During this time of violence and sadness in our nation, it seems as if we forget or take it as trite and naïve when someone says "We need to love one another." But we are living in a society that is more and more prone to ridiculing the Christian values that the baptized were signed with when sealed with the sign of the cross. If we, as proclaimed followers of Christ don't get it, who will?
Today my heart, as yours, has been filled with prayer for the families of the officers murdered in Dallas. My heart too, has been filled with those nameless victims that have been killed in other parts of our country and the world too. Can I, can we finally face the truth?
You may ask, "What truth?" to my question. Well, I always wonder why we don't get it when our televisions broadcast inappropriate and violent programs that have become easily accessible for our children. And we wonder why they do not value other's lives? Why they choose anger and violence over peaceful means to solving conflicts? It seems a no-brainer to me, but we, as an adult society, like these programs, and so they remain. Everyone knows that if a good number of viewers turned off the TV in protest, eventually, things would be changed. As computer programmers once told me, "Garbage in, garbage out." They weren't just talking about computers, they were talking about our minds, our very being and the influence our society can have upon us.
If we want our nation to respect life, then we need to sow the seeds of life in our society and cease ridiculing those who try to do so. The well-known song "Let There Be Peace On Earth" has a refrain that we need to take seriously: "And let it begin with me."
So, loving one another again, regardless of race, religion, class or any other unique distinction, can be attained if we truly want it. If we truly want it, we will deny ourselves in order to get it. If we truly want it, we will change what needs to be changed in ourselves, so that we can have peace ". . . begin with me."
When will we live the Resurrection spirituality that calls us to die to ourselves so that others may live?
My prayer today for myself and for each of us is that we may work with God's grace to love so that "the whole world may know that we're not alone." The Risen Christ works through you and me and is present to each of us if we just let him in.
Today my heart, as yours, has been filled with prayer for the families of the officers murdered in Dallas. My heart too, has been filled with those nameless victims that have been killed in other parts of our country and the world too. Can I, can we finally face the truth?
You may ask, "What truth?" to my question. Well, I always wonder why we don't get it when our televisions broadcast inappropriate and violent programs that have become easily accessible for our children. And we wonder why they do not value other's lives? Why they choose anger and violence over peaceful means to solving conflicts? It seems a no-brainer to me, but we, as an adult society, like these programs, and so they remain. Everyone knows that if a good number of viewers turned off the TV in protest, eventually, things would be changed. As computer programmers once told me, "Garbage in, garbage out." They weren't just talking about computers, they were talking about our minds, our very being and the influence our society can have upon us.
If we want our nation to respect life, then we need to sow the seeds of life in our society and cease ridiculing those who try to do so. The well-known song "Let There Be Peace On Earth" has a refrain that we need to take seriously: "And let it begin with me."
So, loving one another again, regardless of race, religion, class or any other unique distinction, can be attained if we truly want it. If we truly want it, we will deny ourselves in order to get it. If we truly want it, we will change what needs to be changed in ourselves, so that we can have peace ". . . begin with me."
When will we live the Resurrection spirituality that calls us to die to ourselves so that others may live?
My prayer today for myself and for each of us is that we may work with God's grace to love so that "the whole world may know that we're not alone." The Risen Christ works through you and me and is present to each of us if we just let him in.
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