tim murphy
I love the Church. I truly do. I love the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church into which I was baptized over six decades ago. It is a love for which I cannot recall its beginning and for which I cannot imagine its end. It is a love for a Church that has given me great joy but in truth has also given me a great deal of disappointment, shame, frustration and at times even anger. But ultimately and most importantly it has brought me into relationship with God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And for that, I am eternally grateful. And it is this church for which I have great hope.
Of late, the question I have been wrestling with is how might I share with others my hope for our Church, how might I share my thoughts and experiences of this Church that I love, with others, be they among her faithful or not, or even should I? To the latter question, “should I?”, I recognize that I am not an ordained priest or deacon. I am not a theologian or a scriptural scholar. I am not speaking with any recognized authority or on anyone’s behalf. I am simply a baptized layman. But from what I know, through that sacrament alone, God has gifted all who are baptized sufficient grace to be priest, prophet and king. By virtue of this alone, with God’s grace I believe I can and through prayer I believe I should share my hope, thoughts and experiences.
To the question of how I might share, I offer this site, A Layman’s Hope. It is a product of my effort to prayerfully and thoughtfully write from one layman’s perspective. I intend to write with truth, charity, love, patience and always faithful to the Church and Her teachings. If I should fail in these endeavors in any way I sincerely apologize at the outset and invite any correction.
The perspective from which I write is as a layman with over five decades of service to his church. I have not built a cathedral nor endowed a school with a fortune. I have however served my local parish, her schools, the diocese, its schools and regional catholic endeavors, faithfully and with passion. I have been blessed by this service and I hope that I have been of value to the Church and the people she serves. I consider this new endeavor to be one more service which I offer with both love, and as the title suggests, with great hope. I trust that it will be received in kind.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Tim Murphy
A Layman's Hope 