Luke 11:37-41 The Things That Matter Most
After Jesus had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at table to eat. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil….Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside?”
God loves us just the way we are. Although I may disagree with most people who love to say this, I have to admit I disagree with them not because of what they say but because they “know not what they are saying.” Yes, the Lord loves us “just the way we are”. But if this is true, then why did the Lord admonish his host? Why not just ignore him? If I can’t say a kind word, then I shouldn’t say anything, correct? And besides, the poor Pharisee didn’t even express his astonishment to Jesus. Why all the fuss?
Yes, I agree, the Lord loves us “just the way we are”. In fact, He loves us enough to die for us. But that does not mean He doesn’t expect much more from us, especially after He died for us.
Jesus loves the Pharisee enough not only to die for Him but to correct him as well. Love is not blind to error or sin. It does not ignore one’s faults or even one’s sins. The Lover is allowed to correct the beloved, and leaves room to be corrected himself.
It is not wrong for a mother and father to say to their child, “I will always love you no matter what you do.” But it would be seriously wrong for a mom and dad to never teach their child right from wrong.
Today, applauses, ribbons, certificates and trophies are given out like assorted candy. Everyone gets one, regardless of how well they did or how much effort they put in. Every time we congratulate a student on their poor performance we’re not only lying to them but teaching them how to lie.
Yes, parents and teachers should love their children and students just the way they are, but that doesn’t mean they have to lie to them. It takes faith, not lies, to love someone. “Faith working through love” is what matters most (cf. Gal. 5:6).
My country right or wrong. Americans were not the first to use this slogan during the Vietnam War. The British were, sometime in the 19th century, and during a war. It is not an easily understood slogan. It can easily turn the patriot into a real traitor. After all, if someone loves their country enough to allow it to go down the wrong path, then (sorry) he is not a patriot, he is a traitor. I love my country very much, enough to warn it or stop it from going down the wrong path!
Not too long ago, I got into an argument with a very holy woman who happens to be a Democrat and a very good friend (at least I think so). She was trying to convince me that the Republicans were politicizing the tragic death of our Ambassador and three other Americans in Libya. For her, this tragic incident was becoming a political issue, and the main reason for all the conservative media’s attention.
My perspective is very different. I told her that this tragedy will not go away not because Republicans keep bringing it up but because terrorists keep bringing it on, especially every 9/11. Aren’t the terrorists constantly reminding us where there is a lack of security? Aren’t they reminding us that the war on terrorism is far from over? The Islamic world, especially in the Middle East, does not join us in mourning the loss of life on 9/11. Instead, they continue to pick at our wound or open up a new one every 9/11. The war on terrorism is far from being over. And there is fear in admitting this. It will take at least a century for this war to end because we refuse to attack the source of the problem: Radical Islamic preaching.
I love my country, right or wrong, but love doesn't hide the issues, it brings them out, into the light.
Everyone who loves life, their country, their family and their neighbor must speak up about what matters most. It takes a lot of courage to love everyone just the way they are. It takes a great deal of faith to love them even more.
Thank you Father. You have said what many of us feel. We are very very fortunate to have you with us.
ReplyDeleteThank you father! You have said what many of us feel but have not taken a stand on. We are very very forturnate to have you in our lives.
ReplyDeleteSadly, today's Democratic Party promotes policies that are anything but holy according to biblical and Catholic teaching, such as gay marriage and unrestricted abortion at any stage of the pregnancy. The Democratic Party once again has nominated for President a man who has voted against the Born Alive act on more than one occasion, which would require a doctor to save the life of a child who survives a botched late-term abortion. In other words, the Democratic Presidential nominee supports infanticide, and we're supposed to believe that he cares for the downtrodden and the most vulnerable in our society?!
ReplyDeleteFollowing is a link to an excellent article about a Catholic Bishop's comments on moral complicity and voting:
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/catholic-bishop-voting-for-obama-dems-could-place-eternal-salvation-of-your-own-soul-in-serious-jeopardy/
It takes a lot of courage to love everyone just the way they are. It takes a great deal of faith to love them even more. - You are so Right Father!
ReplyDeleteWe are such hypocrites. Whether Democrat or Republican. Both are for abortion. How can you say you are pro-life when you make exceptions. So if I was concieved through rape or incest its ok to have an abortion. Who fights for that baby to live. You talk about infanticide how many women who are married in the Catholic Church take birth control. How can we throw stones at gays when many of us who are heterosexual live in sin with our partner whether man or woman. I just pray that the Lord guides us in choosing our future leader. God Bless America.
ReplyDeleteSo, let me get this straight...we should vote for the one who makes no exceptions because he is not a hypocrite.
ReplyDeleteAnd infanticide is equivalent to birth control?
And what political party is throwing stones at gays or at heterosexuals living in sin? Do you realize that being gay is not a sin but being unfaithful to your spouse is?
Maybe it was late when you wrote this. I know what you are trying to say, but try to say it.
Exceptions always leave the door open ..... whatever the reason of the pregnancy, there is always a better option before abortion. it is not the unborn babys fault.
ReplyDeleteGreat Meditation!
A person who is homosexual, has a same-sex attraction and does not act on it, that is not a sin. Just as a spouse who may be attracted to another person and does not act on it and lives out their vocation of marriage faithfully during their earthy time, is not a sin. However, the act, the crossing over the line, on both issue's that is where the sin is. Let's be crystal clear please. Please stop the stoning. enough with the scarlet letter already. the meditation does come off of the page and into my life.
ReplyDeleteThe Democratic Presidential nominee supports neonaticide, since he has voted against the Born Alive Act more than once, which would require the doctor to save the life of a child who is born alive after a botched late-term abortion. Of course abortion is wrong despite the reason for obtaining one, but the Democratic Party's policies and HHS mandate are requiring all taxpayers to fund birth control in addition to abortions domestically and internationally. The Republicans will not use taxpayer money for this purpose, which means that people who do not support these atrocities will not be required by law to pay for them.
ReplyDeleteBiblical and Catholic teaching state that marriage should be between one man and one woman. To oppose the Democratic Party's gay marriage policy that conflicts with Biblical and Catholic teaching does not mean that one is throwing stones, just as Christ was not throwing stones at the adulterous woman when He told her to go and sin no more. The Church teaches that it is a sin to engage in homosexual behavior, just as it is a sin to engage in adulterous behavior.
As a practicing Catholic, I have an obligation to support a political party platform that is most closely aligned to Christian teaching. In this case and in this election, the choice is extremely clear. "I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the LORD, your God." Dt 30:15
Father Alfonse,
ReplyDeleteFirst let me tell you I am not a debater nor do I write or speak as well as you and your followers. But what I do know is that there is a lot of confusion and sometimes it gets the best of us. Please know that I am not saying that one candidate is better than the other. I am truly confused about this election. I am praying and trying to understand it but my education in politics in itself is a weakness of mine. I am trying to base my decision more on Catholic teachings.
Having said that, the reason I responded to your meditation was because your anonymous writer wrote specifically about the Democrats and we need to look at both Democrats and Republicans.
To answer your question I never said who to vote for, I simply pointed out that both candidates are for abortion in one way or another. And the question addressed was how can you say you are pro-life when you make exceptions? Ryan said in his debate that he would not allow abortion…great…except when it had to do with incest, rape. And I pose the question again, who fights for the baby who comes from rape or incest? I would truly like for you to answer that question. Weren’t you the one who told us in a sermon that you had discovered that the fight was not about pro-life or pro-choice but who fights for that unborn? I can see many loopholes come about with this exception. How many women even now claim they were raped and we come to find out that they weren’t? Can you imagine now reading in the news that a woman who claimed she was raped and was not but because there was an exception to the abortion rule she was allowed an abortion? Maybe even before they could even come up with a verdict! These are the kind of cases that scare me and I foresee.
The question about the infanticide and birth control… of course it is not equivalent. But Father, just because there is not a human developed doesn't mean you can destroy seed of what could become a human, is just as bad? This is what we do when we take contraceptives, where are the policies to eliminate contraceptives? There is not even an agenda for it. This is why I say we are hypocrites.
Does the Church teach that the unnatural or artificial means of birth control are immoral and blameworthy? Yes. In Humanae Vitae, the
first-named form of illicit or unnatural method of birth control is abortion (n. 14).[3]
Then, "equally to be excluded, as the teaching authority of the Church has frequently declared, is direct sterilization, whether perpetual or temporary whether of the man or woman" (Humanae Vitae, 14). This condemns
tubal ligations, vasectomies, and the Pill. Please note it did state “equally to be excluded”.
This is what I was reacting to….Sadly, today's Democratic Party promotes policies that are anything but holy according to biblical and Catholic teaching, such as gay marriage—We are so focused on gay marriage that we Catholics forget our own doctrine about the Sanctity of Marriage. Yes Father Alfonse, I am aware that being gay is not a sin it is only a sin when it is acted upon in contrary to Gods plan. I also know that being unfaithful to your spouse is a sin. Perhaps, we need to refocus on our family policies instead.
Finally, Father I am curious to know what you know I was trying to say, I hope I said it, and this is where I will stop on this meditation.
P.S. Thank you to your followers for giving me some new insight on this meditation.
Paul Ryan is in fact 100% pro-life. Romney says in cases of incest or rape, he is ok with abortion. Perhaps Ryan should have declined being Romney's running mate because of this disagreement. I think Romney is trying to show compassion towards women who are abused? In short, the Republican platform supports life and the sanctity of marriage.
ReplyDeleteObama, on the other hand is pro-death. I think everyone knows where he stands and I need not go into details here about his stand on abortion and/or marriage. As Christians, we are called to vote for the lesser of the two evils. It's quite obvious who that would be.
Here is a link to a voters guide:
www.catholic-convert.com/2012/10/10/voters-guide-to-compare-Romney-and-Obama/