This culture [of death] is actively fostered by powerful cultural, economic and political currents which encourage an idea of society excessively concerned with efficiency… The first to be harmed are women, children, the sick or suffering, and the elderly. The criterion of personal dignity—which demands respect, generosity and service—is replaced by the criterion of efficiency, … Continue reading The Inefficiency of Love
Love
Love Is Come Again
In the grave they laid Him, Love by hatred slain, Thinking that never He would wake again. Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen: Love is come again, like wheat arising green. Easter Carol Now the Green Blade Rises ____________ Love Is Come Again For me this Easter, finding humility was a lot like … Continue reading Love Is Come Again
Gracefulness
"Hail, full of grace!" Luke 1:28 ____________ Gracefulness Grace and gratitude It is interesting that the words "grace" and "gratitude" have similar etymologies. They derive from the Latin word gratus, which means both pleasing and thankful (pleased). This reveals a practical way of understanding John Paul II's description of mercy as "bilateral", or two-sided: An act of … Continue reading Gracefulness
The Joy of Humility
We proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 1 Corinthians 1:23-25 ____________ … Continue reading The Joy of Humility
Adoration
I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 ____________ Adoration Humility Humility can be summed up in this prayer: "Jesus, help me to love myself as you love … Continue reading Adoration
Sacrifice
But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath. Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his … Continue reading Sacrifice
Love One Another
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love [agapas] me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love [philo] you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do … Continue reading Love One Another
Correction vs. Condemnation
The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They … Continue reading Correction vs. Condemnation
Peace on Earth
How hard it is to know the language of another person! To understand perfectly and to speak yourself! Each of us had his own language, his own way of understanding world around him. This language of his soul is as unique to the world as he is. Just as we can trace the languages of … Continue reading Peace on Earth
Gardens
Song of Songs: The voice of my beloved! Behold he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills. My beloved is like a gazelle, or a young stag. Behold, there he stands behind our wall, gazing in at the windows, looking through the lattice. My beloved speaks and says to me: “Arise, my love, … Continue reading Gardens
A Grain of Salt 