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.

Twelve Years Later: God Bless America

~~~ Colossians 3:1-11 ~~~ Psalm 145 ~~~ Luke 6:20-26 ~~~

 

Christ is all and in all.

Today as we remember the events of twelve years ago it is fitting
to have these beautiful readings.
Everyone old enough has a very vivid memory of where they were
 and what they were doing when the news of the attacks
 on the Twin Towers was broadcast.
Today it is another opportunity to confirm in our lives
that Christ is all and in all.

Twelve years ago, some asked where was God.
Many more revealed stories
exactly how God had been with them that morning.
Today we remember the day we witnessed great evil
and the magnificent goodness within people.

  seek what is above,
Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.

Many who died that day made decisions surely motivated
by that which is beyond this earth...that which is of God...heavenly.
 

Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly
  put on the new self

The new self must be one of forgiveness and peace.
Anger and fury must be removed from our hearts otherwise
there can be no peace.
Peace must begin in my heart and in your heart.
If we are ever to have Peace in this world it begins in each of our hearts.

The new self Paul speaks of is about putting on Christ.
Adorning ourselves in body, mind, and spirit with goodness.
Jesus gave us the ultimate example of forgiveness.
It is a daily struggle to follow his example even in small things
much less in something as horrifying as 9/11.

He never pretended that it would be easy.
We must daily take up our cross and follow him.

Forgiven but not Forgotten. 

 

 

The words of the Beatitudes say it all...
 

Blessed are you who are poor 

 for the Kingdom of God is yours.
Blessed are you who are now hungry,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who are now weeping,
for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when people hate you,
and when they exclude and insult you,
and denounce your name as evil
on account of the Son of Man.
Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!
Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.

 

The word Beatitude means blessedness, grace.
Without grace we will not make progress toward our heavenly reward.
The Sermon on the Mount was the blueprint of our home in heaven.
The master designer carefully drew up these plans for us.

It is not easy to rejoice and leap for joy when you are hungry,
sad, or feeling rejected. 

But Jesus is telling us these things have a flip side.
They will be turned into satisfaction, laughter, and validation
because of the grace given to us through him.. 

 

So here we are twelve years later...
are we in a better place...
has our faith increased....
are we more willing to forgive?
How are you doing?
Is your heart in a better place today?

Blessings today in giving thanks for those who lives were sacrificed.
It was the realization for all of us just how destructive evil can become.
There is only one path to follow for healing and that is
the path of Peace and Forgiveness.

Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly
  put on the new self...

This is how we follow the heavenly path.
God Bless America...
and shed his grace down upon us.