He Sees All Our Pain
11/06/10 10:02 Filed in: Grief
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Nothing Is As Insecure As Money
17/04/10 16:03 Filed in: Wealth, Money, Riches
"And Jesus looking on him, loved him, and said to him: One thing is wanting unto thee: go, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." (Mark 10: 21)
Sadly, the rich young man to whom Jesus addressed those words, walked away, downcast at the thought of having to part with his precious possessions. His greed got the best of him and he passed up a golden opportunity.
As MasterCard readily acknowledges in its advertising, "There are somethings that money can't buy." One thing that money can't buy is the peace that passes all understanding. Such serenity is experienced by those who know the difference between satisfying their needs and their wants.
The Bible warns us about greed 25 times and reminds us that our lives do not consist of the abundance of our possessions.
But it's easy to confuse our wants and our needs. Our consumer-oriented society is continually enticing us new things that we never realized we needed until advertisers convinced us we couldn’t live without them. Today's average supermarket carries more than 30,000 products. Heinz has more than 57 varieties. Baskin-Robbins has over 100 flavors (Penguin Swirl, anyone?). We have dozens of bottled waters to choose from - - imported or domestic, spring, mineral, organic, flavored, vitamin-enriched, fluoride or fiber added. We even have endless varieties of trash bags. A single brand of trash bag, Hefty, has 21 different ways to dispose of our garbage. Maybe more. I stopped counting.
We're inundated with advertising messages that create unrealistic expectations while fostering a sense of entitlement and greed. The average half hour block of television programming contains eight minutes of advertising and as many as 16 commercials. If you spend three and a half hours a night watching television, you're exposed to almost an hour of advertising daily. By the time you arrive at church on Sunday, you will have been exposed to 29 times more advertising messages than the message you'll hear from the pulpit in a 15-minute sermon.
We've come a long way from the day when Christ told us to pray for our daily bread. We may want a cup of coffee in the morning but we reach for a Mocha Grande Frappuccino. We may want an auto but we drive an Infinit QX56 SUV. We may want a new television set, but we take home Samsung's state-of-the-art fourth generation plasma screen TV with surround sound.
Such affluence actually contributes to a sense of anxiety and insecurity because every possession that we come to rely on will one day wear out, rust out, break, decay or simply become obsolete. Whatever advantage accrues to the owner of a thing of this world is temporary. Its value depreciates with time.
As we approach the altar to receive holy communion, we extend an empty hand to receive the host. That empty hand is a reminder that we must let go of the things of this world and break the grip of greed in order to take Jesus into our lives.
When Jesus said we were to pray for our daily bread, He was encouraging us to pray daily so that we would have the wisdom and insight to know the difference between our needs and our wants. We need the daily devotion to prayer as a form of spiritual station break.
Sadly, the rich young man to whom Jesus addressed those words, walked away, downcast at the thought of having to part with his precious possessions. His greed got the best of him and he passed up a golden opportunity.
As MasterCard readily acknowledges in its advertising, "There are somethings that money can't buy." One thing that money can't buy is the peace that passes all understanding. Such serenity is experienced by those who know the difference between satisfying their needs and their wants.
The Bible warns us about greed 25 times and reminds us that our lives do not consist of the abundance of our possessions.
But it's easy to confuse our wants and our needs. Our consumer-oriented society is continually enticing us new things that we never realized we needed until advertisers convinced us we couldn’t live without them. Today's average supermarket carries more than 30,000 products. Heinz has more than 57 varieties. Baskin-Robbins has over 100 flavors (Penguin Swirl, anyone?). We have dozens of bottled waters to choose from - - imported or domestic, spring, mineral, organic, flavored, vitamin-enriched, fluoride or fiber added. We even have endless varieties of trash bags. A single brand of trash bag, Hefty, has 21 different ways to dispose of our garbage. Maybe more. I stopped counting.
We're inundated with advertising messages that create unrealistic expectations while fostering a sense of entitlement and greed. The average half hour block of television programming contains eight minutes of advertising and as many as 16 commercials. If you spend three and a half hours a night watching television, you're exposed to almost an hour of advertising daily. By the time you arrive at church on Sunday, you will have been exposed to 29 times more advertising messages than the message you'll hear from the pulpit in a 15-minute sermon.
We've come a long way from the day when Christ told us to pray for our daily bread. We may want a cup of coffee in the morning but we reach for a Mocha Grande Frappuccino. We may want an auto but we drive an Infinit QX56 SUV. We may want a new television set, but we take home Samsung's state-of-the-art fourth generation plasma screen TV with surround sound.
Such affluence actually contributes to a sense of anxiety and insecurity because every possession that we come to rely on will one day wear out, rust out, break, decay or simply become obsolete. Whatever advantage accrues to the owner of a thing of this world is temporary. Its value depreciates with time.
As we approach the altar to receive holy communion, we extend an empty hand to receive the host. That empty hand is a reminder that we must let go of the things of this world and break the grip of greed in order to take Jesus into our lives.
When Jesus said we were to pray for our daily bread, He was encouraging us to pray daily so that we would have the wisdom and insight to know the difference between our needs and our wants. We need the daily devotion to prayer as a form of spiritual station break.
Tax Time: A Chance to Count Our Blessings
13/04/10 10:10
The arrival of April 15th, the due date for paying our 2009 income taxes, is also a time to count our blessings. The mere fact that we are citizens of this great nation is such a blessing that there are about 26 million legal immigrants in the U.S., and their numbers are growing by at least 700,000 per year. (Illegal immigrants add about 500,000 people to the annual total.) People throughout the world still see America – with all its current problems – as the storied land of opportunity.
Amazingly, the cost of this bountiful lifestyle is vanishingly small for many Americans. According to a recent study, a family of four, with children 17 or younger, will avoid paying any federal income tax this year, even if their annual income is $50,000. In fact, the percentage of families paying no federal income tax has jumped from 38 percent in 2006 to 47 percent in 2009. The bottom 40 percent, actually receive a check from Uncle Sam. Of course, most households pay other taxes such payroll taxes, state and municipal taxes, property taxes and real state taxes. But, for most families the actual outlay for taxes of all kinds is a small percentage of household income. Ten percent of all households pay 73 percent of all federal income taxes.
Amazingly, the cost of this bountiful lifestyle is vanishingly small for many Americans. According to a recent study, a family of four, with children 17 or younger, will avoid paying any federal income tax this year, even if their annual income is $50,000. In fact, the percentage of families paying no federal income tax has jumped from 38 percent in 2006 to 47 percent in 2009. The bottom 40 percent, actually receive a check from Uncle Sam. Of course, most households pay other taxes such payroll taxes, state and municipal taxes, property taxes and real state taxes. But, for most families the actual outlay for taxes of all kinds is a small percentage of household income. Ten percent of all households pay 73 percent of all federal income taxes.
Courage Is Being the Only One Who Knows You're Afraid
10/04/10 22:05 Filed in: Courage, Fear
Do you have the courage of your convictions? Would you be willing to become a whistleblower and risk everything by exposing the misdeeds of the high and mighty? Would you willingly take on multinational corporations, powerful politicians, research universities or unions - - organizations that can summon an army of lawyers to bury you in paper. We're talking about blowing the whistle on things like workplace discrimination, safety violations, election rigging, medical malpractice, jury tampering, pollution fraud and insider trading.
You might expect that someone who exposed those kinds of wrongdoing would be lionized and hailed as heros. But many whistleblowers have been pilloried in the press, disciplined, demoted, harassed or fired from their jobs for trumped up reasons. Speaking the truth to power can be very costly, despite a patchwork of laws meant to protect those brave enough to come forward.
Would you be wiling to take those risks?
Jesus did. He confounded the Jewish leaders by standing up to them, despite their taunts, false accusations and threats. He walked into His enemy's seat of power without a backward glance. He had the courage of His convictions.
The next time you're faced with a risky ethical situation just remember - - your knees will stop shaking as soon as you kneel on them so . . . "Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all ye that hope in Jehovah." (Psalm 31: 24)
You might expect that someone who exposed those kinds of wrongdoing would be lionized and hailed as heros. But many whistleblowers have been pilloried in the press, disciplined, demoted, harassed or fired from their jobs for trumped up reasons. Speaking the truth to power can be very costly, despite a patchwork of laws meant to protect those brave enough to come forward.
Would you be wiling to take those risks?
Jesus did. He confounded the Jewish leaders by standing up to them, despite their taunts, false accusations and threats. He walked into His enemy's seat of power without a backward glance. He had the courage of His convictions.
The next time you're faced with a risky ethical situation just remember - - your knees will stop shaking as soon as you kneel on them so . . . "Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all ye that hope in Jehovah." (Psalm 31: 24)
Friendship with Jesus
03/04/10 09:09 Filed in: Friendship
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15: 13)
In Capernaum, when Jesus said He was the bread come down from heaven, "many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him." (John 6: 66) Soon thereafter.Judas Iscariot forsook Him. Then, in the Garden of Gethsemane, when the Judas-led mob apprehended Jesus, His friends "all left Him and fled." (Mark 14: 50). Next, Peter denied Him three times in the High Priests' courtyard. And none of His friends came forward to testify on His behalf before the Sanhedrin. Finally, as the Lord hung on the cross, only a few brave women and John stood by Him.
Yet, when the resurrected Jesus appeared to His disloyal friends in the Upper Room, the first thing He said was, "Peace be to you." He wasn't critical, angry or vengeful, He was reassuring and comforting. He was quick to forgive and forget. He viewed His friends in the best possible light and brought out the best in them by exhorting and encouraging them.
In every lasting friendship, there are bound to be good times and bad times. To survive the ups and downs, a relationship must be based on common interests, shared values, mutual respect and trust. True friends are able to deal with one another's little quirks, laugh at their jokes, share their deepest thoughts and speak openly and honestly about their concerns. When needed, a true friend shows up - - without being asked.
But arriving at true friendship takes time. Lots of time. Jesus spent three years with His apostles; yet, they still weren't prepared to walk in when everyone else walked out.
Despite the shortcomings of His friends, Jesus remained true to them. He kept up the dialog until they had reached the ultimate point in any relationship: they knew Him so well they could finish His sentences. It was that oral tradition that kept the Gospel message alive during the early years of the church.
In Capernaum, when Jesus said He was the bread come down from heaven, "many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him." (John 6: 66) Soon thereafter.Judas Iscariot forsook Him. Then, in the Garden of Gethsemane, when the Judas-led mob apprehended Jesus, His friends "all left Him and fled." (Mark 14: 50). Next, Peter denied Him three times in the High Priests' courtyard. And none of His friends came forward to testify on His behalf before the Sanhedrin. Finally, as the Lord hung on the cross, only a few brave women and John stood by Him.
Yet, when the resurrected Jesus appeared to His disloyal friends in the Upper Room, the first thing He said was, "Peace be to you." He wasn't critical, angry or vengeful, He was reassuring and comforting. He was quick to forgive and forget. He viewed His friends in the best possible light and brought out the best in them by exhorting and encouraging them.
In every lasting friendship, there are bound to be good times and bad times. To survive the ups and downs, a relationship must be based on common interests, shared values, mutual respect and trust. True friends are able to deal with one another's little quirks, laugh at their jokes, share their deepest thoughts and speak openly and honestly about their concerns. When needed, a true friend shows up - - without being asked.
But arriving at true friendship takes time. Lots of time. Jesus spent three years with His apostles; yet, they still weren't prepared to walk in when everyone else walked out.
Despite the shortcomings of His friends, Jesus remained true to them. He kept up the dialog until they had reached the ultimate point in any relationship: they knew Him so well they could finish His sentences. It was that oral tradition that kept the Gospel message alive during the early years of the church.
The Poverty of Riches
25/03/10 15:45 Filed in: Money,
I was seated on a plane next to a man from South Africa, who was returning home after vacationing in America. Curious as to what impressions he was taking away from his visit, I asked him what he thought of our country. To my surprise, he said, "You Americans lack for nothing, except contentment."
"What do mean by that?" I asked.
"Well," he said, "let me put it to you this way. When I arrived in America after a long flight, I went to a shop in the airport terminal for a cup of coffee. Right away, the waitress presented me with two choices, 'Regular or decaf?'
"I said I'd take regular.
"'She nodded and asked, 'You want that with cream, half 'n half or skim milk?'
"'Cream,' I replied.
"'Do you want sugar, brown sugar, Sweet 'N low or honey?' she said.
Now that was nine choices, nine buying decisions, before I'd had my morning cup of coffee. That's what I mean when I say you lack for nothing."
"And that's a good thing, isn't it?" I volunteered.
"Maybe not," he replied. "The way I see it, when you are presented with a wide range of choices, it's easy to get confused. You may fail to appreciate the value - - or the consequences - - of any single choice because, if that choice isn't satisfactory, you can discard it and choose another one. There's always more where it came from. In fact, the availability of so many choices with so many features can create a desire that no one choice can satisfy. The abundance can leave you feeling impoverished."
"You must have been in a Starbucks," I joked. But he didn't smile.
"It isn't just coffee we're talking about," he said. "You can see the overabundance everywhere you look in America. Look at all the cereal brands lining the shelves of your supermarkets. Look at all the brands of sneakers on sale at Foot Locker. Look at all the makes and models of cars on your roads."
"Consumer choice is the bedrock of our economy," I said.
"Yes," he replied. "but all those choices foster impulse buying, a trial and error approach that assumes you can always make another choice. That works fine when we're talking about something as inconsequential as a cup of coffee or a breakfast cereal. But when you start to approach bigger decisions that way, the consequences can be serious and there may not be a chance to recoup from a bad decision."
He was right, of course, and many homebuyers have learned that bitter lesson to their great regret. When making important financial decisions, we have to think things through and pray for heavenly guidance.
In the final analysis, the things of this world can never satisfy us for as Saint Augustine said, "Our hearts are restless, until they find rest in Thee."
"What do mean by that?" I asked.
"Well," he said, "let me put it to you this way. When I arrived in America after a long flight, I went to a shop in the airport terminal for a cup of coffee. Right away, the waitress presented me with two choices, 'Regular or decaf?'
"I said I'd take regular.
"'She nodded and asked, 'You want that with cream, half 'n half or skim milk?'
"'Cream,' I replied.
"'Do you want sugar, brown sugar, Sweet 'N low or honey?' she said.
Now that was nine choices, nine buying decisions, before I'd had my morning cup of coffee. That's what I mean when I say you lack for nothing."
"And that's a good thing, isn't it?" I volunteered.
"Maybe not," he replied. "The way I see it, when you are presented with a wide range of choices, it's easy to get confused. You may fail to appreciate the value - - or the consequences - - of any single choice because, if that choice isn't satisfactory, you can discard it and choose another one. There's always more where it came from. In fact, the availability of so many choices with so many features can create a desire that no one choice can satisfy. The abundance can leave you feeling impoverished."
"You must have been in a Starbucks," I joked. But he didn't smile.
"It isn't just coffee we're talking about," he said. "You can see the overabundance everywhere you look in America. Look at all the cereal brands lining the shelves of your supermarkets. Look at all the brands of sneakers on sale at Foot Locker. Look at all the makes and models of cars on your roads."
"Consumer choice is the bedrock of our economy," I said.
"Yes," he replied. "but all those choices foster impulse buying, a trial and error approach that assumes you can always make another choice. That works fine when we're talking about something as inconsequential as a cup of coffee or a breakfast cereal. But when you start to approach bigger decisions that way, the consequences can be serious and there may not be a chance to recoup from a bad decision."
He was right, of course, and many homebuyers have learned that bitter lesson to their great regret. When making important financial decisions, we have to think things through and pray for heavenly guidance.
In the final analysis, the things of this world can never satisfy us for as Saint Augustine said, "Our hearts are restless, until they find rest in Thee."
Lent: The Season of Atonement
21/03/10 18:19 Filed in: Lent
At one time or another, we've all been caught red-handed doing something wrong. Maybe it was a "white lie," shoplifting, cheating on our taxes, running a red light or some other indiscretion. But, whatever the case might have been, chances are "sorry" wasn't good enough. We had to right the wrong and atone for our mistake. We also had to prove we were truly sorry (not just sorry that we were caught) and that we wouldn't do it again. The way we did that was by accepting some punishment as both a sign of our repentance and also of our resolve to do better. In spiritual terms, this punishment, whether self-mortification or imposed by a priest, is called penance.
Lent is the season of atonement in which we examine our conscience and confess our sins in order to be absolved of any wrong doing before the arrival Easter Sunday. Starting with Ash Wednesday, we enter a 40-day period of prayer, fasting, abstinence and repentance in order to purify our souls. While all Christians use Lent as a time to look inward and upward, Catholics take a more rigorous approach. In addition to receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation (penance) on a regular basis, Catholics are expected to make a special point of going to confession during Lent.
But, the once-common practice of frequent confession has fallen somewhat out of favor with the laity. At the same time, the TV talk shows have turned our television sets into electronic confessional boxes with programs like Dr. Phil, Jerry Springer, The View, Oprah Winfrey and The Maury Show. On those shows, nothing is taboo. Nothing is sacred. All that matters is the ratings.
But the fact remains that there is no substitute for the peace of mind and serenity that comes from knowing that you have searched your soul, confessed your sins and have been absolved of any wrong doing by a minister of God, instead of a TV celebrity.
Lent is the season of atonement in which we examine our conscience and confess our sins in order to be absolved of any wrong doing before the arrival Easter Sunday. Starting with Ash Wednesday, we enter a 40-day period of prayer, fasting, abstinence and repentance in order to purify our souls. While all Christians use Lent as a time to look inward and upward, Catholics take a more rigorous approach. In addition to receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation (penance) on a regular basis, Catholics are expected to make a special point of going to confession during Lent.
But, the once-common practice of frequent confession has fallen somewhat out of favor with the laity. At the same time, the TV talk shows have turned our television sets into electronic confessional boxes with programs like Dr. Phil, Jerry Springer, The View, Oprah Winfrey and The Maury Show. On those shows, nothing is taboo. Nothing is sacred. All that matters is the ratings.
But the fact remains that there is no substitute for the peace of mind and serenity that comes from knowing that you have searched your soul, confessed your sins and have been absolved of any wrong doing by a minister of God, instead of a TV celebrity.
Hope Is What Sustains Us
14/03/10 08:30 Filed in: Hope, Success, Prayer
Success in life is not simply a function of one's intelligence. On the I.Q. scale, the difference between a genius and a person of average intelligence is only about 40 percent. That is too small a range to account for the vast differences we see in such measures of success as fortune and power. Likewise, the differences we see among talented performers is much too small to account for the vast differences we see in fame and notoriety.
There is something far more important than intelligence and talent at work shaping the destiny of those we admire. It's a spirit of resilience we call hope. No setback, no hardship, no rejection or loss can stand in the way of those who are filled with hope.
We all stumble and fall at times because the path to the top is rugged and steep. Those who succeed actually fail more often than most. They fail more because they try more. But, when they fail, they don't give up. They stumble facing forward, their eyes on the summit. They never lose sight of what they hope to achieve. They learn from their mistakes and tell themselves this too shall pass. Then they pick themselves up, putting one foot in front of another, never succumbing, never quitting, never doubting the outcome.
For Christians, hope is the virtue that sustains us in difficult times. It is what inspires us to do our utmost to achieve God's plan for our lives. Each time we stumble and fall to our knees, we use the occasion to pray for the strength we need to carry on, knowing that the Lord wil be with us every step of the way.
There is something far more important than intelligence and talent at work shaping the destiny of those we admire. It's a spirit of resilience we call hope. No setback, no hardship, no rejection or loss can stand in the way of those who are filled with hope.
We all stumble and fall at times because the path to the top is rugged and steep. Those who succeed actually fail more often than most. They fail more because they try more. But, when they fail, they don't give up. They stumble facing forward, their eyes on the summit. They never lose sight of what they hope to achieve. They learn from their mistakes and tell themselves this too shall pass. Then they pick themselves up, putting one foot in front of another, never succumbing, never quitting, never doubting the outcome.
For Christians, hope is the virtue that sustains us in difficult times. It is what inspires us to do our utmost to achieve God's plan for our lives. Each time we stumble and fall to our knees, we use the occasion to pray for the strength we need to carry on, knowing that the Lord wil be with us every step of the way.
The Spirit of Lent
20/02/10 10:01 Filed in: Lent
At the start of Lent, the ashes we wear our foreheads remind us that we are sinners and in need of repentance and forgiveness. One thing our generation must make an amend for is the way we have overspent, squandering the birthright of our children and grandchildren. The only way we can hope to do that is by embracing a simpler, truly affordable lifestyle.
When we received the Lenten ashes, we heard the sobering words, “Remember, Man, that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return.” In fact, everything in this world will turn to dust. Those ashes are all that remains of last year’s palm branches, the type of branches laid before Christ on His triumphal entry into Jerusalem - - a pointed reminder of the fleeting nature of all worldly achievements.
The ashes were placed on our foreheads in the sign of a cross to symbolize that we must follow the example of Jesus and take up our cross daily. As faithful Christians, we must be willing to die to self.
During the 40 days of Lent, we are called to die to self through prayer, fasting, abstinence and almsgiving. There is no reason why that spirit of self-sacrifice has to end at Easter. As a nation, we need to live a Lenten lifestyle year ‘round.
When we received the Lenten ashes, we heard the sobering words, “Remember, Man, that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return.” In fact, everything in this world will turn to dust. Those ashes are all that remains of last year’s palm branches, the type of branches laid before Christ on His triumphal entry into Jerusalem - - a pointed reminder of the fleeting nature of all worldly achievements.
The ashes were placed on our foreheads in the sign of a cross to symbolize that we must follow the example of Jesus and take up our cross daily. As faithful Christians, we must be willing to die to self.
During the 40 days of Lent, we are called to die to self through prayer, fasting, abstinence and almsgiving. There is no reason why that spirit of self-sacrifice has to end at Easter. As a nation, we need to live a Lenten lifestyle year ‘round.
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