqFsuE

I have a profound distrust of anyone in authority of anything. The officials of a sporting event are being critiqued by the fans (congregation) so the abuse of power is severely limited. Protestant ministers have only moral authority to go on, and many are kicked to the curb when the congregation finds them saying and doing the wrong thing, making the wrong calls. There was a pro basketball ref, one of the most respected of all time, that after many years, got caught making wrong calls on crucial plays for financial gain. If it weren't for fans, the congregation, demanding constant monitoring of the refs and umps, would that ref have been caught? Or would the officiating hierarchy give him a pass? I don't know so much the inner workings of the priesthood of the Catholic Church, but looking in I see slow movement when it comes to correction or punishment.

I do see, in my Protestant tradition, congregations turn away, and whole churches and ministries go down because a pastor says and does wrong. It seems more of a direct democracy, a direct cause and effect. I like having a direct say in whether or not a Protestant "religious authority" can remain as such, and not have the hierarchy decide, exclusively, the fate of that pastor or other authority.

When this comes to preaching and teaching word of God, or interpretation, I think Fr Barron is right. These are people that have dedicated their lives to this. God uses the layman too, and sometimes He uses that person to correct the Pastor or Priest. 

Like I said, once again Fr Barron gets us thinking.