April 4, 2025
A Redefinition of An Ugly Word
Friends, some words can make us cringe. I think we need to start there.
For example, take the word hate. Hate can be used in a variety of contexts, but permitting its use even occasionally can allow evil spirits to progress to disguise the meaning more or less, and then it becomes a more accepted part of our vocabulary. Dislike is the better term.
The word KILL is the word, and an ugly word, and the topic of today's Gospel (Mt 5:20-26). It is redefined by Jesus as He is wont to do. Thankfully, He broadens the definition for us to include our referring to someone as a fool, and when our 'brother' has something against us, or when we have something against someone, that we need to be reconciled. This needs to be pondered, for it includes not merely our use of the word "fool" but also our thinking ill of anyone. It's that broad in Jesus' eyes.
Read that again. Our 'brother' has something against us and we are to do what, go reconcile with them? Exactly. Fair? Not in the least according to most of us. But can we read this through a Biblical lens? Fundamentally, two people are at odds. Most times we build walls and take the "I'll be kind to you if you'll be kind to me" approach. An eye for an eye, making the whole world blind; so said Gandhi.
The grace of humility allows us to reconcile. Do we wait for the other to muster the humility to apologize and reconcile, or do we move to reconcile?
We need to ask ourselves a hard question. Do I have anything against anyone?
When Word Got Out (Immaculate Conception)
Friends, today is a day of great importance in the Catholic faith and, therefore, is referred to as a Solemnity.
Pondering how great our Savior is, we can and should extend our minds to consider His coming and everything related to th…
Winnowing and Singing
Friends, I bet you don't know what "winnowing" means. Maybe you do but I had no clue this morning when reading the Gospel (Lk 3:10-18). I quickly flipped to my dictionary app and learned that it was and remains a means to separate the seed from th…
