This One Made Me Chuckle

Via the Curt Jester:

If math were taught the way religion is taught in many (but clearly not all ) Catholic schools:

• How do you feel about numbers?
• Meditate on your favorite number, then write a paragraph about why it is your favorite.
• Choose a song and identify some of the ways in which numbers are present in it. Play the song for the class and lead a discussion about what the class thinks the song expresses about numbers.
• Which number is most present to you in your life today? Which number is most absent?
• We’re going to watch a movie. At the end of the movie we’ll discuss the ways in which numbers are explicitly and symbolically portrayed in it.
• What can you do to be more aware of numbers in your everyday life?
• What are your best and worst experiences involving numbers?
• Make a poster in which you creatively and colorfully depict a number of your choice.
• Although some numbers are called “greater” and others are called “lesser”, in what ways are all numbers really the same? In what ways can the “lesser” numbers be considered greater than the “greater” numbers, and in what ways can the “greater” numbers be considered less than the “lesser” numbers?
• Even though irrational numbers cannot be expressed as the quotient of two integers the way rational numbers can, explain how irrational numbers should be respected and considered to be no different from rational numbers.
• Explain how the traditional classification of integers as either odd or even is merely a social construct.
• Explain how every number has something good about it.
• Do you accept the way that previous generations have used numbers? How do you think numbers should be used? Is there a right or a wrong way to use numbers? What do you consider to be the most personally meaningful way to use numbers?
• How has the way you use numbers changed throughout your life? How do you think you will use numbers in the future?
• Explain why a diversity of numbers is good and what you can do to promote number diversity.
• Explain how multi-cultural approaches to numeral systems (e.g., Mesopotamian, Roman, Arabic) can enrich our appreciation of numbers. Also explain why no numeral system is better than any other system.
• You will have to do a group project in which each person contributes a number. Present to the class all the ways your group can relate the numbers to each other. Your presentation can be a PowerPoint or a video in which you creatively animate the numbers your group selects.
• Write an essay in which you pretend that you are a number. Explain what you think it would be like to be that number.
• If you believe in your heart or in your conscience that 2+2=5, does anyone else have the right to tell you that you’re wrong? Explain why we should avoid judging other people’s mathematical operations.
• Fractions are divisive. Can you think of better ways to express a quotient, without using divisive fractions? Is division something we should strive to do with numbers anyway?
• Explain why the labeling of numbers as either “positive” or “negative” is discriminatory, hurtful, and a manifestation of the bigotry of value-ism. How would you feel if you were labeled a “negative” number? What can you do to help end this kind of discrimination?
• Create a collage of numbers.

Comments

I'm going to turn the comments back on (you won't have to register with motime) and see how it goes.  The first time an obscene comment appears, however, I will have to go back to requiring registration.

The Big News

His Excellency, Paul J. Swain, Bishop of Sioux Falls, SD has appointed me Pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Garretson, SD and Associate Director of Vocations for the Diocese.  This assignement will be effective July 2, 2007.

I am grateful to the people of Holy Spirit Parish for their kindness and support and I look forward to serving as Pastor of St. Rose of Lima and serving as Associate Director of Vocations.

Please pray for me.

News Item

I have big news.  But I won't say anything about it yet.  I will be able to say more this coming Sunday, so stay tuned.

Homily: Sixth Sunday of Easter

There was a Pastor of a parish, oh, let’s say his name was Fr. Morgan, and Fr. Morgan was having a hard time with his congregation.  It seemed as though everyone disagreed with him on almost everything.  So, the parish council president said to him, “"Fr. Morgan, this cannot be allowed to continue. Come now, we must have a meeting so we can settle all areas of dispute once and for all." Fr. Morgan agreed. At the appointed time, therefore, Fr. Morgan, the president of the parish council, and the entire parish council met, sitting around a magnificent mahogany table. One by one the issues were dealt with and on each issue, it became more and more apparent that Fr. Morgan was the lone voice in the wilderness. The president of the Parish Council said, "Come, Fr. Morgan, enough of this. Let us vote and allow the majority to rule." He passed out the slips of paper and each man made his mark. The slips were collected and the president said, "You may examine them, Father. It is eleven to one against you. We have the majority." Where upon Fr. Morgan rose to his feet in offended majesty. "So," he said, "you now think because of the vote that you are right and I am wrong. Well, that is not so. I stand here" --and he raised his arms impressively-- "and call upon God Almighty to give us a sign that I am right and you are wrong." And as he said this, there came a frightful crack of thunder and a brilliant flash of lightning that struck the mahogany table and cracked it in two. The room was filled with smoke and fumes, and the president, and the parish council were hurled to the floor. Through the carnage, Fr. Morgan remained standing and untouched, his eyes flashing and a grim smile on his face. Slowly, the president of the parish council lifted himself above what was left of the table. His hair was singed, his glasses were hanging from one ear, and his clothing was in disarray. Finally he said, "All right, eleven to two. But we still have the majority."

It’s a funny story, but it shows us one of the constant tensions in a parish, but also in the Church at large.  There is always the question among those who consider themselves Christian as to who has the authority?  Who is it that speaks on behalf of God?  With so many varying interpretations of God’s word who is right and who is wrong?

We all know the problem.  How many times have we heard varying opinions on moral issues, all from people who say they are Christians and speaking the truth, but who are contradicting one another?  We have seen it over and over again with issues such as abortion, homosexuality, contraception, stem cell research, and a whole host of other moral issues.  There are people on both sides of the fence, all saying they are speaking the truth, but both sides can’t be right.  It’s a logical truth that something cannot both be right and wrong at the same time.  These things are sins or they are not, they are either ok, or not ok, they are either good or evil.  You can’t have it both ways.

So the question still remains.  Who do you trust?  The answer to that lies within our readings today.  In our Gospel we hear the risen Lord telling the Apostles that “the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.”  Here the Lord gives to the Apostles and their successors an amazing gift.  A special charism, or gift of the Holy Spirit, which will enable them to teach what Jesus taught and never falter in that reaching And because they are human and may forget, they are given, in a special way, the guidance of Third person of the Holy Trinity to constantly remind them of what Jesus taught and keep them faithful to it.

This gift is exercised by St. Peter, the first Pope, and the apostles united with him in our first reading.  We have in that reading a situation much like our current situation in the world.  There were people teaching contradictory things, both claiming that their position is the position of God.  So what did they do?  They turn to those entrusted with this gift of the Holy Spirit.  They turned to the apostles united with Peter; they turn to the bishops, united to the Pope. 

Peter in union with the Apostles render a decision and proclaim it in a way that may seem strange to a modern ears.  They say “It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us.”  Wow!  The modern world would say that it is rather arrogant for this group of men to say they speak on behalf of God himself, yet that is what we believe.  We as Catholics believe that the bishops united with the pope preach and teach the truth.  One could say that the voice of the Church when she teaches the faith is the very voice of God.

But to many, it seems so arrogant.  Well, the Church could be arrogant, or she might just be right.  But we can’t have it both ways, either she is right, or she is arrogant, and we must decide which side we fall on…and we can’t just pick and choose depending on the issue.  If the Church is inspired by the Holy Spirit then she is right about all issues not just some.  If she is right about abortion, then she also must be right about contraception.  If she is right about homosexuality, then she must also be right about an all male priesthood.  It’s an all or nothing issue. 

We, my friends believe that Jesus gave to the Church the Pope and Bishops to teach the truth.  We believe that when they speak on matters of faith and morals, they teach the truth.  We believe that this authority was given by Jesus to the Catholic Church, and to her alone.  If that is the truth, and it is, then as Christopher West says in his book entitled the Good News about Sex and Marriage applies.  He said “If Christ truly gave this authority to the Catholic Church, it’s not arrogant for her to exercise it.  If we’re honest, what’s arrogant is for us to think we know better than the Church what God’s will is in matter of faith and morals.

Today, as we gather here at this altar united in our common belief, let us ask for the faith necessary to listen to God’s word given to us through the teachings of the Church and fearlessly put it into action in our lives.

Eternal Rest Grant Unto Him O Lord

The Rev. Jerry Falwell, the television evangelist who founded the Moral Majority and used it to mold the religious right into a political force, died Tuesday shortly after being found unconscious in his office at Liberty University. He was 73.

I'm Back

Well, I made it back from my pilgrimage, and since I have already been harrased for not posting yet I figured I better do it.

The pilgrimage was excellent.  As soon as some pictures are available I will post them, until then you will have to trust me when I say it was a wonderful experience.