What is given out of love is greater, more invaluable, than what is given in spite. “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fatted ox and hatred with it” (Prov. 15:17 RSV). Many people will do what is considered just because they know they have to do so, not because they want to do so. They don’t want to face the consequences which happens if they don’t. They might follow the law, but as their heart... Read more
We can learn about God by examining creation, and discerning within it the way God engages creation, that is, through our apprehension of the uncreated energies of God, we know there is a divine creator at work, even as we can apprehend various qualities about God because through the energies we learn how God works in and with creation itself. Similarly, we can learn something about God through the way created being can and does imagine God. Both of these... Read more
We have been told to avoid evil, and indeed, to expose what is evil, to bring it into the light: “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” (Eph. 5:11 RSV) We must read this admonition as primarily something we should do with ourselves, that is, we should expose our own inner darkness to the light so that we can change our ways. We must not see it as an exhortation to go around exposing... Read more
Abba Poemen, an influential abba, gave advice when monks came to him for spiritual direction. Often, they had questions for him which indicated they had some sort of misunderstanding concerning the spiritual life, a misunderstanding which is common not just for ascetics, but by Christians from all walks of life. Poemen responded with wisdom which could and should be applied by a variety of people. He wanted to make sure those who listened to him did not end up becoming... Read more
The preferential option for the poor and vulnerable must never be ignored, let alone rejected, by Christians. God takes into consideration our weakness and our needs, even if some of those needs come from things we have done to hurt ourselves, and responds to them with love, coming down to meet us on our level. God did this in a variety of ways, including in the way God has revealed the truth to us: “First of all, we must realize... Read more
The institutional church has faced and continues to face scandal after scandal because many who had been given positions of power and authority because they appeared to be holy and just were completely unworthy of the trust given to them. They were wolves in sheep’s clothing. In one way or another they abused that trust by the way they treated people, some of course, being far worse than others in this regard. What they had done would have been scandal... Read more
The cross is raised up both as a guide, indicating the way we should live our life, and also as a sign of love, divine and human. Christ upon the cross reveals to us the way we should live, that is, the way of self-giving love, showing us that it is the way which God’s love is actualized. It is for this reason when we take up the cross for ourselves, we should realize we do it, not out sadism,... Read more
Each and every human person shares with each other the one and the same human nature; by nature, they are not only equal, they are meant to united together as one. Sin undermines that natural unity. It has humanity divide up against itself, turning persons into individuals who are no longer equal to each other, and the more they sin, the more such individuals will find themselves divided against each other, with some of them being obtaining more than their... Read more
The state should protect the common good, and with it, human rights, including the rights of those who are not citizens of the state. Human rights are universal, meaning, they transcend borders. This was, in part, one of the ideas which the founders of the United States employed to justify their independence from Great Britain; they believed that their rights had be violated, and to protect them, they had to cut ties from England. While it is good to see... Read more
Selfishness encourages us to seek our own private gain at the expense of others. It will encourage us to do things for own immediate gratification, and, because we find some initial satisfaction when we attain that gratification, it might seem our actions are justified. However, whatever pleasure we receive will only be temporary, and once it is gone, we will find ourselves in a worse position than we were before we acted, for our selfishness will have had us become... Read more
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