"The life of a Christian is nothing but a perpetual struggle against self; there is no flowering of the soul to the beauty of its perfection except at the price of pain" (a saying of Padre Pio)
Lectio of the Day
Daily Mass Readings Online
Saint of the Day:
Padre Pio of Pietrelcina
EWTN has a special site set up to celebrate the life of Padre Pio, which is loaded with facts, quotes, personal history, and photos of the saint.
Today's First Reading, from the Wisdom book of Proverbs is most interesting and relevant considering the economic news :
Like a stream is the king's heart in the hand of the Lord;
wherever it pleases him, he directs it.
All the ways of a man may be right in his own eyes,
but it is the Lord who proves hearts.
To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrafice.
Haughty eyes and a proud heart --
the tillage of the wicked is sin.
The plans of the diligent are sure of profit,
but all rash haste leads certainly to poverty.
Whoever makes a fortune by a lying tongue
is chasing a bubble over deadly snares.
The soul of the wicked one desires evil;
his neighbour finds no pity in his eyes.
When the arrogant man is punished, the simple are the wiser;
when the wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
THe just man appraises the house of the wicked;
there is one who brings down the wicked to ruin.
He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself also call out and not be heard.
My Personal Commentary:
I look at the news headlines and consider how ignorance of these proverbs on the part of our leaders has led to the crisis we now face. It isn't that people have not been speaking out for months that our economy was headed for trouble - it was that the Bush Administration and those responsible for the health of the economy in our country didn't heed their warnings. The Bush Administration and the Republicans worked hard to deregulate the mortgage and investment banking industries so that they could profit, and now the retribution for their risky behaviour and predatory lending to the economically disadvantaged is at hand.
Pope Benedict XVI, in his recent visit to Lourdes warned against placing too much reliance upon money and material goods. The Pope focused on the ills of modern materialism, taking time to specifically condemn unbridled passions for power, possessions, and money. It seems as if the past eight years in this country have been ruled by these very passions; despite all their talk about being "good Christians", the Republicans have made idols out of money and power.
Let us consider the following as we meditate on today's proverbs:
"Have not money, the thirst for possessions, for power - and even knowledge - diverted man from his true destiny?" Pope Benedict XVI
No comments:
Post a Comment