<\/a>Oh, you could lie awake at night worrying about all this stuff.\u00a0 Or you could focus all of your energy on the current political scene and let that side-show take your eye off the ball. Or better yet, you may feel the urge to arm-chair quarterback all of the the latest moves by the Vatican. And you could second-guess all of the decisions of the Church\u2019s leadership at every level.\u00a0 Heck, you might even decide to throw in the towel and leave the Church altogether, though I pray that you don\u2019t.<\/p>\nYou know what I suggest? Turn off the news, stop reading the blogs, take a break. Click. Aaaahh, lookee there, no more hurricane.\u00a0 That\u2019s more like it!<\/p>\n
Sure, you are upset that the professor hired to teach a religion class on Catholicism was fired for doing just that. What is the whole story? Who knows. Let it go.\u00a0 Go on an information R&R.; Give it a break for a day, or two, or forever, and concentrate on the big-picture, which is the little picture of who we are and what we are meant to be.<\/p>\n
We are children of God; salt; the leaven that makes the whole loaf rise. And don\u2019t forget this: we are the light of the world. You and me. And we are called to love one another, hating sin, but loving sinners, which is everyone. No need to be choosy.<\/p>\n
Here is another idea: let\u2019s cross the bridge into Paradise.\u00a0 As painted by these words of\u00a0 St. Ephrem, which he penned upon reading the Creation story in Genesis,<\/i> relax from your toils and have a look into our future. Indeed, is this not the better part that Martha was missing?<\/p>\n
From Hymns on Paradise<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
I read the opening of this book<\/i>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 and was filled with joy,<\/i>
for its verses and lines<\/i>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 spread out their arms to welcome me;<\/i>
the first rushed out and kissed me,<\/i>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and led me on to its companion;<\/i>
and when I reached that verse<\/i>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 wherein is written<\/i>
the story of Paradise,<\/i>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 it lifted me up and transported me<\/i>
from the bosom of the book<\/i>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 to the very bosom of Paradise.<\/i><\/p>\n
The eye and the mind<\/i>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 traveled over the lines<\/i>
as over a bridge, and entered together<\/i>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 the story of Paradise.<\/i><\/p>\n
The eye as it read<\/i>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 transported the mind;<\/i><\/p>\n
in return the mind, too,<\/i>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 gave the eye rest<\/i>
from its reading,<\/i>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 for when the book had been read<\/i>
the eye had rest<\/i>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 but the mind was engaged.<\/i><\/p>\n
Both the bridge and the gate<\/i>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 of Paradise<\/i>
did I find in this book.<\/i>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I crossed over and entered;<\/i>
my eye remained outside<\/i>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 but my mind entered within.<\/i><\/p>\n
I began to wander<\/i>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 among things indescribable.<\/i><\/p>\n
This is luminous height,<\/i>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 clear, lofty and fair:<\/i><\/p>\n
Scripture named it Eden,<\/i>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 the summit of all blessing.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cThe summit of all blessing\u201d will not be attained here, not that we won\u2019t keep trying. I\u2019m not going to try to set all things right all by myself today.\u00a0 No, instead, I\u2019m going to trust God with the conn and give these troubling thoughts a rest. For a day, or two, or forever\u2026<\/p>\n
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