Mk 7:14-23 Consecrated In The TruthWhat is reality? That which is true. What is truth? That which corresponds to reality. Truth and reality go hand to hand. In fact, truth is like a glove that fits perfectly to reality. All that is not true feels and fits like a left-hand glove on someone’s right hand. If you want a more concrete example, take a look at this Foxnews report regarding an interview with the VP of Communications for Planned Parenthood. The glove doesn't fit.
“Hear me all, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.”
An unknown author once wrote, “Be careful of your thoughts, for your thoughts become your words. Be careful of your words, for your words become your actions. Be careful of your actions, for your actions become your habits. Be careful of your habits, for your habits become your character. Be careful of your character, for your character becomes your destiny.”
Man was made and consecrated in truth, for his Creator is true to his word. “Let us create man in our image.” And it happened. Not only did God create man in his image and likeness, he took his Word, “and the Word became flesh and lived among us.” What did God give to man but the ability to seek and to find (to discover and embrace) the truth. And, let me make this very clear, none of us are satisfied until we find the truth, regardless of how painful it may be. We all want to know the truth. We all seek authentic love, true kindness, real-life stories and honest-to-God friends. No one is satisfied with lies. No one, not even children.
When we look at our ancestors, it is not too difficult to believe the ancient stories of Adam and Eve; of Cain and Abel. After all, we can be confident that there must have been a first man and a first woman. Otherwise, we would not be. That they had belly-buttons is irrelevant. We also know that in the history of the world, as man began to separate himself more and more from his Creator, sin grew fiercer and commonplace. Is it so hard to believe in the story of Cain and Abel? Is it so hard to believe that there must have been a first theft in the history of the world and a first murderer? No, someone or something taught man how to kill and we know that it must have happened early on because we have become experts, professionals, in this crime.
Today is a day of reflection. Begin with no doubts in your heart, soul or mind. What is this truth that I seek? To know myself and to know the one who created me? To seek out and to love the one who loved me first. Well then, take some time today - this week - to meditate on life, on friendship, on beauty and wrap it all in God’s truth. Allow your mind to wander and to investigate. Do not allow yourself to be hindered under the burden of sin, which is all too common for all of us. What do I mean by that? If you look close enough, you will always see the defects in your brothers and sisters. From within sinful man comes evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. No, seek that which is original, not counterfeit or foreign. Look into their eyes and not with the splinter or plank that hinders your own.
Seek God in all Truth. O bless the Lord, my soul! (Ps 104:1)
“Be careful of your thoughts, for your thoughts become your words. Be careful of your words, for your words become your actions"
ReplyDeleteIn my experience, this principle also works in reverse. Speech, in particular, becomes the controller of both thoughts and actions.
I am reminded to "engage brain before opening mouth", as I have patterns of speech that I learned in my previous, rebellious way of being and living.
When I use the language of rebellion (i.e. expletives, et al), I find myself transported back to that time of rebellion in my thoughts, in my spirit and, ultimately, in my actions, in a cascade that can only be aborted by sacramental confession.
Why?
. . . . .because what I have described is a cycle in the acting out of an addiction.
At the risk of being accused of having excessive "scruples" by my confessor, I can abort that cascade sooner rather than later.
When the bottle of S.Pellegrino falls to the tile floor, scattering its green shards to inaccessible corner, my challenge is to replace the language of of rebellion with the language of its opposite: gratitude!
Father,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the beautiful reminder of lookiing for the good and truth in others. I find myself looking for defects in others on occasion. I think this comes from my past career of seeing all the negativity around me. I truly want to see goodness and love for all those around me. Stay warm and have a blessed day.
Dear Father,
ReplyDeleteThe story of Adam & Eve is a very beautiful one. But the one confusing point is how can so many races originate from 2 people that are of the same race.
If I understand you correctly, we have two choices. The first is the Darwinian approach which would test the theory of chance beyond comprehension for it would require the good fortune of a man and a woman being created from more than one inferior specie. And that it would have had to have happened in various parts of the world. Or, over time and over distance man and woman themselves adapted to climate and change. Scientifically and biblically I would have to say that the later is much more reasonable and coherent with Scripture.
ReplyDeleteThank you. For a man & woman to be created in various parts of the world simultaneously does defy comprehension. The 2nd reason then, is more logical. Personally, I had assumed there was a genetic mutation along the generations that resulted in various races over time, since people living in similar climates are even different.
ReplyDeleteI found that when I stopped focusing on the things that my marriage and husband were lacking, and began looking at the things that were positive, my world became a much more peaceful place.
ReplyDeleteI long to have a husband that I can share my faith with, who doesn’t look like a deer in the headlights when I ask him to pray with me; someone I can share my struggles and hopes with.
I continue to pray for these things but I don’t allow them to cause me heartache anymore.
My husband is a wonderful man, a fantastic dad to our children, has a generous heart and loves me. When I quit focusing on the things that he wasn’t, my love for him grew.
I thank God daily for blessing me with such a wonderful family and ask for His mercy for all the time I spent being ungrateful.
"How we've become experts in crime!" - The profundity in this expression struck me the most. The farther away we drift from our creator, the more our mind gets disturbed; the more our mind gets busy being busy in things that only cause destruction. Thank you Fr. Alfonse for sharing your guidance on how we could meditate "on life, on friendship, on beauty and wrap it all in God’s truth." This is inspiring! It shows the way to the making of a better world starting with ourselves.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless.