Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings, who seeks his strength in flesh, whose heart turns away from the LORD (Jer 17:5)
Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD (Jer 17:7)
If they [rich men, self-deceptive men, men seeking their strength in materialism] will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead. (Lk 16:31)
From today's mass, i get a chill up my spine, the hairs on my neck stand on end. How true it is. That Judaism should come to such a misguided state that their prophets cannot awaken them, now i see the individualism and materialism of the modern world as a mutual history repeating itself. Banks crumble through greed and power and arrogance. The European Union groans under the weight of greed and national pride and the selfishness that is consumerism. The present Vatican scandals reveal similar human faults at work, personal ambitions and fully human organisations seeking their strength in flesh. The self-preservation mode of bureaucracies blind and cripple and expand the labyrinth of lies for those whose hearts have hardened. Self-interest has created the expectations of a life of comfort and power similar to the nameless rich man in Jesus' parable: he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’The wheel of suffering turns and turns and turns and each generation is given a chance to wake up, if he will only use his ears to 'listen'.
Alas, just as Rome crumbled through all too human errors, so too shall crumble every human organisation whose strength lies in flesh. This is the nature of all things phenomenal, of the Earth: birth and death, growing and decomposing to dust. Aware of this, one might be wise to choose God, to trust in the wisdom of the LORD, to seek peace, a haven, a refuge in Love. But not a choice because it is demanded! A choice made whole-heartedly because it is the right thing, it is good, it is just. Then, having chosen God with all ones heart and all ones mind, the world of the flesh is no longer a threat, no longer something to consume and acquire. Freedom! We are free to help all who knock at our door, to show mercy, to share, to love. The follies of material wealth, of inordinate comfort, of cruelty behind the mask of duty or nation or fear simply dissolves. Because when we trust in the goodness of God, our acts reflect His goodness here and now. Then we are indeed blessed.
Deo gratias.
Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD (Jer 17:7)
If they [rich men, self-deceptive men, men seeking their strength in materialism] will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead. (Lk 16:31)
From today's mass, i get a chill up my spine, the hairs on my neck stand on end. How true it is. That Judaism should come to such a misguided state that their prophets cannot awaken them, now i see the individualism and materialism of the modern world as a mutual history repeating itself. Banks crumble through greed and power and arrogance. The European Union groans under the weight of greed and national pride and the selfishness that is consumerism. The present Vatican scandals reveal similar human faults at work, personal ambitions and fully human organisations seeking their strength in flesh. The self-preservation mode of bureaucracies blind and cripple and expand the labyrinth of lies for those whose hearts have hardened. Self-interest has created the expectations of a life of comfort and power similar to the nameless rich man in Jesus' parable: he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’The wheel of suffering turns and turns and turns and each generation is given a chance to wake up, if he will only use his ears to 'listen'.
Alas, just as Rome crumbled through all too human errors, so too shall crumble every human organisation whose strength lies in flesh. This is the nature of all things phenomenal, of the Earth: birth and death, growing and decomposing to dust. Aware of this, one might be wise to choose God, to trust in the wisdom of the LORD, to seek peace, a haven, a refuge in Love. But not a choice because it is demanded! A choice made whole-heartedly because it is the right thing, it is good, it is just. Then, having chosen God with all ones heart and all ones mind, the world of the flesh is no longer a threat, no longer something to consume and acquire. Freedom! We are free to help all who knock at our door, to show mercy, to share, to love. The follies of material wealth, of inordinate comfort, of cruelty behind the mask of duty or nation or fear simply dissolves. Because when we trust in the goodness of God, our acts reflect His goodness here and now. Then we are indeed blessed.
Deo gratias.
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