Bible Lover's Blog , Conclusion, Matthew, Chapters 26-28 - 3/31/2026

Last Friday evening, Caroline and I watched Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. It was the first time I'd watched it since it was first released 20+ years ago. Watching it was uncomfortable. Really uncomfortable. At the cinematic depiction of Jesus's death on the cross, I found myself sobbing, weeping.

I love Jesus Christ, and I am unworthy of His death and suffering. He did it anyway. He is an awesome God.

My study of the Gospel of St. Matthew has taken place in three phases. First, I read the entirety of the Gospel in my Ascension Press Great Adventure Note Taking Bible. I tried to do a chapter a day, and I miss a couple, so it took right at 30 or so days. I chose Matthew as my starting point, primarily because it comes first in order published. No other reason than that.

After I had finished, making occasional notes in the space provided, and making some text highlighted, I started reading anew, this time in the St. Ignatius Study Bible. This study Bible is a masterpiece, and I encourage you, Catholic or Protestant, to check it out. If you're a Bible lover, this Bible loves you back. It often has more notes on a given page than it does Bible text! I have learned so much from it, and often I found myself back in my note taking Bible, either checking notes and highlight from my earlier reading, or making new notes and highlights from what the Ignatius has taught me. The notes in Ignatius often led me into the Old Testament, as various prophesies and foreshadowings of the life of Jesus were delineated for me. I know when I study those books: Psalms, Isaiah, etc., the highlights and references to Matthew will add a richness and beauty I didn't enjoy when reading previously.

During this time, as I was working through the Gospel for the second time, I learned of the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture (CCSS) series. It looked promising. I ordered the book on the Gospel of St. Matthew. I wasn't sure I needed it, considering all the other work I was already putting in, but I found myself thirsting for more understanding, more richness. I was immersed, not drowning. Also during this time, again and again the Liturgy of the Word at Mass included Gospel readings from Matthew, and Old Testament readings from the Book of Isaiah, whose prophesies are shown to be fulfilled over and over everywhere in Matthew.

So, about a month ago, I started the 370 or so page book from the Catholic Commentary series I just mentioned. This became a third time through the Gospel. The CCSS was really helpful, at times pointing out significance in choice of words and phrases, similar to how the Ignatius does, but often adding different explanation and or hypothesis as to what Old Testament or other cultural significance the author may have been trying to capture. In concluding my study with it, the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture added depth, richness, and beauty. And, as Lent was drawing toward Palm Sunday and Holy Week, I was coming to the conclusion of the book.

Matthew has 28 chapters, and the last three being Chapters 26, 27, and 28. These chapters comprise the Passion and Resurrection of our Lord, perfect timing as Lent was drawing to a close. Last Friday morning I read Chapter 26, then in the evening, we watched the Passion. On Saturday, Palm Sunday Eve (I've never actually heard it called that.) I read Chapter 27. Afterward, I told Caroline reading it was as if I was reading the script for the movie, so vivid and accurate is the imagery in Mel Gibson's brutal masterpiece. This past Sunday at Mass was Palm Sunday, and at the outset, in conjunction with the Introductory Rite, the Gospel of Matthew account of Jesus's entry into Jerusalem was read. Then, for the regular Gospel reading, the entire Passion narrative from Matthew. Between all my reading, study, and the movie, I found myself drawn completely into the Mass reading in a way that it hard to explain with mere words.

Yesterday morning I finished the Chapter on Matthew 28 in CCSS: The Resurrection. All tolled (told?), I've spent three months studying Matthew. I've gotten so much out of this study of this Gospel. I've fallen in love with it. I could do it all again. I really could. But the Bible is too big, and contains too much that I can't bypass to stay in just this one, beautiful book. I'll resume study with the Gospel of St. Mark in a month or so. I've a trip to Italy in the meantime. I hope to get through Mark and Luke this year, and then the Gospel of St. John before Easter next year. From there I'll have to decide if I shift to the Old Testament, or continue with Acts and some of the Epistles of the New Testament, which at the moment is how I'm leaning.

I'm going to depart in format from the first three installments here. Rather than to relate a whole lot of my study notes, I'll simply close with one line from each of the last three chapters that speaks to my faith in Jesus. Are there more than one important, meaningful line in each? Certainly. On a different day, I might, probably would choose different lines. But for this purpose I will continue to choose just one line per chapter.

Chapter 26 - Matthew 26:26-28 - "Take, eat, this is my body." ... "Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."

Chapter 27 - Matthew 27:46 - "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Chapter 28 - Matthew 28:19-20 - "Go therefore and make disciple of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the close of the age."

Prayerfully submitted. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Bible Lover's Blog , Matthew, Chapters 17-25 - 3/27/2026

St. Matthew Gospel Study, Part 3, Chapters 17-25

The Transfiguration, Jesus with Moses and Elijah 

This blog post is the third in a series of posts about my study of The Gospel of St. Matthew, after whom I am a namesake. My goal is to finish with a fourth post before Easter, hopefully by Holy Thursday, which isn't but a week and a day away.

I feel truly blessed that I was inspired to embark on this study. While there are many important and significant things that I've learned in my study of Chapters 17-25, in large measure the study has been more reassuring to me than anything else.

Reassuring how, you might ask? It has been reassuring in that it again and again reaffirms the faith I was formed with as a child is the faith I treasure today. Whether as a grade school kid and altar boy at the St. Patrick's Catholic Church on Staten Island, or at Monsignor Farrell High School, none of my study contradicts anything I previously knew or believed. I would say though, to any cradle-Catholic reading this who has NOT gone back as an adult and endeavored to take your faith to a higher level through Bible, Catechism, and reading inspired books specific to our beautiful faith, do it. Every day for me my faith deepens, strengthens, and grows. It's beautiful.

As a child, for the most part Catechism was about the stories and parables. And the stories and parables all had morals; they taught us important lessons by example of how to be good Christians and to live our faith. This deepening, strengthening, and growth takes all that to a different place. I feel more engaged at Mass, and more aware of the presence of God in me and in my life in the most beautiful ways. What follows are MY notes. These are things I found interesting or instructive in understanding this gospel. I do not pretend to be a biblical scholar, and I do not profess to have all the answers. If neither of those, then who am I? I'm just a guy who loves Jesus, the Bible, the Holy Catholic Church, and the Mass, in no specific order, as long as Jesus is always listed first.

One thing I've learned that I didn't ever really understand is how when Jesus foretells of the destruction of the Temple, whereas I'd always thought that referred exclusively to His own human death, that scholars believe it ALSO predicts the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans in the year 70 a.d. To use Johnny Carson's famous, frequently used, and well delivered line: "I did not know that."

Here is the methodology I am using in this study:

Methodology:

I have several main areas of focus for my studies:

1. To record the sequence of events and teachings across chapters, from Jesus’s birth through His death and resurrection. By no means do I intend to list every event, just the ones that I find help me have a sense of the flow and context of Jesus’s life as offered in the Gospel of St. Matthew. When I say main events that occurred, I include miracles.
2. The first appearance of key figures in the story of Jesus. I’m focused on “good guys” here, not the bad guys.
3. I’ll catalog Jesus’s parable teachings, including in which chapter each of the 20 parables is found. It may not be anything extraordinary, but perhaps by doing so I’ll gain insight into the evolution of Jesus’s ministry. I won’t try to re-teach the meanings, those are well done in countless books. For the purpose of this study my interest is the location within Matthew’s gospel.
4. St. Matthew goes to great lengths in his telling of the gospel to point out, either directly or by allusion, the ways that Jesus fulfills Old Testament prophesies, especially those of the prophet Isaiah. In preparation for my own reading and study of Isaiah at some point in the future, I’ll identify instances in the Gospel of St. Matthew where he references or alludes to Isaiah. Because the references and inferences to them are numerous, I’m going to include the Psalms, too.
5. I’m interested in instances in which Jesus’s actions institute Sacraments of the Catholic Church.
6. I’ll choose one line from each chapter that speaks directly to me about my faith in Jesus. Wherever Jesus is quoted, I’ll use an italicized red font. I like words of Jesus in red in my Bible, so why not in my notes here on my blog, right?

—————

Chapter 17 - Jesus's Godliness is Revealed in the Transfiguration

Main Events or Subjects:

• The Transfiguration of Our Lord - Jesus's divinity is shown to Peter, James, and John
• God the Father's voice is heard for the second time in Matthew, the first having been on the occasion of Jesus's Baptism at the end of Chapter 3
• Jesus foretells His death and resurrection a second time ( the first was Matthew 16:22) 
• Jesus heals a boy with epilepsy / a demon
• Jesus makes a coin appear in a fish's mouth

References from the Prophet Isaiah and Psalms:

• In Matthew 17:5, God the Father's words "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased" allude to Isaiah 42:1 "Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him..."

One Line That Speaks to My Faith in Jesus:

Matthew 17:5 - "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him."

God the Father affirms the divinity of Jesus, and commands us to "Listen to Him." That is a takeaway from Chapter 17 of major significance.

—————

Chapter 18 - Guardian Angels, the Church's Authority, Forgving in

Parables:

• The Lost Sheep
• The Unforgiving Servant

Main Events or Subjects:

• This chapter almost entirely comprised of Jesus's teaching.  For me His answer to Peter regarding forgiveness stands out. He asks should he forgive a brother who sins against him seven times. Jesus replies: "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven."

One Line That Speaks to My Faith in Jesus:

Matthew 18:18 - "Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

—————

Chapter 19 - Teachings of Jesus, Jesus Blesses the Children

Main Events or Subjects:

• Jesus teaches about divorce.
• Jesus blesses the children: "Let the children come to me and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."

Holy Matrimony - Matthew 9:3-12

• Jesus teaches on the indissolubility of marriage, referencing creation and declaring that what God joins, no one should separate, elevating marriage to a sacred covenant

One Line That Speaks to My Faith in Jesus:

Matthew 19:26 - "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

—————

Chapter 20 - Jesus Teaches, Foretells His Death and Resurrection, Heals Blind Men

Parables:

• Two Workers in a Vineyard 

Main Events or Subjects:

• Jesus foretells his death and resurrection the third time
• The mother of James and John asks Jesus to have her sons seated at his right and left hand in heaven
• Jesus heals two blind men near Jericho

One Line That Speaks to My Faith in Jesus:

Matthew 20:28 - "...even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

—————

Chapter 21 - Jesus Enters Jerusalem (Palm Sunday Narrative), Cleanses the Temple

We'll celebrate Jesus's entry into Jerusalem this Sunday: Palm Sunday

Parables:

• The Two Sons
• The Wicked Tenants

Main Events or Subjects:

• Jesus makes a triumphant entry into Jerusalem
• Jesus cleanses the temple
• Jesus scolded a fruitless fig tree, and it immediately withered

References from the Prophet Isaiah and Psalms:

• Matthew 21:4-5 refers directly to Isaiah 62:11 (partial allusion to Zechariah 9:9) - "Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'"
• Matthew 21:9 is partially quotes Psalm 118:25-26 on Jesus's triumphal entry to Jerusalem: "Hosanna... Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
• Matthew 21:13 refers directly to Isaiah 56:7 (combined with Jeremiah 7:11) - "It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer."
• Matthew 21:16 Jesus directly quotes Psalm 8:2 - "Yes; you have never read, 'out of the mouths of babies and infants you have brought perfect praise'?"
• Matthew 21:42 Jesus directly quotes Psalm 118:22 - "The very stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes."

One Line That Speaks to My Faith in Jesus:

Matthew 21:9 - "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest."

If you are familiar with the Catholic Mass and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, maybe like me you hear this passage and feel a compulsion to kneel. For those of you reading this who might not be familiar with our liturgy, it is after this verse is recited by the congregation that we drop to our knees for the consecration of the host and wine.

—————

Chapter 22 - Man's Resurrection, The Greatest Commandment

Parables:

• The Wedding Banquet

Main Events or Subjects:

• Jesus answer a question about paying taxes ( again the Pharisees are trying to trick Him ). Jesus says, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
• The greatest commandment

References from the Prophet Isaiah and Psalms:

• Matthew 22:44 Psalm 110:1 is directly quoted by Jesus - "The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand, till I put your enemies under your feet."

One Line That Speaks to My Faith in Jesus:

Matthew 22:14 - "For many are called, but few are chosen."

—————

Chapter 23 - Jesus Denounces the Scribes Pharisees

Main Events or Subjects:

• Jesus denounces the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees with the famous seven woes.

An interesting characteristic of Chapter 23 is that the chapter is comprised entirely of the words of our Savior, Jesus. In my "Words of Jesus in red Bible," all the typeface is red. Chapter 24 is almost as red, and Chapter 25, like 23, is all red.

One Line That Speaks to My Faith in Jesus:

Matthew 23:12 - "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

Chapter 24 - Destruction of the Temple, Coming Events

Parables:

• The Faithful and Wise Servant
• The Fig Tree

Main Events or Subjects:

• The destruction of the temple foretold
• Signs of the end of the age
• The coming of the Son of man and the need for watchfulness

References from the Prophet Isaiah and Psalms:

• Matthew 24:29 alludes to Isaiah 13:10; 34:4 - "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven."

One Line That Speaks to My Faith in Jesus:

 

Matthew 24:35 - "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."

 

—————

Chapter 25 - Parables and Teachings About Judgement

Parables:

• The Wise and Foolish Virgins
• The Talents
• The Sheep and the Goats

Main Events or Subjects:

• This chapter is comprised entirely of Jesus's words and teaching
• The judgement of nations

One Line That Speaks to My Faith in Jesus:

 

Matthew 25:40 - "Truly, I say to you, as you did to the least of my brethren, you did it to me." 

 

Having gone to school in the '60's and '70's, this verse conjures in me lovely memories of a hymn that was often sung at Mass in those days, Whatsoever You Do, which was written by a Father William Jabusch.

Whatsoever You Do

Whatsoever you do to the least of my people 

That you do unto me. 

When I was hungry, you gave me to eat; 

When I was thirsty you gave me to drink. 

Now enter into the home of my Father. 

Whatsoever you do to the least of my people 

That you do unto me. 

When I was homeless, you opened your door; 

When I was naked, you gave me your coat. 

Now enter into the home of my Father. 

Whatsoever you do to the least of my people 

That you do unto me. 

When I was weary, you helped me find rest; 

When I was anxious, you calmed all my fears. 

Now enter into the home of my Father. 

Whatsoever you do to the least of my people 

That you do unto me.

—————

"God thing" or "God wings" - 3/23/2024

I'm not due a blog post for a few days, but following on my recent post, "On Death and Dying," I want to recount an experience. Sometimes I've heard uncanny coincidences that pertain to spirituality as. "That's a God thing." More recently, and new to me, "That's on God wings." Is that what happened here?

Caroline and I attended the funeral of a dear friend, of the Jewish faith, in Phoenix last week. As part of her graveside ceremony, Psalm 23 was read.

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want;

he makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters;

he restores my soul,

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

for thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff,

they comfort me.

Thou prepares a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

thou anoints my head with oil,

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life;

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

for ever."

There's probably nobody reading this who hasn't heard these beautiful verses from Psalm 23, at least not from some translation of the Bible or another. I leaned over and whispered to Caroline that these verses are often used in our Christian funerals, too. I was truly grateful to hear them at Honey's funeral.

That was last Thursday, in Phoenix. AZ. Then yesterday, near St. Petersburg, here in Florida, I attended the funeral of Bobby Gamboa, a very special men for whom I have great fondness. The Catholic preacher (I don't think he was a priest, maybe a deacon, but not 100% sure.) gave a very nice funeral service at the cemetery. I admit, I was anticipating the 23rd Psalm of David. But, it didn't come. Maybe I was a little disappointed. I joined Bobby's family and friends in Largo afterward for a lovely post funeral repast. After an hour or two there, I got in my truck and headed home.

Once in the truck, I put on the Hallow app, and decided to listen to today's daily Mass readings, something I do from time to time. I really like the Hallow app, and if you're a Christian, especially Catholic, if you haven't been exposed to it, I highly recommend it.

The First Reading was a long one, from the Book of the Prophet Daniel. Quite long, actually, Chapter 13, most of verses 1-62. It's a story of a woman condemned without a full examination of the evidence. It foreshadows the Gospel reading, which was John 8:1-11, the famous story of the adulteress who Jesus saved from stoning by challenging the crowd, "Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." I'm pretty sure we're all familiar with the story. So, there was clearly a good correlation between yesterday's Old Testament and Gospel readings.

Guess what is read in the daily Mass between the Old Testament and the Gospel? Extra credit if you know... yep, you guessed it. It's a Psalm. I really was was disappointed at the funeral I'd just attended two hours prior, but here it was:

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want;"

Of course, right? Had to be. Yesterday's reading? Psalm 23! So, my question to you all is simple. I felt heard, even though I hadn't said it. So, lemme ask:

God thing/God wings or just a meaningless, silly coincidence?

Have a lovely day, friends. God bless us all.

And thank you God! In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

On Death and Dying - 3/22/2026

Caroline and I flew to Phoenix last week to attend the funeral of a dear, dear friend, someone of tremendous importance to Caroline. They were friends for over 35 years. Her death was premature and beyond tragic. For my beautiful wife, it's been devastating. For her husband, I don't know that there are words.

Monday, we'll drive up to Largo, about a hundred miles and two hours from here, to attend another funeral. This is the funeral of one of my dad's dear friends, someone of great importance to me. Just shy of 98 years old, he lived a long and good life, and was well loved. It hurts just the same. At 97, he has four beautiful daughters who love him tremendously, the way we all hope our kids love us. He goes away well loved, leaving with no question marks or doubts about that, and it is love that is the most important thing. He is and was loved.

Death. It happens to us. All of us. And when it does, the dead person is gone and those of us they leave behind have to deal with a new reality. We deal with our grief and loss. Caroline and I are watching Madison, on Paramount +. I'm not sure I remember a TV show that more directly deals with death of a spouse, parent, grandparent in a more open and painful way. I do recommend it. Michelle Pfeiffer is spectacular. She really is. I can only imagine how recently widowed people feel watching it. The rest of us, like Caroline and I for example, in long-term marriages and relationships, can't help but wonder how our own mortality will play out. Will I lose her first, or will she lose me? Will she be OK if I go, or will I be ok if she goes? We all face it.

A Catholic Funeral Ritual. (Wow the church looks empty!)

Olympia Dukakis had a great line in Moonstruck. At least I'm pretty sure it was, I couldn't find it via internet search this morning. She said something like: "All love stories end the same way: either boy loses girl, or girl loses boy." I got to be honest here. I'm planning on going to heaven. I'm banking on it. But I'm not ready to go there yet. I don't want Caroline to have to figure out how to manage without me. My mom has buried one son, I want her to live her late years without ever having to deal with another loss like the loss of Danny.

"She's in a better place."

"He's in Jesus's loving arms now."

"He's not in pain anymore."

"She's finally back with her husband, in heaven."

I get all of that. And I do believe in Jesus and I do plan to go to heaven and I do believe it's a better place. I do. But I'm just not ready. I don't feel like things are finished here.

Today's Gospel reading at Mass was John 11:1-45, the famous story of Lazarus. Lazarus had two sisters, Mary and Martha. And he must have been a pretty close friend of Jesus's, because like Caroline did last week in Phoenix, and like we will again at the funeral tomorrow, Jesus wept. Jesus wept. Think about it. If anyone knows about heaven and the "better place" we go to, isn't it Jesus? But, having fully taken on human life, Jesus shared the same human emotions we do. Even though he knows/knew of Lazarus's fate in the afterlife, he still wept, mourning the human loss. Luckily for Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, having the Messiah as your buddy does have its benefits, and Lazarus got a new lease on life. Not all of us get that.

In Madison last night, there's a poignant scene where Kurt Russel's granddaughter says she can't remember what her recently departed grandpa looked like. Shown a picture of him, she sadly but with childlike matter of factness says, (paraphrasing) "That's the only way I'll ever see him again, in pictures."

People leave. It's so finite. Sometimes it takes a long time for someone we love to die. Other times it's unexpected and sudden. In a way, it doesn't matter. It hurts. It just hurts. What really sucks is you don't get over it. You just get used to it.

Eternal life in heaven is a cornerstone of Christian faith. Jesus said (John 11:25-26):

"I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die."

I'm going to heaven. Planning on it. But keeping with the cinematic theme, I'll just say this:

"Heaven can wait."

Make the most of this most precious gift: life. Love one another fully and unconditionally, and love God with all your heart, soul, and strength. Be ready for heaven when you eventually do leave, but take good care and stay here as long as you can. The God who waits for us in heaven isn't constrained by space or time, so if you live to 105, you're not cheating Him out of anything, Live and love fully, and with all your heart.

For those who have left us, including our beautiful friend in Phoenix and our dear friend in Largo, and all the people we've all lost:

May they rest in peace in Jesus's loving arms. This I pray, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Politics and Catholicism - 3/16/2026

Short and sweet today. Caroline lost a dear friend on Saturday, and we're a bit stressed, disheveled emotionally, and trying to get ready to go to Phoenix for the funeral.

Catholic Bishop Robert Barron

In the last week or two, I've become aware of comments on current political issues from a Catholic Bishop named Robert Barron. Bishop Barron. What strikes me is how unabashedly conservative Barron is. I am quite used to almost every leader in the Catholic Church coming across as quite liberal... quite. This goes from the Pope on down. I did some looking for more info on this, because Barron's positions not only mirror my own, but because I rarely, if ever, hear anything similar from others. In doing so, I did find that as far as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) go, Barron is pretty much alone in some of his political views. Here's where something kind of hit me.

I am quite used to hearing leftist kinds of proclamations from our Bishops. Heck, Catholic Charities was one of, if not the single biggest active entity importing and transporting illegal immigrants into the U.S. heartland. But, it dawned on me. Rather than being happy, thinking "At last, a Catholic leader I can agree with!" Instead I felt that I was no more interested in Barron's politics than I am from all those lefties.

I understand that there are and will always be times when the Church's advocacy and my country's best interests are not aligned. The Catholic Church's primary mission is salvific: evangelizing mankind to know Jesus via the Gospel. What flows naturally from that is advocating and teaching us that we, as Catholics and as Christians, Christian Catholics if you will, should strive to be Christlike as best as we can. My country's border, sovereignty, system of government, and everything that goes into preserving the precious union of states, can and will at times, often even, be at odds with the Bishops. I can live with that.

I promised I'd be short and sweet today. I am fine with liberal Catholic Bishops. I understand who they are, and what they are advocating, and why. I'm also fine with Bishop Robert Barron, who it seems I often agree with. But the punchline is this: stick to the Gospel. All of them. Please. The more they keep their politics separate from executing the mission of evangelizing and saving, the happier I am and will be.

One more, last prayer request, please. My cousin Mark is undergoing very serious surgery today. I won't go into details to protect his privacy, but it's serious. If you could please also pray for Mark Miller, I would greatly appreciate it.

May God bless the soul of Honey Bonanno, and all her loved ones, and may he watch over my cousin Mark today in surgery and then all during his recovery. I ask in the name of my Savior, Jesus, the Christ.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Wes Huff, Mere Christianity, and an Important Message - 3/12/2026

I'm Catholic. Always have been. Am today. And I always will be. But I don't do apologetics. I've always been uncomfortable knowing that various groups of believing Christians are at odds with one another over doctrine, practice, and one another's traditions. Further, as a Catholic who is working hard to better or fully understand every nuance of my faith, my Church, and its teachings, rules, customs, etc., so often I see people who aren't Catholic who explain my Church, my faith, and what they presume that I believe incorrectly, I recognize that I can't possibly endeavor to inform or aid them to a better understanding, of which they had no interest prior, and I know that they certainly won't listen or respond open-mindedly to my explanations.

So, since I'm not into apologetics, making this post tonight wasn't on my bingo card. How did I get here, then, to be writing this piece? I was surfing YouTube day before yesterday, and I came across a video about a guy urging people to leave the Catholic Church. Here's a link to it:

Wes Huff comments on Catholics and Catholicism

I think it was real nice of Wes to at least leave the door of salvation open to some of us, despite being Catholic (sarcasm). As I said in my introduction, I am NOT an apologist, and I will NOT attempt to dissect Wes's assertions or counter his opinion. I'll simply say that it seemed to me a perfect example of someone who doesn't understand Catholicism who thinks he speaks with authority. A few times, I found myself thinking, "How did you and or the people whose teaching you follow come by the authority to speak of me and of my Church like that?" I felt my dander come up a little, to be honest.

I can iterate my faith in a nutshell: I believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: one God in three persons. I believe Jesus died for my sins, and rose after three days, thus creating a pathway to my salvation, the only price of which is faith. If knowing all that, someone, Wes Huff being the someone of the day, thinks my Church, the Catholic Church, somehow jeopardizes my chances of salvation, I'll tell you up front: I'm not just willing to risk it, I am committed to it. So, pray for me, or maybe just wish me luck if you think I'm going to need it. I'm all in. Don't look so aghast.

C.S. Lewis, in the Preface of Mere Christianity, nails this topic.

15 years ago, a good friend I worked with at UPS gifted me C.S. Lewis's classic: Mere Christianity. Lewis's explanation why he doesn't advance any particular denomination boils down to simply this (I'm paraphrasing here): To advance one denomination and make a case against another or all others seems a counterproductive act, as to him, and I agree here, while those discussions would seem to be of interest to Christians in deciding where to go to church and discerning where it is that they 'belong.' He makes the case that they might be what turns a tepidly interested non-Christian away from the idea of becoming a Christian at all. To reuse the word: it's counterproductive.

In the Gospel of St. Matthew, Chapter 16 verse 18, Jesus refers specifically to "His Church." Singular. He does not refer to "His Churches."

I'm not here to relitigate the Protestant reformation, nor to excuse away corruption and sinfulness in the Catholic Church in history, recent and distant, nor any in it today. I'm simply saying all that talk helps the Devil more than it helps Jesus. Period. Jesus call it, "His Church." When He calls it 'His Church,' He is speaking in the singular. Some of you may be reading this and presume that I don't understand what Jesus meant or intended. I'm going to accept Jesus's choice of words literally and, because of the source, as authoritative, important. I don't think God needs me to explain what He said in Matthew 16:18 unambiguously.

The Catechism of The Catholic Church gives 62 pages to its discussion of the Church.

Call me boring. I read the Catechism. When I heard Wes Huff the other night, I felt as if clearly, Mr. Huff hasn't read any of it himself. Something important at this point if you're reading this and you're NOT Catholic: the official stance of the Church is NOT that the only path to heaven is a Catholic one. If you hear a Catholic saying, "You're going to hell because you're a Baptist (of Lutheran or Methodist, etc.)," you're NOT hearing someone who's speaking accurately on behalf of the Catholic Church. I feel no differently about that than I do about what Mr. Huff asserts. It is rather magnanimous, though, that Mr Huff says some Catholics really do believe the right stuff and will go to heaven. Lucky us!

Ignoring the merits or demerits of their arguments, when I hear someone making the case that I ought to be going to church here, there, or some other place, what I really hear is a membership drive: "We need more of you in our church putting cash, check, or card into our collection basket, not that dirty, sinful collection basket you're putting your hard-earned in now!"

OK, lemme circle back and wrap it up. Here's my message to Bible believing, Jesus loving, faithful people, whether you call yourself an Evangelical, Baptist, Calvinist, Anglican, Catholic or whatever else: Let's all love each other and love God the way we're supposed to. I think I can make a pretty good case to explain why I choose Catholicism, but that is no slight to you, your faith, your church, or anything else. Denomination wars would indeed seem to be just exactly that. I think I can make a pretty accurate list of the types of corruption and sin that have plagued Catholicism, both in recent and distant history. Jesus said His Church would prevail against the gates of hell. Sinful and corrupt men have indeed so tested His Church. Unfortunate, but true. My Church has prevailed against denomination wars in the past, too. It will again now, and probably again in the future. There will always be someone who thinks they have a better idea: always has been, is today, and always will be.

May God bless and keep us all, even Wes Huff. 

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.