Time for a Whip

March 18, 2009 by Be Holy

I’m so tired of sweet and cuddly images of Jesus. The man who was scourged for our sins and nailed to the Cross, now must bear those sugary, insipid images that would emasculate Him. Where is the Lord of our courage and righteous indignation. This is a time for the Jesus who whips the money changers out of His Father’s House; the Jesus who knew what He would suffer for us and obeyed with His Blood.

I do remember that Jesus cut Caesar some slack, rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s. Consider though, these are days of both blatant and disquised idolatry, where rhetoriic passes for Virtue. The Law of the Land is compromised by statesmen and judges alike, a counterfeit Temple with a counterfeit Messiah making laws that make the Lion of Judah and Lamb of God weep?

That’s Not Forgiveness – That’s Revenge

March 16, 2009 by Be Holy

“That’s not forgiveness; that’s revenge.” Father, whose on the older side of old and on the happy side of holy, can speak those hard to hear words because the day to day battle’s of life have yielded a humble, gentle man. His words have the haunting power of the Holy Ghost.

It is true that there is a certain perverse pleasure in holding-on to a grudge. Sulking off and licking the wound can become a ritual of sorts. Forgiving does break into my world of remembered, if not treasured, trove of offenses. What price the bounty for your absoultion? The very idea of Scott-free seems unfair. So what cost forgiveness?

Will a litany of the pain I’ve suffered suffice? That doesn’t really touch-on just how bad you are for hurting me (real or imagined.) Do I get a chance to tell you? Still, that doesn’t even come to tit-for-tat. If I do my generous deed, can I still take the memory out and feel self-justified? Or will my good angels shake a finger at me? Letting you off my hook would be easier if I could see you squirm a bit.

When I was kinder and gentler, I would have asked, “What would Jesus do? My day to day seems to have hardened my heart. A pound of flesh, that’s the price I put on my forgiveness. Hmmm………Father is right. That’s not forgiveness. That’s revenge!

Lenten Reading Plan – Day 17 – Mar 16

March 15, 2009 by Be Holy

"Sun Of Justice" ----- joann nelander

Day17 Church Fathers Lenten Reading Plan 3/16/09

St. Justin Martyr: First Apology: chapters 60-68

Day 17 Lite Version

St. Justin Martyr: First Apology: 61-68

Compilation of Lenten readings

Printer-Friendly Version of Outline: Church Fathers Lenten Reading Plan PDF

Religion and Morality Are Indispensable Supports of Democracy

March 15, 2009 by Be Holy

The Left would like to place marriage, decisions regarding life and end-of-life, abortion, embryonic stem cell research, and quite possibly cloning, outside of religious proscriptions. They would like to forget, or rather, re-write history. It is the Church’s message that is the foundational structure of our liberty, our National conscience, our democracy and our human rights. In fact, it is the message of Christianity that is the bench-mark of Western Civilization.

George Washington’s in his Farewell Address emphatically states, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them.”

John Adams, who followed Washington in the Presidency writes, “Statesmen, my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone, which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand…. The only foundation of a free Constitution, is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People, in a greater measure, than they have it now, they may change their rulers, and the forms of government, but they will not obtain a lasting liberty. They will only exchange tyrants and tyrannies.”

Issues of marriage, decisions regarding life and end-of-life, abortion, embryonic stem cell research, and cloning are precisely where separation of church and state have meaning. Said another way, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s” The Left would like to isolate the message of the Church, have us believe it speaks to practicing members alone. However, it is God who speaks through His Church, and God speaks from Eternity. He breaks into Time, all time, lighting up every Age. The Church’s commission obligates it to announce Truth to all peoples of all times. Their message is the stuff of a true humanity.

Perspective for a New Day

March 14, 2009 by Be Holy

Beginning another day and trying to get some perspective.

My Imitation of Christ Book I, chapter2:

Many words do not satisfy the soul; but a good life eases the mind and a clean conscience inspires great trust in God.

The more you know and the better you understand, the more severely will you be judged, unless your life is also the more holy. Do not be proud, therefore, because of your learning or skill. Rather, fear because of the talent given you. If you think you know many things and understand them well enough, realize at the same time that there is much you do not know. Hence, do not affect wisdom, but admit your ignorance. Why prefer yourself to anyone else when many are more learned, more cultured than you?

If you wish to learn and appreciate something worth while, then love to be unknown and considered as nothing. Truly to know and despise self is the best and most perfect counsel. To think of oneself as nothing, and always to think well and highly of others is the best and most perfect wisdom. Wherefore, if you see another sin openly or commit a serious crime, do not consider yourself better, for you do not know how long you can remain in good estate. All men are frail, but you must admit that none is more frail than yourself.