Jesus Forgives the Fallen Woman
03/30/09 05:07
“He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” (John 8: 1-11)
Gossip and slander are among the most common and hurtful of all sins. A single unkind remark can ruin the reputation of a person or business, especially if the comment is posted on the Internet for all the world to see. The person who starts the rumor and the person who listens and spreads it share in the blame.
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Gossip and slander are among the most common and hurtful of all sins. A single unkind remark can ruin the reputation of a person or business, especially if the comment is posted on the Internet for all the world to see. The person who starts the rumor and the person who listens and spreads it share in the blame.
Read More...
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Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged
03/09/09 08:31
"Be ye merciful, even as your Father is merciful." (Luke 6: 36-38)
I was called to jury duty earlier this year and looked forward to performing my civic duty. To my surprise, many people ignored the court's summons and did not appear on the appointed day.
It turns out the no-show rate for juries is 20 percent nationwide and much higher in some localities. Couple that with the number of people who are excused and disqualified by the attorneys and the jury pool shrinks by about 70 percent. A small jury pool winds up being unrepresentative of the community so that, in some cases it can be argued, justice is not being meted out by a jury of your peers. The result can be very biased, unjust verdicts.
For example, the Innocence Project reports that 195 convictions (about 70 percent of them involving minorities) have been overturned as a result of DNA tests. Read More...
I was called to jury duty earlier this year and looked forward to performing my civic duty. To my surprise, many people ignored the court's summons and did not appear on the appointed day.
It turns out the no-show rate for juries is 20 percent nationwide and much higher in some localities. Couple that with the number of people who are excused and disqualified by the attorneys and the jury pool shrinks by about 70 percent. A small jury pool winds up being unrepresentative of the community so that, in some cases it can be argued, justice is not being meted out by a jury of your peers. The result can be very biased, unjust verdicts.
For example, the Innocence Project reports that 195 convictions (about 70 percent of them involving minorities) have been overturned as a result of DNA tests. Read More...
Mary's Magnificat
12/22/08 10:56
“My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” (Luke 1: 46-56)
In the naming convention that is used for identifying Christian hymns, the opening lines become the title. Thus, Mary’s song of joyful celebration is known as the "Magnificat" because the opening line in Latin reads, “Magnificat anima me Dominum;" that is, “My soul magnifies the Lord.”
But, in another context, these exultant, lyrical verses could also be known as ‘His Magnificent Mercy' because Mary praised God’s mercy four times in ten short verses.
She saw her soul as a lens through which others would see the mercy of God magnified. Read More...
In the naming convention that is used for identifying Christian hymns, the opening lines become the title. Thus, Mary’s song of joyful celebration is known as the "Magnificat" because the opening line in Latin reads, “Magnificat anima me Dominum;" that is, “My soul magnifies the Lord.”
But, in another context, these exultant, lyrical verses could also be known as ‘His Magnificent Mercy' because Mary praised God’s mercy four times in ten short verses.
She saw her soul as a lens through which others would see the mercy of God magnified. Read More...
Personal Accountability
11/30/08 08:53
“Watch ye therefore, (for you know not when the lord of the house cometh: at even, or at midnight, or at the cock crowing, or in the morning,) Lest coming on a sudden, he find you sleeping.” (Mark 13: 33-37)
The events of 911 underscored the importance of watchfulness. Today’s Gospel also reminds us to be prepared for the Lord’s return, lest “coming on a sudden, he find you sleeping.”
When the Son of man comes in glory, He will ask us for an accounting. Those who inherit the kingdom will be the generous spirits who fed the hungry; gave drink to the thirsty; welcomed the stranger; clothed the naked; and visited the sick and imprisoned.
Those are tall orders considering the billions of poor people in need of our help. The sheer numbers beggar the imagination; the logistics hamstring the impulse to help.
But Jesus didn’t say we were to help “billions” of people. He said we were to feed, clothe, shelter and visit one person at a time. Read More...
The events of 911 underscored the importance of watchfulness. Today’s Gospel also reminds us to be prepared for the Lord’s return, lest “coming on a sudden, he find you sleeping.”
When the Son of man comes in glory, He will ask us for an accounting. Those who inherit the kingdom will be the generous spirits who fed the hungry; gave drink to the thirsty; welcomed the stranger; clothed the naked; and visited the sick and imprisoned.
Those are tall orders considering the billions of poor people in need of our help. The sheer numbers beggar the imagination; the logistics hamstring the impulse to help.
But Jesus didn’t say we were to help “billions” of people. He said we were to feed, clothe, shelter and visit one person at a time. Read More...
Corporal Works of Mercy
11/23/08 07:43
“The king answering, shall say to them: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25: 31-46)
We Americans hate to wait. We like our express lane, our instant coffee, our fast food, Jiffy Lube and speed dial button. We want everything done in a "New York minute." We're even in a hurry to relax and will become antsy if we have to wait in line a few minutes at the movie theater.
For more than two thousand years, we've been waiting impatiently for the Second Coming. If an author claims to know the exact time when Jesus will return, we rush out in droves to buy his book only to be disappointed.
It seems to me that all those books about the End Times miss the point of today's Gospel passage: Jesus never left us. He's here in our midst. Read More...
We Americans hate to wait. We like our express lane, our instant coffee, our fast food, Jiffy Lube and speed dial button. We want everything done in a "New York minute." We're even in a hurry to relax and will become antsy if we have to wait in line a few minutes at the movie theater.
For more than two thousand years, we've been waiting impatiently for the Second Coming. If an author claims to know the exact time when Jesus will return, we rush out in droves to buy his book only to be disappointed.
It seems to me that all those books about the End Times miss the point of today's Gospel passage: Jesus never left us. He's here in our midst. Read More...
The Good Samaritan
10/06/08 03:09
To be a Good Samaritan is to be a risk taker. Few of us are ever called to rush into burning buildings or dive into raging flood waters to rescue those in distress. But we are all called to give of the most precious thing we possess. It is irreplaceable and in limited supply. We can't save it or add to it. At least not in this life. We are all called to give of our time in service to others. Read More...