F
ather
B
arron
From page 6
though unthematically accepted throughout much of
contemporary western culture. How many people -- es-
pecially young people -- today would casually hold that
the determination of ethical rectitude is largely if not
exclusively the prerogative of the individual? That’s the
fruit of eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil.
Just after the fall, the first humans realized that they
were naked and sought to cover themselves. I would
interpret this, not so much as shame, but as deep and
preoccupying self-consciousness. When we acknowl-
edge that goodness and value lie outside of ourselves,
in the objective order, we look outward, forgetting the
self; but when we are convinced that our own freedom is
the source of value, we tend to turn inward, protectively
and fearfully.
What is fundamentally the problem, spiritually
speaking? Why, deep down, are so many of us so unhap-
py? There is no better guide to answering these ques-
tions than chapter three of the book of Genesis.
Father Robert Barron is the founder of the glob-
al ministry, Word on Fire, and the Francis Cardinal
George Professor of Faith and Culture at University of
St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein. He is the creator of
a new ten episode documentary series called “Catholi-
cism” airing on PBS stations and EWTN. Learn more
about the series at
The Annuciation in Lent
By Philip Kolin
In the midst of Lent
nine months before Christmas
an angel comes with tidings of wonder--
a Savior, the Christ, Emmanuel
will be conceived within a temple virgin
who knows not man but does talk to God.
Her child is both:
the cost of Lent,
the radiance of Easter.
He will wear flesh
to be clothed like us
and feel envy’s biting sting,
calumny’s smarting slap.
He will taste the kiss of betrayal.
But for now the angel woos a girl
with joyful eyes who prays and sews;
the only caress she has known
comes from winsome clouds
and rainbows spelling her name.
But her Yeshua will fill
this empty world with words
his father will love to hear:
I am amongst them.
Philip C. Kolin is the University Distinguished
Professor in the College of Arts and Letters at the
University of Southern Mississippi and the Editor
of The Southern Quarterly. He is a parishioner of
St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Hattiesburg.
T
yphoon
H
aiyan
From page 3
The Margates returned to Tacloban at the end of
January to check on the house and make some minimal
repairs. But they plan soon to return to Cebu, where they
have rented an apartment and plan to enroll son Antho-
ny, 11, and granddaughter Frances Lhoreigne Margate,
6, in school. Life in Cebu is much more stable, said Em-
manuel Margate, who is retired from Eastern Visayas
State University, where he taught mechanical engineer-
ing for 30 years.
The Margates will keep their house in Tacloban. Em-
manuel Margate said he hopes he and his wife can save
a little money in the hope of repairing the place they
have called home since 1983. But a monthly pension of
11,900 pesos -- about $266 -- from the university only
goes so far.
Two adult daughters who work as nurses in Singa-
pore have been sending money to help with replacing
some of the possessions their parents lost. Another son
is planning to enroll in medical school after recently be-
coming a registered nurse.
The couple also owns a small home and small co-
conut farm about 45 minutes from Tacloban. The storm
also damaged the farm, uprooting about 80 percent of
the coconuts trees they own. One tree smashed into the
home there.
Emmanuel Margate said he prefers to focus on re-
building the farm and leaving behind the noise and
crowded conditions of the barangay.
“It’s time to restart our life,” he said.
Maria Margate, however, said she wants to stay in
the barangay, where she knows the people and feels
welcome. She does not want to abandon her friends
and neighbors. She sees signs of normalcy returning as
people reassemble their lives. She wants to do the same
with them.
“I love this place,” she told
CNS
.
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8
Gulf Pine Catholic
•
March 28, 2014
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oems
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ourney
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