JMJ
Or is it? Today, many in the Church, who count themselves among the pious, speak of the evil of moral relativism. Okay. I agree, that without an objective moral truth, which suggests a supreme lawgiver, all morality is relative. Ethics and morality then become a personal set of values pursued under the false salvific promise of self-actualization. There is, however known to the faithful, such a objective, supreme lawgiver and we call Him “God”.
What I find most disheartening in those who recognize the falsehood of moral relativism is that these same people seem to relativize their own morality whilst claiming to be Christian. In the United States, from whence I hail and of which I am, therefore, qualified to speak, we have a morality of convenience and comfort; while judging others for their motes, we are blinded by our beams.
American Christians being largely wealthy by all worldly standards, past and present, split hairs when it comes to the Beatitudes and it never ceases to amaze me to what great pains clergy and lay will go to explain away such phrases as: blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of Heaven is yours and woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. What in this is unclear? As said in the book of Acts: And all they that believed, were together, and had all things in common. Their possessions and goods they sold, and divided them to all, according as everyone had need. I again ask: What here is unclear?
People speak of “detachment” and if this were true they would willingly detach and see their brother fed. Well, if I lost it all tomorrow. . .and yet, they will quibble as to whether five dollars sent to the local food bank can be written off their taxes.
What is the remedy? The answer is so easy as to become cliché: To not have or practice love, but to become love. For when you become love for His sake then not only all you have but all that you are will be in service of God and neighbor. Thus you will become significant in the Kingdom of Heaven.
For
When you are love, for love you will become poor;
When you are love, for love you will mourn;
When you are love, for love you will become meek;
When you are love, for love you will hunger and thirst for righteousness;
When you are love, for love you will be merciful;
When you are love, for love you will be pure of heart;
When you are love, for love you will be a peacemaker;
When you are love, for love you will be persecuted for righteousness sake;
When you are love, men will persecute you, revile you, and speak all manner of evil against you falsely for His sake.
When you are love, therefore, you may rejoice and be exceedingly glad for yours is the Kingdom of Heaven; you will be comforted; you will inherit the earth; you will be filled; you will obtain mercy; you shall see God; you shall be a child of God. Having sold all you have and given all you are, you shall have treasure in Heaven. Then, following Jesus, you will be led to perfection, and having your head anointed with oil and your cup running over, you will dwell in the House of the Lord forever.
Let us pray:
O Almighty Father, we implore you, through the most Immaculate Heart of Mary, teach us to be poor, to mourn, to be meek, to be merciful, and pure of heart. Let us hunger and thirst for righteousness and peace for love of You and neighbor regardless of what persecution it may bring. Please loving Father, remind us that we are mere dust and ash, made from nothingness and but for your love would return to nothingness. Teach us not merely to love, but to be love that we may immersed in your Holy Spirit and through Your Son, our Lord and Redeemer, Jesus Christ live in the way of the Blessed Virgin Mary in which our souls magnify Thee O Lord, and our spirits rejoice in Thee O Lord. That we may know Thee, love Thee, serve Thee in this life, and be eternally happy with Thee in the next.
Amen.
May Almighty God bless you; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
(C) 17 February 2019
For Lourdes Sake 