Category: Scripture

Categories
Catechism Current Events Scripture

Even more urgent

The duty of making oneself a neighbor to others and actively serving them becomes even more urgent when it involves the disadvantaged, in whatever area this may be. “As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.”

Vaticana, Libreria Editrice. Catechism of the Catholic Church . United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Kindle Edition. Paragraph 1932

You can’t legislate morality. Laws don’t change people’s hearts.

But a society can legislate compassionately. Doing so is even more urgent when it involves the disadvantaged.

If we legislate for the already-advantaged across the board except for one case (the unborn), where does that leave us?

If Catholics, Protestants, and Evangelicals support national policies that further disadvantage the already-disadvantaged;

and we try to justify ourselves by saying we legislated against abortion, woke-ness, and any non-straight lifestyle:

what do we expect to hear in response from the Son of Man, who was “hungry…thirsty…a stranger…naked…sick…in prison”?

‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’

Matthew 25:44,45. Bibles, Harper . NRSV Bible with the Apocrypha (pp. 3021-3022). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

Lord, give us eyes to see, ears to hear, compassionate hearts, and understanding minds as we live “in the world” while not being “of the world”.

Grace and peace to you

dw

Categories
Catechism Current Events Scripture

Society and Justice

Society ensures social justice when it provides the conditions that allow associations or individuals to obtain what is their due, according to their nature and their vocation. Social justice is linked to the common good and the exercise of authority.

Vaticana, Libreria Editrice. Catechism of the Catholic Church . United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Kindle Edition. Paragraph 1928

Is our society one that “ensures social justice”?

Do we, as a society, care about providing “the conditions that allow associations or individuals to obtain what is their due”? Do we care if our habitual ways of doing things, as a society, hinder or block some people and groups of people from living out what God made them to do?

Does society care about the “common good”? Can society care if most of its participants don’t?

Does the Church care whether or not society cares? Do Catholics or Protestants or Evangelicals care?

Do I care? Do you care?

This morning, I read in Matthew 25 that what we do “to the least of these” we do unto Jesus.

That’s because Jesus cares.

Grace and peace to you

dw

Categories
Current Events Scripture the Bible

Voting Tips: 1

  1. If you read the Bible regularly, proceed here. If not, go to Step 2.
    1. Read the Gospel of Matthew, chapters 5 through 7 – the Sermon on the Mount. Take your time.
    2. Now read it again. Take your time and ponder what Jesus is saying.
    3. Consider what he says in chapter 7 about how you will know people ‘by their fruit’.
    4. Consider the candidates and the people they pick to be around them as advisors. What do their words and deeds tell you?
    5. Listen to what your heart is telling you.
    6. Go to Step 4.
  2. If you are a church-goer, proceed here. If not, go to Step 3.
    1. It’s time to start reading your Bible. Go to Step 1a.
  3. Consider getting familiar with the Bible by going to Step 1a.
  4. Plan to vote accordingly. Tell your friends and family.
Categories
Scripture the Bible

Continue well…

Once you have finished either Mark or John (referring back to Begin well…), then read the other.

Jesus did what he did because he was who he was.

He was who he was because he did what he did.

We need to hear from both Mark and John to come to know the person the Bible is all about.

And then we need to hear from Matthew.

And Luke.

Once you have read both Mark and John, read Matthew and then Luke.

As you read, remember: the point is to know Jesus better. Look back to Resolved to read? and Does it translate? to help set that context.

Maybe pray one of these prayers, if that helps: A prayer when reading scripture or A prayer for eternal life.

Grace and peace to you…

dw

Categories
Poetry Scripture

Like glory or something

Glory is a thing
or some thing
that shines
or makes things shine
just because
of what it is
or what it finds in them

Kind of like Love
maybe
if the love is of the right kind
like the kind that doesn’t separate

Like the kind that says,
Don’t be afraid
You’re good

There you go
Shining
as though you were my Beloved
or something
Like the Light of the world
or something

Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

Christian Standard Bible. CSB Reader’s Bible (p. 1523). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Christian Standard Bible. CSB Reader’s Bible (p. 1571). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Grace and peace to you…

dw