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I like to ponder koans. Because the effort to “solve” the riddle is intended to exhaust the analytic intellect and the egoistic will, readying the mind for a spiritual awakening. It gives one the opportunity to hear the voice of the Divine and a chance for
enlightenment. I need that. Here is my attempt at a koan : The mass shooting that occurred in San Bernadino, California, where 14 people were senselessly murdered is a sin; the refusal of our law makers to really do something to stop gun violence is a sin; the headline of the New York Daily News, the following day, that spit in the face of God and slapped the face of the Faithful? 14 Dead in California Mass Shooting: God Isn’t Fixing This… is a sin . Which is most sinful? There is no right answer to the koan: Sin is sin . “ It is any action that harms the relationship we have with God and/or another person. It is choosing to act in away that pulls us away from God.” Contemplating these transgressions allowed me to consider the origin of the sin committed in California and the origin of the sin that occurs, day after day, with the reluctance of our legislators to write appropriate laws prohibiting excessive manufacturing of firearms. To do so would result in encouraging citizens to personally take responsibility for gun pollution in our country. It has become obvious to me, that this type of violence is happening with more frequency because too many Americans really don’t know Christ, they don’t get His message and they don’t understand power of prayer. As I readied myself to wrestle with the hand that penned the statement about God by means of this blog, I went to Mass and prayerfully asked the Holy Spirit to fill me with the right words to correct the offense that was committed yesterday with the wrong four words: God Isn’t Fixing This. And God answered my prayers, lending me His words in today’s Gospel reading: “Jesus replied: ‘Let it be done for you according to your faith.’ ” (Matthew 9: 29) Saint Augustine of Hippo said: “Bad times, hard times…this is what people keep saying; but let us live well and times shall be good. We are the times. Such as We are, such are the times.” It is just that simple. President Kennedy once told our Nation: “Here on earth God’s work must surely be our own.” The work has been clearly defined by the Son of God. The problem is too few Americans want to do it. Jesus once asked: “However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Sadly enough I must admit, He will not find enough of it and that is why we are killing each other.
4 Comments
Victoria
12/7/2015 02:41:12 pm
I agree that faith would "fix" the the violent world situation. However, in my opinion, too many people mistake their 12/9/2015 06:10:03 am
There is some truth to what you are saying but.... But...to disregard Christ's most profound request: "Do this in memory of me..." (celebrating The Eucharist) puts one at a disadvantage. Dogma...no. Rules...no. The ideas you refer to are the foundation of our Salvation History...they are not rhetoric. The movement in the church today is built upon the recognition that our ultimate goal is to assist people to become a people of deep faith. We didn't make the "rules" or pen the "dogma", but we are all called to follow the rules (and God knows what is best for us) as deliberately as we can so that our lives are teaching examples of the mission of Christ.
Edie
12/9/2015 04:13:57 am
I want to take a different focus. I want to focus on all the good people that there are in this world. I am trying to focus my attention and my energy on love, and on the great good that the vast majority of people do and are every day. Love is the only answer. I am grateful for the goodness, the holiness that is in each person, in their same-as-me or very different background, creed, race, religion, lifestyle, culture,faith. I wish our news media would focus more on the good. As for me, I choose LOVE, by God's grace. Leave a Reply. |
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