Tag: compassion
Everyone must be ‘protector’ like St. Joseph, Pope says
Vatican City, Mar 19, 2013 / 03:44 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis called on all people to be “protectors,” like Saint Joseph, by watching over and caring for the poor, families, friendships, the environment and their own emotions and hearts. “In the end, everything has been entrusted to our protection, and all of us are… Read More ›
Finding God’s will
(notes for a talk I’m giving) At times it can seem like finding God’s will for some people is like going to an Easter egg hunt. Looking under bushes and rocks, seeking to find the God’s will written out in bold letters: “This is it, my will”….”you win”. Of course it is noting like that,… Read More ›
Forget the nit-picking
There are times, in all of our walks with God, in Catholicism, when we have something to say. There may be a matter, at church, to be blunt, that we don’t much like. There may even be scandal. Sometimes, it’s just a personal preference. We may be agitated at the length of a homily. Or… Read More ›
In whose image?
People often make ‘God’ into a very big person living in the sky, apart and scary…. because being a very big person; you can imagine if such a personality ever gets real angry. For some God even seems to be bi-polar and very difficult to placate. I guess all of our ideas about ‘Ultimate Reality’… Read More ›
And justice looked down from heaven
And justice looked down from heaven. That the Saviour should have mercy on his people was indeed an act of justice. See what the Scripture says: O how just are God’s judgments and how unsearchable his ways! On the one hand truth, that is, a saviour, has grown up from the earth, and on the… Read More ›
Prayer/trust
There are as many ways to pray as there are people. While it is true that we are very much alike, yet, the life that we each have within is unique. One reason that communication is so difficult is because ‘words’ have to be interrupted, so misunderstandings are easy, common and oftentimes painful. Many as… Read More ›
Central core
Faith is useless if the central core is missing. It then becomes just another ideology; closed to change and lifeless since it is cut off from what is most essential. “To love one neighbor as oneself” is the essential core of any faith that is alive and vibrant. “To treat others as you want to be treated”, if… Read More ›
The noxious weed: the love of money
Now nothing is more effective against the devil’s wiles, dearly beloved, than tender compassion and unselfish love; by these every sin can be either avoided or conquered. But such a degree of virtue cannot be attained until its contrary is overcome; and there is surely nothing so hostile to mercy and works of charity as… Read More ›
Fully human
The more one loves the deeper the understanding that leads to compassion and empathy. Self knowledge is the royal road leading to sympathy for self, blocking off the tendency to run from others and their pain, through hatred, contempt and the use of violence. Self righteous indignation flows from a lack of understanding of one’s… Read More ›
Do not render evil for evil
In Lower Egypt there was an anchorite who was well-known because he dwelt in a solitary cell in the desert. Now by the power of Satan, a shameless woman who had heard of him said to some young men, “What would you give me if I could cause your anchorite to fall?” They agreed to… Read More ›