Practicing Compassion

~~~ 1 Corinthians 8:1B-7, 11-13 ~~~ Psalm 139 ~~~ Luke 6:27-38 ~~~

There are some who have been so used to idolatry up until now
that, when they eat meat sacrificed to idols,
their conscience, which is weak, is defiled.

Today we remember those who lost there lives thirteen years ago
 in the World Trade center attack.
The individuals involved lost their way and chose
 to travel down the path of darkness.

They unplugged their conscience.
They gave up their desire to live in this world.
They lost all respect for life, their own and the life of others.
It truly was a sad day for the whole world.
God Bless all who came to the aid of so many people that day.

I pray that compassion will prevail in our hearts today.

Eventually you can desensitize yourself
if you do something enough times.
This is the danger in exposing yourself
to a continuous stream of violence.
You become so accustomed to watching violence
 being acted out you become numb to such crimes.

Thirteen years ago we could not leave our television sets...
we could not believe what our eyes were telling us.
We cried tears until our eyes were red and swollen.

The more we sin the less uncomfortable or guilty we feel.
If you miss Mass the first few times it feels wrong,
but if you miss Mass enough times it will no longer bother you.
Most people who are caught shop lifting admit
 that it was not their first offense.

If we let sin gradually take root in our soul
we will not even notice when it has taken control.
We must examine our conscience often
 just to make sure we are not becoming numb to the world
around us...just to make sure we are not letting
sin get the better part of our soul.

We are born with a pure heart.
We learn through trial and error as
 to how far we can push the envelope.
Young children are masters at seeing just how far they can go...
to see what they can get away with.
Usually the parents will intervene setting the limits. 

Now that we are adults we must set our own limits...
limits bounded by love and compassion.

~~9/11/ 2001~~
Love and Compassion rose above this horrible situation
 to prevail in the hearts of thousands.

May God Bless us with a conscience formed
by love and compassion.

God did bless many people on that
 terrible day in our country.

Peace be with you.