Gross blunder -- injustice

St. Thomas Aquinas had mentioned that wrong ideas are like mistaken angles that when extended would magnify also the erroneous perspective.  This is happening in our land today when people keep on moving in the guise of justice without even knowing where their actions lead to.  Just look at all the violence around.  Is that justice?  And where therefore is the missing link, the gross blunder?

Maybe we have forgotten what Jesus said:  “Without me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5).  As St. Pope John XXIII once said: “I don’t complicate my principles.  If Jesus would do it, I would.  If Jesus would not, neither would I”.  People think it’s justice enough to be concerned for the poor.  Justice means “giving to everyone his due” (Rom. 13:7).  So that includes the right relationship to God, ourselves (since charity begins at home), and our neighbor.  And Jesus is justice incarnate whom we are to follow (Mal. 3:20; Jer. 23:6; Jn. 13:15; 1 Cor. 1:30; 1 Pet. 2:21). 

The problem at hand is our centering on Christ, especially for leaders to—know, show, and lead the way.    If Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (Jn. 14:6), we can only be effective leaders if we know him that well as by witnessing to his life and principles in our own life, because examples speak louder than words.  That is when justice can be truly exemplified, and blunders overcome.

Jesus -- in the Bible and in Islam

Why is it that in the world the greater number recognize Jesus as Redeemer?  He is “the Way, the Truth and the Life” (Jn. 14:6).  Moreover, He is Love.  He asks us to love and forgive even our enemies (Mt. 5:43-48).  He asks us to be humble and care for the needs of others (Lk. 14:11, 18:11; Mt. 25:31-46).

Even the Koran of Islam has this about Jesus.  In Surah (chapter) 3:45: “Behold! the angels said, O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus.  The son of Mary, held in honor in this world and of those nearest to Allah.”  In Surah 3:55: “O Jesus! I will take thee and raise thee to Myself...I will make those who follow thee superior to those who reject faith....”  In Surah 43:63: “When Jesus came with Clear Signs, he said: “Now have I come to you with Wisdom, and in order to make clear to you some of the points on which ye dispute: therefore fear Allah and obey me.”

The Koran asks the people to fear Allah and follow Jesus.   Why not?  Jesus only teaches love, humility, truth, forgiveness and care for one another.  One fundamental law of Jesus is: “Judge not and you shall not be judged.  For with what judgment you judge you shall also be judged” (Mt. 7:2).  “Forgive and you shall be forgiven” (Mt. 6:12-15).

While we work for reconciliation it is always profitable to see common points in the Bible and in the Koran.

The hundredfold

(Mt. 19:29; Lk. 14:26; Mk. 10:30)

People keep looking for this hundredfold but seem to miss the point all the time.  Others place it in social analysis which is another form of delusion and deception among those who do it without the consideration of God.

This is found in the fulfillment of those who become servants of Jesus, who turn their backs to the world, not to abandon it, but to find in it the perspective of Jesus who came to save the world (Jn. 12:47).  People of this sort seemingly have left the pleasures of married life; yet when you see them, are more fulfilled and find greater joy in their spiritual children and in being servants of God’s kingdom. 

The delights of the Spirit far surpass the delights of the flesh yet, as the burning bush (Ex. 3:2), will not have the effect of physical exhaustion.  This can only be discovered by grace and by the experience of God which cannot be described in word or writing.  Just go on the journey of the Lord.  He can also give you the true meaning and experience of what is called spiritual marriage.

God's forgiving mercy

 The practice of regular confession appears to have declined in number, and perchance some clarification has to be made.  In this regard, forgiveness must be seen as a relationship between God and man.  But in this mutual and dual relationship it is man who has to reform and turn aside from evil, and be converted to God who is there waiting all the time (cf. Rev. 3:20, Ps. 34:14). 

If this is not understood this way, how else?  Even the parable of the Prodigal Son which portrays such mystery of God’s forgiveness shows therein a return of the sinner back to the Father’s house.   In human experience, that would be a return to the normal, legitimate circumstances surrounding a person’s life.

In the shepherding or pastoral (for such is the work of the pastor which in Latin means shepherd) ministry of the Church, the sacrament of Confession is precisely one which is best in bringing sinners to reconciliation with God—not just with any created being, but with God alone (cf. Mk. 2:7).  The others follow only as a compliment to the fulfillment of God’s will.  That is why this is an important sacrament;  a part and parcel of the proclamation of the Word, for here we do proclaim the mercy of God towards repentant sinners.

 

Change of heart

IN the message of the gospel we know that God understands our human weakness, but He wants us to change to a new life.  He understands, but He is not a permissive or a “consentidor” God.  God wants us to change for the better.

St. Peter betrayed Jesus three times but he changed and was appointed first Pope by Jesus Christ  (Lk. 22:32).  St. Paul was a Pharisee persecuting the Church but he changed and became the Apostle to all the non-Jewish peoples (see 1 Cor. 15:9-11).

Jesus cured a man sick for 38 years.  After curing him Jesus told him: “Now you are well again, be sure not to sin any more, or something worse may happen to you” (Jn. 5:9-14). When Jesus saved and forgave the adulterous woman who was about to be stoned by the Jewish scribes and Pharisees in accord with the Mosaic law, He told the woman after the Jewish elders left one by one in response to His challenge that the one without sin should be first in throwing the stone at her: “Woman, where are they?  Has no one condemned you?” “No one sir,” she replied.  “Neither do I condemn you.  Go and sin no more” (Jn. 8:3-11). 

With all the false propaganda on sex, love, sexual permissiveness, and indecent apparel in movies, television, and billboards, no wonder the rise of unwanted pregnancies and abortion (which is murder) cases that reach the staggering number of millions yearly in the world today.  Since it’s a sin calling for God’s immediate punishment and vengeance, we must implore God’s mercy, but remember too, He is not a permissive and “consentidor” God.  He wants our concrete repentance telling us, “Go, but sin no more or something worse may happen to you” (Jn. 5:14-15). This too calls for our social consciousness as Jesus told Peter, the first Pope, who in his weakness had denied Jesus three times: “Simon, Simon!  Satan, you must know, has got his wish to sift you all like wheat; but I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail, and once you have recovered, you in turn must strengthen your brothers” (Lk. 22:32).  Let us help one another for a change of heart and “sin no more”.