Renewal and Recovery: Archbishop Charles Chaput's Address to the National Catholic Bible Conference

Was catching up with the latest news out of Rome via the Zenit website and came across a keynote address given by Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver to the National Catholic Bible Conference which was being held in his archdiocese. You can find that address here.

As I read this I thought about the "debate" we had in my backyard on the 4th of July regarding nationalized healthcare and the "fireworks" that took place. (NOTE: I will not debate that here!). But people are talking about the evening news, newspapers, CNN, Fox News, etc. The point being that they make time to watch these talking heads and sometimes can't give an hour each week to our Lord, let alone crack open a Bible on a daily basis (including myself some days!).

I would encourage you to read the address, especially how it so aptly refers to renewal and recovery. And in particular, renewal of ourselves first before we worry about the rest of the world. Archbishop Chaput writes, "Yet, Scripture tells us that 'while he was yet a boy, he began to seek the God of David his father' (2 Chron 34:3). Here's the first lesson that I want to highlight. To renew the Church and the world we need to begin with ourselves. It's tempting to see the moral problems of the wider culture and want to begin there, outside ourselves, focused on others. But all authentic reform begins within our own hearts."

I encourage you to read the address and please submit some comments!

God Bless! Ken