Enlighten Hearts Ministries

  Ah yes, to keep up with the Jones’ with the latest and greatest fandangle gleaming thing that is out there is simply meaningless. Just to get the latest technology, best house, the newest house will wear us out and lead us into the poor house – also known as debt. Envy – One of the Deadliest Sins Envy – one of the deadliest of the 7 deadly sins – is the desire for other people’s things. Simply speaking, it is hatred of other’s good fortune. And yes, sometimes others get the cool stuff first; but it still burns at you from wanting it. Those that act on the impulse tend to be robbers: handsome gentleman thief , classy sexy cat-burglar , or a rough highwayman . Let us not forget the jealous girl or the crazy jealous guy and the fairest of them all. If they can't get it the first time, and the many times after that, then it may escalate to murder. Envy vs. Jealousy Envy and jealousy are often confused. They are polar opposites and one does not depend on the ...

Gluttony and Catholic Living: Sin, Temperance, and Marian Intercession Gluttony: No Such Thing as Sin in Moderation A few days ago, I was watching one of my wife’s and my favorite shows—a competition where the most talented make-up artists gather to showcase their skills. When the host announced the next spotlight challenge , themed around the Seven Deadly Sins , the contestants squealed and giggled with excitement. Their reaction reminded me of something a music video host once said: “A little lust, pride, sloth, and gluttony—in moderation—are fun, and that’s what keeps your heart beating.” Today, I want to focus on one of those sins: gluttony . From pop culture’s playful take to the Church’s deep wisdom, the heart of the matter is clearer when we name what gluttony actually is. What gluttony really means In today’s culture, gluttony is almost always associated with overeating. Many religiou...

       When I was speaking with and partaking in fellowship with several brothers and sisters in Christ, a point came up that no one was sure of. While there were discussions in trying to define the term, there was no clear answer. So they asked me to put in words what the essence of the term is—without commentary. Just the facts. Here is a condensed explanation, followed by a Catholic response. Historical Background      The controversy surrounding Lordship Salvation goes back to Arthur W. Pink’s sermon Present Day Evangelism (circa 1953). It was then picked up in the September 1959 issue of Eternity magazine, which asked: Must Christ “be Lord” in order to “be Savior,” or both?      Later, Charles Ryrie addressed the issue in his 1969 book Balancing the Christian Life (pp. 169–181). The debate gained significant traction in the 1980s with John F. MacArthur Jr.’s The Gospel According to Jesus . The Protestant Debate ...

Scripture Reading "For by grace you have been saved through faith , and this is not from you; it is the gift of God—not from works, so no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8–9, NABRE) 🌿 Reflection The mystery of justification is not something distant or abstract—it touches the very heart of our daily walk with Christ. The Council of Trent teaches that justification is both forgiveness and transformation :    “not only a remission of sins, but also the sanctification and renewal of the inward man” ( Council of Trent, Session VI, Chapter VII ).   God does not simply declare us “not guilty” and leave us unchanged; He pours His grace into our souls, renewing us from within. This means that salvation is not only about being pardoned—it is about becoming a new creation in Christ (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:17 ). Think of faith as the seed planted in the soil of our hearts. By itself, a seed is small and hidden. But when nourished b...

  Joyful in Hope – 3rd Sunday of Advent “When John heard in prison of the works of the Messiah , he sent his disciples to Him.” – Matthew 11:2 (NABRE) Advent is a season of joyful expectation, a time when hope is not a vague wish, but a firm conviction rooted in Christ . The readings remind us of a bright future, one that may seem utopian, yet is grounded in God’s promises. Christian hope stands in sharp contrast to despair . It resists the temptation to “cop out” through escapism —whether in addictions, destructive habits, or resignation to meaninglessness . Hope teaches us how to confront depression and suffering : not by denial, but by kneeling before the Father who reigns “over the world of the stars,” as Beethoven’s Ode to Joy so beautifully echoes. Consider the friend who faces terminal illness . Without hope, one might say, “We all die sooner or later.” But Christian hope proclaims there is more to come. Death is not the end, but the doorway to eternal life ....

Work as Vocation: The Carpenter of Nazareth Scripture • “The laborer deserves his payment.” — Luke 10:7 (NABRE) • “Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others.” — Colossians 3:23 (NABRE) Reflection When dawn breaks and we begin our daily tasks, whether in an office, a workshop, or at home, we enter into a sacred rhythm. Work is not merely a transaction of hours for wages; it is a vocation, a calling to participate in God’s creative plan. Pope Leo XIII, in Rerum Novarum , reminded us that labor is dignified because it reflects the Creator’s work. Christ Himself labored as a carpenter in Nazareth. His calloused hands and hidden years of toil sanctify our own efforts. Every spreadsheet, every meal prepared, every act of service can become a prayer when offered to God. Work is transformed from drudgery into devotion when we see it as a path to holiness. Application Begin each morning by consciously offering your work to God. Treat colleag...

Family and Work: Catholic Justice in the Home Scripture “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” — 1 Timothy 5:8 (NABRE) “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they may not become discouraged.” — Colossians 3:20–21 (NABRE) Reflection The true measure of work is found in its fruits: the sustenance and stability it provides for families. Pope Leo XIII insisted that wages must be just, sufficient to support a household. Yet beyond wages, family life is sustained by love, sacrifice, and mutual respect. Picture a mother preparing meals, a father returning weary from work, children learning and growing under their parents’ care. These hidden acts of service are sacred. They echo the Holy Family of Nazareth , where Mary and Joseph labored quietly to nurture the Child Jesus . Family is the first sch...

Justice in Society: Catholic Reflection on the Common Good Scripture “Learn to do good. Make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.” — Isaiah 1:17 (NABRE) “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness , for they will be satisfied.” — Matthew 5:6 (NABRE) Reflection Work is not only personal or familial—it shapes society. Pope Leo XIII urged governments and communities to protect workers, promote fair wages , and encourage associations that defend dignity. Justice is not an abstract concept; it is bread for the hungry , dignity for the laborer , hope for the oppressed. Imagine a bustling marketplace: some thrive, others struggle. The prophet Isaiah cries out for justice, reminding us that faith must be lived in action. As Catholics, we are called to hunger and thirst for righteousness, to stand with the poor, and to ensure that economic life serves the common good . Justice in society begins with small acts: fa...

✝️ Christ's Leadership 2nd Sunday of Advent (Cycle A) Christ is the answer to life’s most troubling questions. When a nation’s leaders are corrupt, its people inevitably suffer. Humanity faces many problems that stem from a lack of true leadership. In the days of Isaiah (c. 800 B.C.), the Hebrews longed for a leader, an ideal king who could restore the nation and bring back the peace and prosperity of King David ’s time. Jesus Christ is the God-given Leader who came to establish God’s kingdom on earth — “a kingdom of truth and life… a kingdom of justice, love, and peace.” The Spirit of the Lord — a Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, and reverence — rests upon Him: “The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD.” — Isaiah 11:2 , NABRE “Justice shall flourish in His time, and fullness of peace forever.” While we know th...

There is an axiom that says—surely you’ve heard it and probably lived it:   **“If anything can go wrong, it will.”** This brings to mind what God shared with the world:   "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."— John 16:33 (NLT) As a Minnesotan once said to me, “Yah, sure. You bet yah!”   Take it from personal experience: as surely as the sun rises in the East, you will hit times of trouble. This isn’t how God intended life to be, but when humanity first fell for the serpentine seduction , the planet fell into the stranglehold of sin. Ever since, disorder and dysfunction have ruled. Trouble is a reality—plain to see. But peace? That’s the elusive one.   It’s fascinating that in the same breath God warns of trouble, He also promises peace. Why? Because He has overcome the world. The Greek word for “overcome” implies something that happened i...

         The other night I was watching an old Western on TV. The opening long shot was that of a ranch somewhere in the Southwest . The land parched and dusty. There was an old barn with a rickety windmill that stood alongside a pump supplying the whole ranch. Where the farm was, there was nothing for miles and miles—just more parched, dusty land.      The windmill worked just fine since either a farm hand or the farmer would manually turn the windmill’s vane until it faced directly into the wind. Once aligned, the windmill began to pump water to sustain the ranch. There is an interesting parallel here.      In my local neighborhood, there is a very large chain home improvement store. As I walked with my wife, our attention was caught by the sound of a display of many hanging chimes , tucked away in a remote aisle far from the garden center. They were all different sizes—from a few inches to a couple of feet—and a fan blew on the...

  T he process of separating the chaff of the wheat is called winnowing.  The chaff is blown away by the wind by the person shaking the winnow back and forth.  This picture is used by Jesus to frame the prediction of Peter’s denial , and the great upheaval he and the disciples would face when their Master (i.e. Rabbi ) is being led away to the cross.  This is what He says to Peter: “ Simon, Simon! Listen! Stan has received permission to test all of you, to separate the good form the bad, as a farmer separates the wheat from the chaff .  But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail.  And when you turn back to Me, you must strengthen your brothers .” – Lk. 22 31-32 (GNT) Satan, like an old roaring lion, wanting to destroy his faith will, shake Peter to the core of his being.  Knowing of Peter’s weakness, the Master assured him by saying that He has prayed for him so that his “ faith will not fail .”  Being stubborn and in spit...