As Saint Paul wrote; “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been ineffective. “(I Corinthians 15:10). I was born on a Sunday and delivered by a nun. The grace of baptism entered me twenty-seven days later. My faith was strong at Confirmation and throughout my teens but there were some fallen away years ending in my mid-thirties. I came back to the church twenty-three years ago with a grateful heart.
I returned to the ministry of lector shortly after joining Saint Paul’s Parish where I am still a parishioner. I am also a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus, former District Deputy and current Grand Knight of the Father Patrick Peyton Council based at my parish in Scranton Pennsylvania. I promote Catholic causes, especially human life and religious freedom. Daily, I’m amazed though no longer surprised, as God uses flawed sinners like me to inform others.
The third chapter of the Letter of James warns us that not many of us should become teachers. It was my privilege to know a great Bible Teacher, Father Robert Barone. He always said “I am just a student.” Our word disciple from the Latin discipulus translates the Greek metheta meaning learner. Since we are all disciples we are also students. If we study the Bible, we become students of it and obtain the gift of its knowledge. Knowledge is meant to be shared. Only in that spirit should we teach or write. By nature, and training, I am an historian. I don’t teach for a living but do hold both a B.A. and Master’s Degree in History. After decades of learning the ways and word of God, I now hope to share my observations through publication of my essays. Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam!
