Catholics, Don't Be Afraid to Stand Your Ground

My husband's parents are on vacation - and we're dogsitting their two little poodles. Our labradoodle is not dealing with it very well.

Oh, it's not that he lacks hospitality. It's more like he has permitted the visiting dogs to take over the place. They yip and he dodges out of the room. They charge at him, and he backs away from the food bowl. The labradoodle is around 60 pounds. Together, the toy poodles can't weigh more than 10 pounds - tops.

I want to tell Max to stand tall. Don't let them chase you away from your own food bowl or frighten you away from your place at my feet. You belong here. You were here first. This is your home, Max! You don't have to act all superior around them, but you could act like this is your home. Stop being a wimp.

Too many Catholics have the Max Syndrome.

When proselytizing Protestant Christians come around, some Catholics run for the hills. They become intimidated. They are suddenly unsure of themselves, afraid they can't defend the Catholic faith sufficiently, and so they hide in the shadows and let the Evangelicals take over the place.

Sometimes, I wonder if Jesus feels like telling some wimpy Catholics to stand tall. Don't let them chase you off. Don't let them frighten you away from your place at my feet. You belong here! This is your home. You don't have to act all superior around them, but you could act like you belong here. Because you do.