Chain Links of Love

~~~ 2 Peter 1: 2-7 ~~~ Psalm 91 ~~~ Mark 12: 1-12 ~~~

Peter's writing depicts the chain links of love...

supplement you faith with virtue...

virtue with knowledge...

knowledge with self-control...

self-control with endurance...

endurance with devotion...

devotion with mutual affection...

mutual affection with love.

If you link yourself to this chain of love you may just be able to escape

'the corruption that is in this world because of evil desire'.

This could have been written yesterday about the world in which we live right now,

but these words were written by Peter hundreds of years ago.

Reading these words makes me ask, "Has anything changed? Is our world still not filled with the evil desire about which Peter writes?"

Today's parable of the vineyard tenants is also a sad commentary on our society today.

Jesus was speaking about the long line of those who had come before him who were mistreated and ignored. And finally he spoke about his own rejection

and finally his death.

The headline news today is tainted with stories of companies being destroyed by not only poor, but actually vicious selfish management. Management that has given themselves the right to abuse their postition for their own greater glory at the expense of their employees.

Those listening to Jesus as he proclaims this parable gradually realize that he was talking about them. Instead of arresting him as they had planned they turned and walked away fearing the crowd.

Unfortunately many today have lost their way; living far outside moral excellence or even goodness. Self-control seems to be only for the weak; today you have the 'right' to

treat others as 'you' see fit. And mutual affection only applies to those who share your same views whether religious, political or otherwise.

Personally I sometimes struggle with accepting certain groups. I know this is an issue for me to pray about. St. Peter is telling us to be vigilant and pray to be blessed with the virtues of faith, hope, and love. Those are the theological virtues; gifts from God.

The cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance are just as valuable to foster in our daily lives. Cardinal comes from the Latin word 'cardo' which means hinge. Without these four virtues we fall deeper into the cycle of corruption.

The cardinal virtues make up the foundation of common sense morality.

Fortitude is the only virtue that is also one of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

If you would like to learn more about the Cardinal Virtues you may find the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas very helpful.