We are not talking here about the basic respect due to every person as one created in God’s image. Rather the reference is to a pejorative or negative aspect of the term which is referred to when we are influenced to do some evil act because of opinions or pressures of people around us. It could also mean abstaining from doing a good and righteous act because of fear or deference for those people around.
“Many of them, however, believed in Jesus, even among the rulers, but they did not acknowledge him because of the Pharisees, lest they be put out of the Jewish community. They preferred to be approved by people rather than by God. Yet Jesus had said, and even cried out, ‘He who believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And he who sees me, sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I am not the one to condemn him; for, I have come not to condemn the world but to save the world. He who rejects me, and does not receive my word, already has a judge; the very word I have spoken will condemn him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority; the Father who sent me has instructed me in what to say and how to speak. I know that his commandment is eternal life, and I give my message as the Father instructed me.’(Jn. 12:42-50)”
It might take so much prayer and effort to conquer our evil human inclinations and shamefulness, but as Jesus assures us and with our patience aided by God’s grace, we can remind ourselves of what Jesus told a rich young man: “For man this is impossible but for God everything is possible” (Mt. 19:26).
Monday, June 29, 2009
Human Respect
We are not talking here about the basic respect due to every person as one created in God’s image. Rather the reference is to a pejorative or negative aspect of the term which is referred to when we are influenced to do some evil act because of opinions or pressures of people around us. It could also mean abstaining from doing a good and righteous act because of fear or deference for those people around.
“Many of them, however, believed in Jesus, even among the rulers, but they did not acknowledge him because of the Pharisees, lest they be put out of the Jewish community. They preferred to be approved by people rather than by God. Yet Jesus had said, and even cried out, ‘He who believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And he who sees me, sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I am not the one to condemn him; for, I have come not to condemn the world but to save the world. He who rejects me, and does not receive my word, already has a judge; the very word I have spoken will condemn him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority; the Father who sent me has instructed me in what to say and how to speak. I know that his commandment is eternal life, and I give my message as the Father instructed me.’(Jn. 12:42-50)”
It might take so much prayer and effort to conquer our evil human inclinations and shamefulness, but as Jesus assures us and with our patience aided by God’s grace, we can remind ourselves of what Jesus told a rich young man: “For man this is impossible but for God everything is possible” (Mt. 19:26).
“Many of them, however, believed in Jesus, even among the rulers, but they did not acknowledge him because of the Pharisees, lest they be put out of the Jewish community. They preferred to be approved by people rather than by God. Yet Jesus had said, and even cried out, ‘He who believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And he who sees me, sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I am not the one to condemn him; for, I have come not to condemn the world but to save the world. He who rejects me, and does not receive my word, already has a judge; the very word I have spoken will condemn him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority; the Father who sent me has instructed me in what to say and how to speak. I know that his commandment is eternal life, and I give my message as the Father instructed me.’(Jn. 12:42-50)”
It might take so much prayer and effort to conquer our evil human inclinations and shamefulness, but as Jesus assures us and with our patience aided by God’s grace, we can remind ourselves of what Jesus told a rich young man: “For man this is impossible but for God everything is possible” (Mt. 19:26).
Human Respect
We are not talking here about the basic respect due to every person as one created in God’s image. Rather the reference is to a pejorative or negative aspect of the term which is referred to when we are influenced to do some evil act because of opinions or pressures of people around us. It could also mean abstaining from doing a good and righteous act because of fear or deference for those people around.
“Many of them, however, believed in Jesus, even among the rulers, but they did not acknowledge him because of the Pharisees, lest they be put out of the Jewish community. They preferred to be approved by people rather than by God. Yet Jesus had said, and even cried out, ‘He who believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And he who sees me, sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I am not the one to condemn him; for, I have come not to condemn the world but to save the world. He who rejects me, and does not receive my word, already has a judge; the very word I have spoken will condemn him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority; the Father who sent me has instructed me in what to say and how to speak. I know that his commandment is eternal life, and I give my message as the Father instructed me.’(Jn. 12:42-50)”
It might take so much prayer and effort to conquer our evil human inclinations and shamefulness, but as Jesus assures us and with our patience aided by God’s grace, we can remind ourselves of what Jesus told a rich young man: “For man this is impossible but for God everything is possible” (Mt. 19:26).
“Many of them, however, believed in Jesus, even among the rulers, but they did not acknowledge him because of the Pharisees, lest they be put out of the Jewish community. They preferred to be approved by people rather than by God. Yet Jesus had said, and even cried out, ‘He who believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And he who sees me, sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I am not the one to condemn him; for, I have come not to condemn the world but to save the world. He who rejects me, and does not receive my word, already has a judge; the very word I have spoken will condemn him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority; the Father who sent me has instructed me in what to say and how to speak. I know that his commandment is eternal life, and I give my message as the Father instructed me.’(Jn. 12:42-50)”
It might take so much prayer and effort to conquer our evil human inclinations and shamefulness, but as Jesus assures us and with our patience aided by God’s grace, we can remind ourselves of what Jesus told a rich young man: “For man this is impossible but for God everything is possible” (Mt. 19:26).
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Sincerity Needed
At the bottom of most troubles is that lack of sincerity, I mean, a lack of being true to oneself. How many times the Lord Jesus reproved the Jewish Pharisees for such pretentious hypocrisy (see Mt. 23:1-39; Lk. 11: 37-54). Jesus also asked us to imitate the truthfulness of little children as a condition for entering our final destiny of happiness with God in heaven. Remember how important is that, since there are only two finalities of man, either heaven or hell, both of them forever and always. That is, a heaven of eternal bliss with God or eternal hell fire with Satan (see Mt. 25:31-46). Even in the poem Hamlet, Shakespeare expresses a fact: "to thine ownself be true and it will follow as night follows day, you will be true to every man."
What's there in children that made Jesus indignant that the disciples were turning them away: "Let the little children come to me and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. I tell you solemnly, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it" (cf. Lk. 18:15; Mt. 18:2; Mt. 19:13-15; Mk. 10:13-16). What's there in a child? Think of the following adjectives: candid, frank, open, truthful, unpretentious, genuine, free from hypocrisy or pretense.
What do we see in our complicated world? A lot of hidden agenda in relationships or transactions swerving from the main goal, deception, double-talk, etc. These will not lead to God's kingdom because God is a God of truth (Jn. 14:6) while as Jesus says: "the devil is a murderer and the father of lies" (Jn. 8:44). Therefore, say what you mean and mean what you say and don't be part Satan's company. For those who don't think honest respect to superiors is of value, allow me to quote from the eminent mystic and doctor of the Church, St. John of the Cross: "God desires the least degree of obedience and submissiveness more than all those services you think of rendering him."
What's there in children that made Jesus indignant that the disciples were turning them away: "Let the little children come to me and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. I tell you solemnly, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it" (cf. Lk. 18:15; Mt. 18:2; Mt. 19:13-15; Mk. 10:13-16). What's there in a child? Think of the following adjectives: candid, frank, open, truthful, unpretentious, genuine, free from hypocrisy or pretense.
What do we see in our complicated world? A lot of hidden agenda in relationships or transactions swerving from the main goal, deception, double-talk, etc. These will not lead to God's kingdom because God is a God of truth (Jn. 14:6) while as Jesus says: "the devil is a murderer and the father of lies" (Jn. 8:44). Therefore, say what you mean and mean what you say and don't be part Satan's company. For those who don't think honest respect to superiors is of value, allow me to quote from the eminent mystic and doctor of the Church, St. John of the Cross: "God desires the least degree of obedience and submissiveness more than all those services you think of rendering him."
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Financial Crisis
Everybody is conscious of the pinch of a global crisis. What could be the cause? I had some cue from a talk by a Focolare group who mentioned that the Bible is the best business book. People are in such hardship simply because of inverted values that have crept into society. When money is made the god, then people become enslaved the more.
The Bible talks of real freedom which we obtain when we put God and His righteousness or ways in the first place. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all other things will be given you as well. Do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Mt. 6:33). So let’s put things aright as God wants. Search for what is for man’s real benefit in body and soul, what truly serves the good of man and not as the common aspiration goes, “How can I make more money”. It’s a twisted thinking that has caused all this trouble now. Things will get better when we follow God’s laws that are based on sincerity, truth, love, and justice.
The Bible talks of real freedom which we obtain when we put God and His righteousness or ways in the first place. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all other things will be given you as well. Do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Mt. 6:33). So let’s put things aright as God wants. Search for what is for man’s real benefit in body and soul, what truly serves the good of man and not as the common aspiration goes, “How can I make more money”. It’s a twisted thinking that has caused all this trouble now. Things will get better when we follow God’s laws that are based on sincerity, truth, love, and justice.
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