First 2009-2010 Watermark Boom Sizzle!

Though summer is over, Boom Sizzle(TM) is back and in full force!

As usual, for the first one of the year, we go big and do it potluck style.

All high schoolers are invited to come and join in on the fun.

Parents are invited as well. We will be having a separate Parents Meeting

during the course of the festivities.

To recap:

Who: You!

What: First Watermark Boom Sizzle of 2009-2010

When: Saturday, 9/19 from 6:30PM - 10:00PM

Where: St. Clare's Lower Church

Food Assignments:

YAGs - Main Dish/Salad

Seniors - Main Dish

Juniors - Appetizers

Sophomores - Desserts

Freshmen - Drinks

Hope to see you all there!

Proverbs 18

The fool takes no delight in understanding,
but rather in displaying what he thinks. ~ Proverbs 18:2

I was struck by this verse because sometimes, it's really important for me to display what I think. Sometimes I need to display what I think by getting the last word in or other times I do it because I want people to see how much I know. The author is pretty smart because in both cases, the display is more about asserting myself than trying to understand the situation or the other parties involved. Both of these can be deadly in a romantic relationship...

The words of a talebearer are like dainty morsels
that sink into one's inmost being. ~ Proverbs 18:8

Haha, this sounded like a positive thing when I first read it, but then I realized that I wasn't sure what talebearer means. According to the free dictionary, talebearer means: "One who spreads malicious stories or gossip." So then malicious stories and gossip are like dainty morsels that sink into one's inmost being? Yikes! From experience, I agree with that. I think that's one of the reason why gossip is often described as "juicy." It's so tempting to want to hear and then when we hear it, it can be sort of pleasurable, which is probably why it's so tough to curb. Gossip can be positive ("oooh, did you know that this person is dating that person?") or mostly negative ("omg, did you see what she wore today? it's so like last season and i was like o_O"). ...

One of the reasons I think it sinks so deep is because it hits at the core of who we are, but in a way that betrays how God wants us to be. The pleasure comes from comparing ourselves to others and we are comforted because at least we're not that bad or at least other people are like that too. It also gives us a semblance of power and control because we're "in the know." If we realize these things, then we must beware the talebearer's words because they're like that extra cupcake when you're on a diet.

He who finds a wife finds happiness;
it is a favor he receives from the LORD. ~ Proverbs 18:22

I thought of celibate priests first when I read this. But then I realized that this applies to them too! They marry the Church! And they have TONS of spiritual children! w00t! Colin, care to elaborate?

We'll be singing this song on Saturday...

Just kidding... =)

can't. look. away.

No More "Yahweh" in Songs

The CNS (Catholic News Service) reported that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, specifically signed by Cardinal Francis Arinze (prefect) and Archboishop Malcom Ranjith (secretary), has directed that we no longer use songs with the word "Yahweh" as part of the Catholic worship experience.

"As an expression of the infinite greatness and majesty of God, it was held to be unpronounceable and hence was replaced during the reading of sacred Scripture by means of the use of an alternate name: 'Adonai,' which means 'Lord,'" the Vatican letter said. Similarly, Greek translations of the Bible used the word "Kyrios" and Latin scholars translated it to "Dominus"; both also mean Lord."

For the whole article, go here:
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0804119.htm

Like I've said in CM class, the name of God is thrown around all too lightly these days. "OMG!" and "Jesus H/freaking Christ!" immediately come to mind (what is the "H" all about anyways?). We often don't think anything of it or else if we do, we think it has no bearing on the sincerity of our faith. But like a lie that's told over and over, after a while, simply by osmosis, we start to believe it. In a culture where God sometimes gets reduced to a cosmic Santa Claus or more popularly, Buddy Jesus, it seems to me that we could use a little more reverence in our Spiritual journeys. I was taking an Old Testament class at USC and I had a Jewish professor who whenever she would write "God" on the board, would write it "G_d." When we asked why she did that, she explained that she revered God's name so much that she considered it disrespectful to even erase it.

Though at first glance, this directive might seem a little ridiculous, I'm thankful that the Church is reminding us that the names of God should be given a second thought.