Jesus often was praised by those who thought they could flatter him, appeal to his vanity and get something out of him as a kind of reward. Sometimes, the praise was done indirectly, such as when a woman praised his mother: As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the... Read more
Jesus, in various parables, indicates that he desires everyone to partake of the kingdom of God, the good and the bad, the rich and the poor. This can be found especially in the way he preached, where we can find an indication of the preferential option he gave for the outcast, those ridiculed by society, that is for the poor and vulnerable. They were close to his heart. They were the ones who were most affected by social sin. They... Read more
In 2002, The Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith said that democratic societies must hold onto and employ basic ethical principles, principles which hold up society and allows it to persevere in difficult times: “Democracy must be based on the true and solid foundation of non-negotiable ethical principles, which are the underpinning of life in society.”[1] Here we see the Congregation for the Doctrine of faith talking about “non-negotiables” as being principles which cannot be denied. This is because if... Read more
It is easy to get complacent. We find a niche which we like, and we try to stay there, never moving on, never bettering ourselves. But that is not what we should do. We should be challenging ourselves with new opportunities and engaging new concerns as they rise up around us. We should not become complacent. We should not get too comfortable with the way life has turned out for us. Things can and will change, whether we want them... Read more
“Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God” (Jas. 1:19-20 RSV). How we speak, how we treat others, is important. As Christians, we must strive for charity. When we act charitably, those around us will be positively influenced. They will be encouraged to follow our example and strive after what is good for themselves. People are much more... Read more
“Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Cor. 16:13-14 RSV). Love is central to the Christian faith. Love inspires us. It strengthens us. It gives us courage when we need it. We can stand firm in our faith because of it, but if we do not have it, then our faith can weaken, leading us to reject doing what Christ would have us do. Of course,... Read more
Due to dangers of COVID19, both amount of death it can cause as well as its potential to ruin the lives of its survivors, it is not surprising that researches are fast tracking many different potential vaccines which appear to help stop its spread. It is understandable that, due to the speed involved in creating such a vaccine, some may be concerned with its safety. That’s different from those who are using fears to spread various conspiracy theories so as... Read more
Paul tells us to look at the God-man in the incarnation, to contemplate his kenosis, and to use what we see as an example for how we should love: “Have this mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Philip. 2:5-7 RSV). Jesus, the... Read more
Abba Theon was an educated anchorite who lived in his cell for over thirty years. He was known to be able to read Greek, Latin and Coptic. But it was not his learning which set him apart. It was his mystical connection to God, a connection which led him to have a compassionate relationship with all he encountered, including the various animals which would visit him at his cell. He led a simple life, eating only vegetables which did not... Read more
Paul told the Corinthians that they can and will be saved if they held fast to all that they had been taught about the Gospel. But, he emphasized how important it was to put the faith into practice. Their belief could be in vain if they were unwilling to accept and act on all that he had preached: Now I would remind you, brethren, in what terms I preached to you the gospel, which you received, in which you stand,... Read more
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