Kevin Muico

One of things that stuck with me early on in my Theology classes was when one of the professors said all dogma/doctrine is Christocentric - it always points to Christ.

Today's Office of Readings has this principle on full display. We celebrate today's feast - the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary - because finally "this radiant and manifest coming of God to men most certainly needed a joyful prelude to introduce the great gift of salvation to us."

Happy birthday, Mama!

Yesterday, I was reading Marcel LeJeune’s A Beginner’s Guide to Missionary Discipleship, and he struck a chord when he said that “most [people] need to be loved into the Church, not argued into it.”

As someone whose near occasion of sin is getting into random Twitter/Reddit/Facebook arguments in “defense of the faith”, I felt called out specifically by LeJeune’s reflection! Often, I find myself thinking that my reasoning alone is sufficient. That if I argue well, people will have their own Pauline Road-to-Damascus conversion where they will see the error of their ways (cf. Acts 9:1-7).

First, that’s hubris. I am not God (duh). Second, my words and actions are not to the level of a theopany! My crafted statements and deeds are not a physical manifestation of God, even though at times I act and think like it is. Last, while it is true that God can make use of my words and reasoning to communicate the truth, it is still not at the level of a theophany. So why should I act like it is one?

Today’s gospel (Jn 15:12-17) takes LeJeune’s reflection up a notch! Jesus sets the condition of what it means to be called his friend — it is if we… keep his commandment, to love one another as he has loved us (cf. Jn 15:12, 14). How did Christ love us? By laying down his life for us, his friends. (cf. Jn 15:13) Quoting Gregory, Aquinas adds this to his commentary, “the branch of a good work has no life if it is not united to the root of charity.”

Thus, any evangelistic work, whether it is through words or deeds, for it to abide must be one that is rooted in love! To “not love [just] in word or speech but in deed and in truth” (1 Jn 3:18).

LeJeune, then, is, in a sense, correct that “most people need to be loved into the Church,” but somewhat falls short of what Christ radically commands and demands — to love one another as he has loved us (cf. Jn 15:12). To truly be Christ’s friend and follower, it must be in the keeping of his commandment to love one another. In other words, building on LeJeune, people need to be loved into the Church, not just argued into it.

ONE DOWN. TWO TO GO. I HOPE.

Many sleepless nights,
waking up in the small hours of the morning,
often from nightmares of missing the deadline,
various opened books throughout the house,
drowning in word-vomit,
plagued by formatting issues,
and grammatical errors that never seemed to end.

But now, I finally hit that submit button! I haven't the faintest idea if this paper will even be accepted, let alone get a good grade, but we celebrate dubs whenever we can!

One Master’s thesis – DONE!

WHAT DID JESUS DO ON HOLY SATURDAY (Lessons from an ancient homily)

The Lord's descent to hell are not just words we utter every Sunday. It is part of the creed — a core belief. It is a fulfillment of God's promise to our forebears.

Hence, Jesus' first order of business was to proclaim the good news of salvation and extend the invitation to those who had longed for him ages ago. This is what the Apostle meant when he said, "Death has lost its sting"(1 Cor 15:55). Death no longer has a claim on God's people, including those who had been claimed before the Incarnation.

Love was not shackled by death. Love has overcome.

A meal brought us death; a meal will bring us life.

This is what is being offered tonight.

This is what is being offered at every celebration of the Eucharist — the bread of life, Jesus.

GIFT

Today, I celebrate the gift that is my wife, !

She is kind, constantly sees the good in people, generous beyond measure, loving, and won't suffer fools (myself included)!

I thank the Lord for the gift that is Tisa. Who makes my life beautiful and always keeps me grounded and also on my toes!

I love you ! I pray for more blessings upon you (and also lots of travel ahead)!

FINALLY ON SUBSTACK

After many drafts, I’ve finally gathered enough courage to post on Substack! I’ve long known that a late‑afternoon coffee guarantees a very late night. It turns out last night’s sleeplessness was providential, because I actually managed to write enough without dumping every tangent that crosses my mind into a single post.

My first post holds a special place in my heart because it’s all about my latest obsession — pizza! What does pizza have to do with today’s Gospel? You’ll have to read it to find out… and maybe subscribe to my newest venture on Substack while you’re at it!