On the third Sunday of Great Lent, Fr. Matthew Howell talks about dopamine and its effect on the brain and human behavior, especially as it relates to addictive behaviors. He then explains how neuroscientists are discovering that indulging in pain can lead to prolonged feelings of happiness. He ties this back to how our Christian life is one that must be crucified to the passions and how we must engage in the struggle against sin and death by the power of the Cross. This spiritual struggle, he says, releases grace to us which is much stronger than dopamine. Along the way, he refers to St. Constantine's vision of the cross and the Nike slogan, creates a pretend scenario with a bank robber, and uses someone's recent experience with daily exercise to illustrate a point about the results of spiritual discipline and temporary pain.
