The Common Cup

At this point, most Churches have suspended their services, not just the passing of the common cup.  There are two thoughts on this.  One side is happy that measures have been taken to promote public safety.  One side is angry about the lack of faith.  

I am reminded of the story of St. Benedict, who was given a cup of poison wine to drink.  The cup shattered and St. Benedict survived.  God protected him.  However, our Lord said not to put The LORD our God to the test either.  

Part of me feels like they are behaving like historical Central American Natives who were poisoning their water supply with human sacrifices.  Because people were getting sick and dying, they increased the sacrifices.   Don't misunderstand me; God can choose to save us.  But, we are also not to tempt God.  

We shouldn't assume that God will act when we drink the poison wine.  It's a hard one.  The one side is asking, "How can we close a Church in this time of need?"  I get that, but my own faith is far from strong enough to heal.  

Continuing to offer Mass or Communion in packed public places without being Moses or Peter may put people in harms way.  At that point, you may just be throwing more bodies in the well, so to speak.

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220

The numbers coming out of Europe and out of Italy look a lot worse than what China was reporting.  By my calculations, CORVID-19 will end up claiming the lives of about 220 million people worldwide, which is much worse than The Spanish Flu was.  God help us. 

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Hope and Strength

I read the 81st Psalm tonight.  It hit the nail on the head for sure.  It gave me hope.

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My Love of Baseball

The seed was planted in 1989, two games between the Expos and the Pirates in Montreal at the Big O.  I was treated to a game or two by my father.

I became a hockey nut in my late teens.  I viewed baseball as an American game.  It took hold in 1993 with the Canadiens Stanley Cup win.  Hockey was Canadian and something to be proud of.

In 2004, after I was already pissed off about the Forum being destroyed to make more money, the season was cut short due to a lock out over money.  I was so disenchanted that I have not watched an NHL game since.

In the absence of the Stanley Cup playoffs, I began watching Spring Training MLB games.  The Jays were the local team.  I became a Jays fan.  They sucked a lot for many years, but I hung in there.

The Red Sox became my Post Season team, and I was treated to several World Series winning seasons.  I really became a baseball fan.  I have four teams now, including the Dodgers and Cubbies.  

I love the numbers.  I love the metrics.  I love the duel between the pitcher and batter.  I love the psychology of the duel.  I love how the funner on first changes the game.  I love how the National League rules change the game.  I love inter-league games.  I love baseball.

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Psalms 88:2-7 NRSV - let my prayer come before you; incline - Bible Gateway

I read (really I chanted) psalm 88 last night.  The beginning seems much more ominous now among CORVID19 fears.  I feal that I can empathize with the psalmist.  

ALMIGHTY GOD AND FATHER keep us safe in this time of trouble.  Protect us and our loved ones from the pandemic that threatens us.  I ask these things in the name of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms+88%3A2-7&version=NRSV

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Yup

Another night, another sex dream, maybe it has something to do with my birthday.  On the positive side, it reminded me of flicker.com again.

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What If

...the Great Filter that explains the Fermi paradox is wet markets?

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