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23 Jan 2026

 

What’s The Answer ?

I am fascinated by the Mysteries of space, with its trillions of stars, the movement of planets and asteroids (some of which threaten Earth, such as 2025SC79), and the infinite wonders of Creation.

One example of these incredible realities is the "runaway" supermassive black hole which flees its host galaxy at 2.2 million miles per hour. Yale’s Pieter van Dokkum says this is the first confirmation of a runaway supermassive black hole. Staggering questions arise:

• Into what does this black hole flee? More space?


• This black hole travels at incredible speed, so how vast must be the area - the “space” - into which it flees?


• As a result of this finding (and countless others), can the existence of Infinity be questioned?

The Mysteries of the Universe are all around us and within us, yet we seldom speak of these astonishing realities and the obvious implications of Creation for humanity.

But Wait . . . There’s More

Another example: astronomers spot a “flare” from a distant black hole … a “flare” brighter than 10 trillion (with a T) stars.

And this: the Webb Telescope sights an object which apparently originated a mere 700 million years after the “Big Bang.” This adds to our understanding the origins and ages of the earliest black holes (once denied even by cognoscenti).

The concept of Time is yet another challenge. We speak of years, months, days, hours, of Time itself, as if Time were under human control. But “Time” (i.e., before-and-after) is a human concept to give us a handle on the passing of our years, an indication of how profound are these Mysteries - and how little we truly know.

Some people mistakenly say we control Nature. They say we’ve smashed the atom, plumbed the depths of Earth, mastered useful compounds. We’ve even developed driver-less autos. We stand atop the pyramid of life, they say.

They forget that Earth’s life span is finite, and Nature is not always benign. For instance, the Cascadia Subduction Zone (on the internet) presents incalculable danger to our nation.

Beyond The Obvious

When I forget that I, too, am part of Creation, I read Psalm 8 and reflect on King David’s Truths about human nature; Truths which many people ignore, forget or deny. David reminds us that all of Creation is the work of God. It is God, not us, Who sets the moon and stars in place.

David asks: What is mankind that God is even mindful of us … and cares for us? Truth is, David continues, God crowns us with glory and honor; gives us a measure of control over the works of His own hands. God puts all things at our feet, even the beasts of the field and the birds of the air, the fish of the sea and whatever swims the paths of the oceans. And, David concludes: “Oh Lord, how awesome is your name through all the earth!”

I ponder these Truths … and then am I relieved (at least for a time) of temptations and distractions which clutter my ego. I am again reminded of the purpose of all our lives, as I re-discover Truths easily obscured in the busy-ness and travail of living. And when I am, once again, reminded of these Truths, I face, once again, the inevitable questions we all face:

• What kind of person do I choose to be?


• Do I choose a life of Goodness and Virtue?


• What values do I choose to honor in my heart?

Simple Truths Are Tough In Practice

The most befitting answers to these questions are, of course, found only (1) in the Spirit of Love and (2) in the application of the Virtues in our lives. No merely human approach to living will ever sustain our deepest needs and hopes. And, as T. S. Eliot wrote, the modern world still contains a fair number of people who still find that Christianity (especially Catholic Christianity) offers the most satisfactorily account “for the world and especially for the moral world within.”

Note well: We do live in a moral world. We are born to act as responsible moral agents. However, our choice of moral behavior is not forced on us. It is a life-defining choice we must make.

Creation offers evidence (if we need it) of the overwhelming reality of God, Who made us all. As His creatures, we are bound both by His Divine Will and by just human laws to avoid evil and do what is Right. We are bound by the moral demands and guidelines best expressed for us in the Christian Virtues.

The Moral View

The Christian life is summarized in the Spirit of Love, in our being a Loving Person who acts with true concern for others, not simply from fear or coerced obligation. Love is the essence of morality.

Sustained love (i.e., the Virtue of Charity) is not to be confused with consenting sex or tawdry “romance” which pop culture often portrays with errant intensity. Love is not simply a passing feeling or an ephemeral emotion. It is a personal decision of the will to think, to act and to speak for the good of others. A Loving Person works hard at being unselfish and expressing benevolent concern for others, even when others are unkind or indifferent. Even if he stumbles over and over again, the Loving Person perseveres.

What Critics Say

Critics of Virtue have said that these words are nothing more than a way to avoid “necessary” conflict, an excuse for weakness and cowardice. Loving others can, of course, be a painful, lonely path, often misunderstood by those who see violence as inevitable and who define humanity only in terms of fear and mutual aggression.

Certainly, the urge to hurt back, to avenge wrongs, runs deep in the human heart. But some people do get overly righteous and seek revenge for its own sake. Ridding oneself of such delusional motives is tough. Thus, to love realistically takes real courage!! Mother Teresa of Calcutta got it right when she wrote that to be real, our Love has to cost us something. Indeed, Loving others can hurt, especially when we confront our errant ego-centrism.

The Loving Person speaks Truth. He believes we are all children of the same Father. The Loving Person does not coddle his anger, nor steal or cheat. He values kindness and, though difficult, he forgives others, as God forgives him and us, when we repent.

Spelling It Out

The example and inspiration for all this is, of course, Christ. By His words, actions and miracles He shows His love for humanity, and He asks us to do the same.

Thus are Christians called to be a courageous light in this world, to love our neighbor and ourselves, despite misunderstandings and harsh critics. In the pattern of Christ, it is our duty to make the Love of God a daily experience. Christ is our example; He is the source of our becoming that Loving Person we strive to be.

So, again, let us be clear: Christian Charity involves disciplined love of God, one’s self and other persons. The Virtue of Charity (Love in action) has many ways to express itself to God, one’s self and our neighbors. Moreover, it is an essential guideline for every healthy society, just as it is an essential path for our personal choices to live as we are intended to live.

In Real Life . . .

What does all this mean in the real, day-to-day world? Here are additional practical examples of Charity - of Love - in action:

• We express our Gratitude for life, even when times are difficult and we’re nagged by loss, temptation and doubt.


• We do what is morally correct, not simply what is socially acceptable, politically pragmatic or ego-pleasing.


• We do not deprecate or humiliate anyone. Instead, we listen to others attentively with our eyes as well as our ears; we do not give in to distractions.


• We do not manipulate others to impress or to look good, nor do we exploit others for gain (no lying, cheating or stealing).


• We speak Truth, even when Truth is painful, for Love cannot thrive in an aura of untruth.


• We are never rude nor self-seeking nor hateful in our words, nor do we entertain anger or haughty pretense … nor do we brood over injury nor ponder ways to get vengeance.


• We accept accountability for our behavior and we take responsibility for what we say and do.


• We are patient and always kind, quick to admit our errors and our wrongdoing; quick to ask pardon when we offend.


• We avoid jealousy, snobbish behavior and envy.


• We do not give insult nor defend ourselves.


• We listen to others because listening may be more beneficial for us than protecting ourselves from hard truths. We may learn something even from angry persons, for Truth is not always smoothly offered nor gently given.

Finally . . .

To be a Loving Person asks much of us. But it is surely the way God intends us to be … and God knows what He is doing, even when we do not.

The path of Virtue is ever before us. Our imperfections may create doubt and denial … but the path of Virtue ever beckons, whether we choose it or not.

We are, of course, Wise to choose Virtue, Wise to do so with humbled heart and disciplined ego. We are Wise to trust God to sustain us as we persevere, despite our recurring doubts and the inevitable travail of loss and misunderstanding.

Above all else, then, our calling in life is to be a Loving Person. To this goal we are called – all of us. May we be Wise enough to act as Love dictates.