Television

I thought last night was somewhat of a lost cause. I came home from work and was tired from a late night the night before staying up to watch Notre Dame lose to Texas A&M in the Women's NCAA championship game.
I sat in front of the TV and turned on cable crime shows. Subconsciously I probably feel life is outta control and I like things wrapped up when the bad guys get their just punishment. Or maybe it is just that the heroes are cute and I like to watch the underlying tension of romance. I am not a psychologist. However, both of my choices had Catholic themes in them . Surprise! Grissom, a character from some TV show met the character of a priest who recognized him as a lapsed Catholic and invited him back to the church. I was disappointed in the script that Grissom got the last comment and walked out and away from the altar, but I have thought about his line. It was the standard excuse that he believed in God but didn't want to be told what to do by a religion. The old pride of knowledge and self-importance that keeps so many people away from the Faith. We think we know better than the Word of God, looking to ourselves for the answers thinking we are bigger and better than God, defining Him in human terms because we do not have faith that He is more than we could ever comprehend. 
On today's date in Sacred Space, the Irish Jesuit website, there was perfect response to this character's problem. I  include it here:

Some thoughts on today's scripture

• Our churches rely on structures, on theology, liturgy and human organisation. Jesus puts all of these in perspective by reminding us of our need to come to him for life; only when we do this will our structures have meaning.

And how do we come to Him? I hear, "Oh, I find God in nature." Truly, how often do you go out and search for Him there. Do you spend quality time in searching for God in the trees and the flowers ? I would bet it is a fleeting thought on the way from A to B in a busy life. How do you know the voice of God unless you spend time listening to Him. I know from experience it takes a lot of time to recognize it and even then the evil one tells lies so close to the truth in order to move us away from God in the battle for our soul. Life is not easily lived. Why rely on the limits of human self when there is the gracious and loving God and His Word and His Church to help you through?

I also spent some time with Bones . The character Booth is a Catholic and there are often discussion between his character and another re: the faith. I like it. There is no preaching.  I don't think his character is written to live the faith fully, but respectfully having a Catholic character is better than  shows full of people who do not address their faith at all.

Writing of faith, today's Writer's Almanac informed me that today is the birthday of Buddha and people in Japan have traditionally dress his statues in flowers as it is a day of gratitude. I am trying to imagine places like the many shrines I visited while there now destroyed by the tsunami and earthquake, a landscape without flowers and people moving through the tragedy of great loss . I pray they may have gratitude somewhere in their hearts.Gratitude is a path to healing.

Catholic Relief Services is providing help to the people of Japan. I have donated. I believe in their ability to get my money to the people who need it.