Thursday, August 19, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
'Miracle' as plane hit by lightning splits into three
'Miracle' as plane hit by lightning splits into three: "San Andres's governor Pedro Gallardo called it a stroke of good fortune that there were not more casualties among the 131 people on board.
'We thank God for the miracle granted to this archipelago,' he said.
'The captain, the co-pilot and all the crew are safe,' Gallardo told national Radio Caraco"
'We thank God for the miracle granted to this archipelago,' he said.
'The captain, the co-pilot and all the crew are safe,' Gallardo told national Radio Caraco"
Thursday, January 15, 2009
In Defense of Death
By DAVID BROOKS
Published: January 12, 2009
William D. Eddy was an Episcopal minister in Tarrytown, N.Y., and an admirer of the writer and theologian Richard John Neuhaus. When Rev. Eddy grew gravely ill about 20 years ago, I asked Neuhaus to write him a letter of comfort.
I was shocked when I read it a few weeks later. As I recall, Neuhaus’s message was this: There are comforting things you and I have learned to say in circumstances such as these, but we don’t need those things between ourselves.
Neuhaus then went on to talk frankly and extensively about death. Those two men were in a separate fraternity and could talk directly about things the rest avoided.
Neuhaus was no stranger to death. As a young minister, he worked in the death ward at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, a giant room with 50 to 100 dying people in it, where he would accompany two or three to their deaths each day. One sufferer noticed an expression on Neuhaus’s face and said, “Oh, oh, don’t be afraid,” and then sagged back and expired.
Much later, Neuhaus endured his own near-death experience. An undiagnosed tumor led to a ruptured intestine and a series of operations. He recovered slowly, first in intensive care, and then in a regular hospital room, where something strange happened.
“I was sitting up staring intently into the darkness, although in fact I knew my body was lying flat,” he later wrote in an essay called “Born Toward Dying” in his magazine, First Things. “What I was staring at was a color like blue and purple, and vaguely in the form of hanging drapery. By the drapery were two ‘presences.’ I saw them and yet did not see them, and I cannot explain that ... .
“And then the presences — one or both of them, I do not know — spoke. This I heard clearly. Not in an ordinary way, for I cannot remember anything about the voice. But the message was beyond mistaking: ‘Everything is ready now.’ ” more
Published: January 12, 2009
William D. Eddy was an Episcopal minister in Tarrytown, N.Y., and an admirer of the writer and theologian Richard John Neuhaus. When Rev. Eddy grew gravely ill about 20 years ago, I asked Neuhaus to write him a letter of comfort.
I was shocked when I read it a few weeks later. As I recall, Neuhaus’s message was this: There are comforting things you and I have learned to say in circumstances such as these, but we don’t need those things between ourselves.
Neuhaus then went on to talk frankly and extensively about death. Those two men were in a separate fraternity and could talk directly about things the rest avoided.
Neuhaus was no stranger to death. As a young minister, he worked in the death ward at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, a giant room with 50 to 100 dying people in it, where he would accompany two or three to their deaths each day. One sufferer noticed an expression on Neuhaus’s face and said, “Oh, oh, don’t be afraid,” and then sagged back and expired.
Much later, Neuhaus endured his own near-death experience. An undiagnosed tumor led to a ruptured intestine and a series of operations. He recovered slowly, first in intensive care, and then in a regular hospital room, where something strange happened.
“I was sitting up staring intently into the darkness, although in fact I knew my body was lying flat,” he later wrote in an essay called “Born Toward Dying” in his magazine, First Things. “What I was staring at was a color like blue and purple, and vaguely in the form of hanging drapery. By the drapery were two ‘presences.’ I saw them and yet did not see them, and I cannot explain that ... .
“And then the presences — one or both of them, I do not know — spoke. This I heard clearly. Not in an ordinary way, for I cannot remember anything about the voice. But the message was beyond mistaking: ‘Everything is ready now.’ ” more
Friday, January 2, 2009
New Year Resolutions: a good check-list to see how you are doing.
The best advice I gave myself in 2008
Our relationship with ourselves
1.The only person who can take care of you. We often are so intent on our jobs, family, and external life activities that we forget to check in with the most important person in our lives-ourselves! Here is a good check-list to see how you are doing.
2. Learning to fall, all over again. This post explores why it is so hard to start over, to be a beginner again. I still don’t have all the answers, but I liked the comments of others with the same dilemma.
3. Walking the tightrope to find a balanced life. After taking care of myself, I start to look at how I relate to the outer world, as well. And that’s where balance comes in. This post looks at how we lose our balance and how we can regain it. Learning the fine art of balance can help us enjoy the complexity of everyday life.
4. Why we all could use a good time out. Even in frugal economic times, vacations and sabbaticals are absolutely necessary. Here’s why.
5. Sound is stressful. Silence can be a healing balm to stress and noise. Here is how to experience the healing quiet of no-sound.
6. 15 Great Ways to Beat the Blues. Sometimes you can joggle yourself out of a bad mood. I list some things that have worked for me.
7. How to pick a good counselor when you’re not really crazy. And sometimes you can’t do it yourself. I’ve been on two sides of this fence, both as client and as counselor. Here is what I’ve discovered to be true about therapy.
8. How to NOT think your way out of a mid-life crisis. Mid-life crises are like malaria. Just when you think you’ve conquered them, they swing by for another visit. In order to cope, try these strategies.
9. Your next 30 years. Everybody makes New Year’s resolutions. But these lists only last 365 days and then it’s time for a new batch. Expand your horizons. Look ahead for the next 30 years. What will your life plan be?
10. A quick two-minute fix for anxiety and stress. And going from the very long to the very short, try this very tiny stress management tool that actually works.
11 easy ways to get cranked with exercise. Taking care of ourselves sometimes starts with the basics. Take care of the body and it will take care of you. But how to start? The post explores 11 fundamentals of beating inertia.
12. Our uneasy relationship with fear. What do we deny feeling? Fear, anxiety, and unrest. Yet these are a part of our lives, each and every day. This post explores how we acquire fear and what we can do about this constant companion.
13. Honoring the experience of loss. Things do not last forever. Relationships end, jobs disappear, possessions decay. In honoring loss we make way for new beginnings in our lives.
14. 150 ways to be mindful in the next 24 hours. I really liked this post, not so much for the items I listed, but for the possibilities it creates for a fullness of life. Everyone’s experiences are different; if you follow this scenario, you’ll be surprised what you may discover about yours.
15. 3 things that will make you happier. Every now and then you come across some simple truths that can really improve quality of life. These can.
Our relationships with other people
16. The hardest relationship. Our connections with people are some of the most satisfying and and at the same time the most frustrating experiences in our life. But good friends are essential to a good life.
17. Can I trust you?. For some people trust is an all-or-none proposition. They trust a person, totally, until that person screws up and then they are dropped. Period. Without a second chance. This post explores the complexity of trust-how we can nurture it and how we can use it as an early signal of what is right with our lives.
18.Obliterate these 8 myths of fighting fair-and win! Even good relationships are not always sunny. Here are some tried-and-true ways I’ve found to deal with conflict.
19. The Power of 3: How to keep your relationship solid. And on the positive side, when the storm has passed, consider these three simple ways to make your relationship even stronger.
20. How to keep a relationship sweet: Secrets for staying together. Have you ever met a couple that have been together for years and years and STILL love each other madly, deeply, passionately? It can happen, and here is how.
Our relationships with the earth through voluntary simplicity
I always used to live 110% above my income. It worked for several decades, but the time has come to accept responsibility, pay off the debt, and be more frugal. Here are some of the epiphanies that have come from my decision to connect with the earth.
21. City Mouse, Country Mouse. My biggest adjustment this year was moving from the big city to a small town. It took some doing, but I finally can say I am starting to appreciate quiet country life.
22. What does your garbage say about you? How hard is it to take that recycle bag out of the trunk and carry it into the grocery store, for heaven’s sake? In this post I look at why we don’t do it, and how we can improve the odds that that we will next time.
23. Live simply, but be complex. I’ve struggled with javalinas eating my roses, pocket gophers devouring my daffodil bulbs. But this baby skunk munching on my peaches was just too much!
24. Reframing the red roof. I found to my surprise that dormitory life can be interesting at any stage of life.
25. Voluntary simplicity in a 272 channel television world. Three years ago I gave up TV. Here’s how I did it, and what I discovered about myself in the process.
26. Living the simple life is not always simple. Life has a way of tripping up even the best intentions. Here is how the Malls sucked me in, once again. No new lessons here, but I came out of the experience with a greater acceptance of human fallibility.
Our relationships with words
It’s a big, big world out there, and even fingers get tired of doing the walking. Here is a compilation of the best writing and Internet resources I’ve found.
27. Best quotation sources on the Internet. Out of the zillions and zillions of quote sites out there, these are the few that I found the most useful.
28. 25 ways to make your blog post sticky. I sat down and linked all the resources, good advice, plug-ins, and tips that have worked for me. It’s been one of my most popular posts this year.
29. This I know to be true: Journal writing 101. Cultivating the habit of daily journaling makes regular blog posting a lot easier. These ways I’ve found work the best for me.
30. Inspire me! 10 ways to nudge a reluctant genie. Still not inspired? Try these 10 ways to jump-start the writing process.
And one to grow on.
31. Save computer time by learning how a pigeon thinks. If you’ve ever been frustrated fighting with a recalcitrant computer, this post is for you.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Moral and moralistic Christian and Christianistic
Who is a Christian?
There are *moral* and *moralistic* responses to the question of suicide,
assisted or not. The "moralistic" response is that suicide is wrong (so
says the moralist) and therefore should be prohibited. The moral response
is that suicide is often the choice of someone whose judgment is impaired by
circumstances, and that it is moral to require a legal process to be
followed to insure that suicide is the rational choice of the person seeking
it. A waiting period, as for gun ownership in many states (to inhibit
persons from buying guns while in a hot rage), and perhaps a sanity hearing,
might resolve the moral question concerning suicide.
This distinction between "moral" and "moralistic" approaches might be
applied to the question of "Who is a Christian?" If a Christian is defined
as someone who is a follower (a "disciple") of teachings attributed to
Jesus, then a person who, without particular attention to Jesus's teachings,
follows the teachings and dogmas of churches or persons *about* Jesus, or
about various emanations and penumbras from their *idea* of Jesus, might be
called a "Christianist". Consider how few (if any) of the dogmas of the RCC
actually state or explain any actual teaching of Jesus. Name one, just one,
if you can.
Yet, many laws and policies implementing social, political, economic, or
class prejudices are justified in the name of "Christian" teachings. Thus,
as with "moralists" who cluck about affronts to their personal prejudices
while ignoring real substantive moral questions, the "Christianist" (at
least in the US) fusses about same sex marriage and abstinence only sex
education while voting for persons and policies which oppose feeding the
hungry, clothing the naked, and other social justice issues that Jesus
talked about. What would a "Christian" be more concerned about, "welfare
reform" to make it harder for poor people to eat, or feeding the hungry?
To the extent that scripture is a useful guide, it appears that Jesus did
not spend much time talking about theology, but did spend a lot of time 1)
talking about how we should behave toward each other and 2) behaving that
way. As far as I can tell, he didn't talk about a single dogma of the RCC,
and not a single dogma of the RCC explains a single teaching of Jesus. And
the other Christian (Christianist?) flavors are not noticeably different.
Jim Burt to GoddeWords
There are *moral* and *moralistic* responses to the question of suicide,
assisted or not. The "moralistic" response is that suicide is wrong (so
says the moralist) and therefore should be prohibited. The moral response
is that suicide is often the choice of someone whose judgment is impaired by
circumstances, and that it is moral to require a legal process to be
followed to insure that suicide is the rational choice of the person seeking
it. A waiting period, as for gun ownership in many states (to inhibit
persons from buying guns while in a hot rage), and perhaps a sanity hearing,
might resolve the moral question concerning suicide.
This distinction between "moral" and "moralistic" approaches might be
applied to the question of "Who is a Christian?" If a Christian is defined
as someone who is a follower (a "disciple") of teachings attributed to
Jesus, then a person who, without particular attention to Jesus's teachings,
follows the teachings and dogmas of churches or persons *about* Jesus, or
about various emanations and penumbras from their *idea* of Jesus, might be
called a "Christianist". Consider how few (if any) of the dogmas of the RCC
actually state or explain any actual teaching of Jesus. Name one, just one,
if you can.
Yet, many laws and policies implementing social, political, economic, or
class prejudices are justified in the name of "Christian" teachings. Thus,
as with "moralists" who cluck about affronts to their personal prejudices
while ignoring real substantive moral questions, the "Christianist" (at
least in the US) fusses about same sex marriage and abstinence only sex
education while voting for persons and policies which oppose feeding the
hungry, clothing the naked, and other social justice issues that Jesus
talked about. What would a "Christian" be more concerned about, "welfare
reform" to make it harder for poor people to eat, or feeding the hungry?
To the extent that scripture is a useful guide, it appears that Jesus did
not spend much time talking about theology, but did spend a lot of time 1)
talking about how we should behave toward each other and 2) behaving that
way. As far as I can tell, he didn't talk about a single dogma of the RCC,
and not a single dogma of the RCC explains a single teaching of Jesus. And
the other Christian (Christianist?) flavors are not noticeably different.
Jim Burt to GoddeWords
Sunday, December 28, 2008
My New Year Message by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
From The Times
December 27, 2008
(Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty)
According to Hugo Rifkind
Greetings!
In the name of the Humblest, the Most Merciful, the Boss, the Top, the Tip, the Indisputable Leader of the Gang, Top Cat, I am His Most Excellentness Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the democratically elected dictator of Iran!
And, in order to give your Acclaimed Christmas Channel 4 Massage, have I been learning the full grasp of the humorous English idiom? Fan-dabby-dosey! Welcome to the jungle, we’ve got fun’n’games! Oh yes! For I am only the second Middle Eastern Gentleman to be entrusted with this task, I learn, following in footsteps of one by the name of Ali Gee. But.
With the Acclaimed Christmas Channel 4 Massage, it turns out my bosses are most displeased. “Mahmoud, baby,” said the one with the goatee, “this is not what we wanted, at all. Too moderate. Too restrained. Where was the fire? Where was the thunder? Where was the hate?” “Reuben is right,” agreed the other, a She-man. “There was barely anything offensive in there at all. The Daily Mail probably wasn’t even watching. We’ll never be controversially appointed anywhere, at this rate. You’ll have to do another one for new year. Otherwise the deal is off.” “You mean . . .?” said I. “Yes,” declared goatee producer. “You will never be invited on to Countdown.” Woe! Woe and fie! And so, in spirit of getting a consonant a consonant a vowel a consonant a consonant, even without Carol Vorderman, I have agreed to make second Massage, putting in all the bits that goatee boss and the Hairy Lady were so annoyed that the last one left out. more
December 27, 2008
(Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty)
According to Hugo Rifkind
Greetings!
In the name of the Humblest, the Most Merciful, the Boss, the Top, the Tip, the Indisputable Leader of the Gang, Top Cat, I am His Most Excellentness Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the democratically elected dictator of Iran!
And, in order to give your Acclaimed Christmas Channel 4 Massage, have I been learning the full grasp of the humorous English idiom? Fan-dabby-dosey! Welcome to the jungle, we’ve got fun’n’games! Oh yes! For I am only the second Middle Eastern Gentleman to be entrusted with this task, I learn, following in footsteps of one by the name of Ali Gee. But.
With the Acclaimed Christmas Channel 4 Massage, it turns out my bosses are most displeased. “Mahmoud, baby,” said the one with the goatee, “this is not what we wanted, at all. Too moderate. Too restrained. Where was the fire? Where was the thunder? Where was the hate?” “Reuben is right,” agreed the other, a She-man. “There was barely anything offensive in there at all. The Daily Mail probably wasn’t even watching. We’ll never be controversially appointed anywhere, at this rate. You’ll have to do another one for new year. Otherwise the deal is off.” “You mean . . .?” said I. “Yes,” declared goatee producer. “You will never be invited on to Countdown.” Woe! Woe and fie! And so, in spirit of getting a consonant a consonant a vowel a consonant a consonant, even without Carol Vorderman, I have agreed to make second Massage, putting in all the bits that goatee boss and the Hairy Lady were so annoyed that the last one left out. more
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Krishna Iyer on Christmas:Remembering a glorious rebel
V.R. Krishna Iyer
...............
For all of humankind, Jesus’ magnificent, yet militant, teaching was a lofty testament of egalitarian liberation from obscurantist faith, authoritarian politics, theological orthodoxy and big business freebooting. Similarly, the ring of his message constituted a de facto revolt against Roman imperialism, absolutist injustice and priest-proud godism. He stood for a higher culture marked by a sacred, sublime, compassionate ethos, and a divinity of humanity that is free from crass, class-mired materialism and gross, greedy, grabbing riches. This rare man of Nazareth resisted Jewish ecclesiastical domination, opposed discrimination among brothers and demanded, in God’s name, socio-economic justice. This is the essence of the Jesus jurisprudence of human dignity, inner divinity and fraternal obligation to help every brother in distress.
..........................
Rare daring
Jesus, the glorious rebel, proclaimed the reality of a universal moral order. He called it the kingdom of heaven and told the people that the kingdom of god was indeed within them. He outraged the hypocrites who did their commerce inside the temples and the shrines. He drove them out with rare daring. Now, right before our eyes, our temples and churches are again centres of big business.
Jesus, to the anger of the proprietariat, resisted the commercialisation of god and the commoditisation of man. Big temples, great churches, god-men, bishops, mullahs and acharyas are a mundane part of the capitalist establishment and are anti-Jesus in spirit. India’s Constitution mandates equality, secularism and economic democracy. What a marvel it was that Jesus preached ages ago — that God was equal in granting his favours to all, as was the sun. Jesus was a raging egalitarian, an invisible socialist, an economic democrat. Proof of this lies in his parables and preaching.
.................
Barabbas jurisprudence
The abolition of poverty is a socialist feature of the societal structure. In order to wipe every tear of grief from every eye, you need a social transformation and an economic regeneration, a special concern for women and children, and a rage against those who rob the people’s resources. This is the majesty and humanity of true spirituality that was absent during the era of Emperor Tiberius. It was his administration and justice delivery system, presided over in the region by Pontius Pilate, which decreed, with perverse judicial power and under pressure from the priestly class and in exercise of state authority that Jesus, who argued for the kingdom of heaven, be put to the cross. When treason was the charge and the priestly order was exposed by the accused, there was terrific pressure on the Governor-judge to sentence him. The same judge set free Barabbas. Even today innocence suffers state punishment and robbery rides state power. Barabbas jurisprudence is in currency even today.
....................
To my mind, this glorious dimension of the kingdom of god is the forerunner to socialism, social justice, secularism and democracy. The life of Jesus was absolute simplicity, matchless humility, compassionate humanity, gender reverence and pro-poor egalite. He washed the feet of his disciples, he defined godist superstition. To share and care for your neighbour, even your enemy, were the fundamentals he taught. He was thus a pioneer of world brotherhood, who advocated freedom from dogmas and obscurantist cults. Such a universalism is the testament of Jesus. This is the Christianity to be practised daily — not the Christianity for a Sunday ritual, or for an alibi to hold the world under imperial might and big business power. Not showy charity coupled with mighty rapacity. The Buddha was a predecessor of Jesus. The Mahatma whom Churchill called “the half-naked fakir” was his successor.
Yet, Jesus if born today will meet Pilate’s justice yet again. Barabbas is in power everywhere again. Judas the pretentious disciple and arch-betrayer is a subtle and slight presence practising diplomacy — the Cross in one hand and nuke bomb in the other. The terrorist incarnation today masquerades as the ruler of the earth.
................
Structural splendour
Resurrection, not in the lexical or biblical sense, but in the grand moral dimension of the term conveying the spirit of trans-material mutation, is the structural splendour of the world order. Peace, not war; stability, not subservience; high morality, not any grab-based acquisitive success, is the new ethic. Exploitation has become the rule of law, and equity and justice have become the vanishing point of international jurisprudence.
The hidden agenda after a unipolar world is the malignant methodology of insatiable accumulation of wealth. This terrible trend must be trampled under the foot by a triumphant and dynamic generation. This should be done with socialist convictions and a profound prognosis — of work, wealth and happiness for every human being. This should be the ‘developmental drama’ of the New World Order.
read it all
...............
For all of humankind, Jesus’ magnificent, yet militant, teaching was a lofty testament of egalitarian liberation from obscurantist faith, authoritarian politics, theological orthodoxy and big business freebooting. Similarly, the ring of his message constituted a de facto revolt against Roman imperialism, absolutist injustice and priest-proud godism. He stood for a higher culture marked by a sacred, sublime, compassionate ethos, and a divinity of humanity that is free from crass, class-mired materialism and gross, greedy, grabbing riches. This rare man of Nazareth resisted Jewish ecclesiastical domination, opposed discrimination among brothers and demanded, in God’s name, socio-economic justice. This is the essence of the Jesus jurisprudence of human dignity, inner divinity and fraternal obligation to help every brother in distress.
..........................
Rare daring
Jesus, the glorious rebel, proclaimed the reality of a universal moral order. He called it the kingdom of heaven and told the people that the kingdom of god was indeed within them. He outraged the hypocrites who did their commerce inside the temples and the shrines. He drove them out with rare daring. Now, right before our eyes, our temples and churches are again centres of big business.
Jesus, to the anger of the proprietariat, resisted the commercialisation of god and the commoditisation of man. Big temples, great churches, god-men, bishops, mullahs and acharyas are a mundane part of the capitalist establishment and are anti-Jesus in spirit. India’s Constitution mandates equality, secularism and economic democracy. What a marvel it was that Jesus preached ages ago — that God was equal in granting his favours to all, as was the sun. Jesus was a raging egalitarian, an invisible socialist, an economic democrat. Proof of this lies in his parables and preaching.
.................
Barabbas jurisprudence
The abolition of poverty is a socialist feature of the societal structure. In order to wipe every tear of grief from every eye, you need a social transformation and an economic regeneration, a special concern for women and children, and a rage against those who rob the people’s resources. This is the majesty and humanity of true spirituality that was absent during the era of Emperor Tiberius. It was his administration and justice delivery system, presided over in the region by Pontius Pilate, which decreed, with perverse judicial power and under pressure from the priestly class and in exercise of state authority that Jesus, who argued for the kingdom of heaven, be put to the cross. When treason was the charge and the priestly order was exposed by the accused, there was terrific pressure on the Governor-judge to sentence him. The same judge set free Barabbas. Even today innocence suffers state punishment and robbery rides state power. Barabbas jurisprudence is in currency even today.
....................
To my mind, this glorious dimension of the kingdom of god is the forerunner to socialism, social justice, secularism and democracy. The life of Jesus was absolute simplicity, matchless humility, compassionate humanity, gender reverence and pro-poor egalite. He washed the feet of his disciples, he defined godist superstition. To share and care for your neighbour, even your enemy, were the fundamentals he taught. He was thus a pioneer of world brotherhood, who advocated freedom from dogmas and obscurantist cults. Such a universalism is the testament of Jesus. This is the Christianity to be practised daily — not the Christianity for a Sunday ritual, or for an alibi to hold the world under imperial might and big business power. Not showy charity coupled with mighty rapacity. The Buddha was a predecessor of Jesus. The Mahatma whom Churchill called “the half-naked fakir” was his successor.
Yet, Jesus if born today will meet Pilate’s justice yet again. Barabbas is in power everywhere again. Judas the pretentious disciple and arch-betrayer is a subtle and slight presence practising diplomacy — the Cross in one hand and nuke bomb in the other. The terrorist incarnation today masquerades as the ruler of the earth.
................
Structural splendour
Resurrection, not in the lexical or biblical sense, but in the grand moral dimension of the term conveying the spirit of trans-material mutation, is the structural splendour of the world order. Peace, not war; stability, not subservience; high morality, not any grab-based acquisitive success, is the new ethic. Exploitation has become the rule of law, and equity and justice have become the vanishing point of international jurisprudence.
The hidden agenda after a unipolar world is the malignant methodology of insatiable accumulation of wealth. This terrible trend must be trampled under the foot by a triumphant and dynamic generation. This should be done with socialist convictions and a profound prognosis — of work, wealth and happiness for every human being. This should be the ‘developmental drama’ of the New World Order.
read it all
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
The Annunciation in the Quran
The Annunciation in the Quran
The Annunciation of Mary is also cited in the Quran, in Suras 3 (Aal 'Imran - The family of Imran) verses 45-51 and 19 (Maryam - Mary) verses 16-26. In the Quran there is never any mention or insinuation that Jesus is the son of God but is portrayed as a highly respected prophet.
From chapter 3
[45] (Remember) when the angels said: "O Maryam (Mary)! Verily, Allâh gives you the glad tidings of a Word ("Be!" - and he was! i.e. 'Isâ (Jesus) the son of Maryam (Mary)) from Him, his name will be the Messiah 'Isâ (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary), held in honor in this world and in the Hereafter, and will be one of those who are near to Allâh."
[46] "He will speak to the people in the cradle and in manhood, and he will be one of the righteous."
[47] She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me." He said: "So (it will be) for Allâh creates what He wills. When He has decreed something, He says to it only: "Be!" - and it is.
[48] And He (Allâh) will teach him ('Isâ (Jesus)) the Book and Al-Hikmah (i.e. the Sunnah, the faultless speech of the Prophets, wisdom), (and) the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel).
[49] And will make him ('Isâ (Jesus)) a Messenger to the Children of Israel (saying): "I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, that I design for you out of clay, a figure like that of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allâh's Leave; and I heal him who was born blind, and the leper, and I bring the dead to life by Allâh's Leave. And I inform you of what you eat, and what you store in your houses. Surely, therein is a sign for you, if you believe.
[50] And I have come confirming that which was before me of the Taurât (Torah), and to make lawful to you part of what was forbidden to you, and I have come to you with a proof from your Lord. So fear Allâh and obey me.
[51] Truly! Allâh is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him (Alone). This is the Straight Path.
From chapter 19
[16] And mention in the Book (the Qur'ân, O Muhammad (peace be upon him) the story of) Maryam (Mary), when she withdrew in seclusion to a place facing east.[17] She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her Our Ruh (angel Jibrîl (Gabriel)) and he appeared before her in the form of a man in all respects.
[18] She said: "Verily! I seek refuge with the Most Gracious (Allâh) from you, if you do fear Allâh."
[19] (The angel) said: "I am only a Messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a righteous son."
[20] She said: "How can I have a son, when no man has touched me, nor am I unchaste?"
[21] He said: "So (it will be), your Lord said: 'That is easy for Me (Allâh): And (We wish) to appoint him as a sign to mankind and a mercy from Us (Allâh), and it is a matter (already) decreed, (by Allâh).' "
[22] So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a far place.
[23] And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a date-palm. She said: "Would that I had died before this, and had been forgotten and out of sight!"
[24] Then (the babe 'Iesa (Jesus) or Jibrîl (Gabriel)) cried unto her from below her, saying: "Grieve not: your Lord has provided a water stream under you.
[25] "And shake the trunk of date-palm towards you, it will let fall fresh ripe-dates upon you."
[26] "So eat and drink and be glad. And if you see any human being, say: 'Verily! I have vowed a fast unto the Most Gracious (Allâh) so I shall not speak to any human being this day.'" from: https://mail.google.com/mail/?zx=13eoytm0ku5m2&shva=1
The Annunciation of Mary is also cited in the Quran, in Suras 3 (Aal 'Imran - The family of Imran) verses 45-51 and 19 (Maryam - Mary) verses 16-26. In the Quran there is never any mention or insinuation that Jesus is the son of God but is portrayed as a highly respected prophet.
From chapter 3
[45] (Remember) when the angels said: "O Maryam (Mary)! Verily, Allâh gives you the glad tidings of a Word ("Be!" - and he was! i.e. 'Isâ (Jesus) the son of Maryam (Mary)) from Him, his name will be the Messiah 'Isâ (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary), held in honor in this world and in the Hereafter, and will be one of those who are near to Allâh."
[46] "He will speak to the people in the cradle and in manhood, and he will be one of the righteous."
[47] She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me." He said: "So (it will be) for Allâh creates what He wills. When He has decreed something, He says to it only: "Be!" - and it is.
[48] And He (Allâh) will teach him ('Isâ (Jesus)) the Book and Al-Hikmah (i.e. the Sunnah, the faultless speech of the Prophets, wisdom), (and) the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel).
[49] And will make him ('Isâ (Jesus)) a Messenger to the Children of Israel (saying): "I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, that I design for you out of clay, a figure like that of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allâh's Leave; and I heal him who was born blind, and the leper, and I bring the dead to life by Allâh's Leave. And I inform you of what you eat, and what you store in your houses. Surely, therein is a sign for you, if you believe.
[50] And I have come confirming that which was before me of the Taurât (Torah), and to make lawful to you part of what was forbidden to you, and I have come to you with a proof from your Lord. So fear Allâh and obey me.
[51] Truly! Allâh is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him (Alone). This is the Straight Path.
From chapter 19
[16] And mention in the Book (the Qur'ân, O Muhammad (peace be upon him) the story of) Maryam (Mary), when she withdrew in seclusion to a place facing east.[17] She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her Our Ruh (angel Jibrîl (Gabriel)) and he appeared before her in the form of a man in all respects.
[18] She said: "Verily! I seek refuge with the Most Gracious (Allâh) from you, if you do fear Allâh."
[19] (The angel) said: "I am only a Messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a righteous son."
[20] She said: "How can I have a son, when no man has touched me, nor am I unchaste?"
[21] He said: "So (it will be), your Lord said: 'That is easy for Me (Allâh): And (We wish) to appoint him as a sign to mankind and a mercy from Us (Allâh), and it is a matter (already) decreed, (by Allâh).' "
[22] So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a far place.
[23] And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a date-palm. She said: "Would that I had died before this, and had been forgotten and out of sight!"
[24] Then (the babe 'Iesa (Jesus) or Jibrîl (Gabriel)) cried unto her from below her, saying: "Grieve not: your Lord has provided a water stream under you.
[25] "And shake the trunk of date-palm towards you, it will let fall fresh ripe-dates upon you."
[26] "So eat and drink and be glad. And if you see any human being, say: 'Verily! I have vowed a fast unto the Most Gracious (Allâh) so I shall not speak to any human being this day.'" from: https://mail.google.com/mail/?zx=13eoytm0ku5m2&shva=1
Friday, December 19, 2008
The Purpose-Driven Life of Rick Warren reviewed by Ronald J. Rychlak and Kyle Duncan
Wrong Turn
The Purpose-Given Life Gives Bad Directions
By Ronald J. Rychlak and Kyle Duncan
The Purpose-Driven Life has sold over 7 million copies and was named Christian "Book of the Year" in 2003. "Purpose-Driven" is now a registered trademark, and "Purpose-Driven" programs have been offered everywhere from schools and prisons to corporate headquarters, including Coca Cola, Sparrow Records, NASCAR, the LPGA, and the Oakland Raiders.
The book’s promise for those who follow its forty-day journey is that "you will know God’s purpose for your life." The book is being promoted and studied in some Catholic parishes, especially as a Lenten exercise, so it is worth examining whether it can deliver on its exaggerated promise.
The book’s author, Rick Warren, was labeled as "America’s most influential pastor" by Christianity Today. He is the pastor of Saddleback Church, which is situated on a 120-acre campus in southern California that was designed by theme park experts. Every weekend nearly 20,000 people attend services at one of nine "venues," including a 3,000-seat main sanctuary, a religious coffee bar, and a "beach hut" for high school students. Sculpted into the landscape are settings for forty Bible reenactments, including a stream that can part like the Red Sea.
The Purpose-Given Life Gives Bad Directions
By Ronald J. Rychlak and Kyle Duncan
The Purpose-Driven Life has sold over 7 million copies and was named Christian "Book of the Year" in 2003. "Purpose-Driven" is now a registered trademark, and "Purpose-Driven" programs have been offered everywhere from schools and prisons to corporate headquarters, including Coca Cola, Sparrow Records, NASCAR, the LPGA, and the Oakland Raiders.
The book’s promise for those who follow its forty-day journey is that "you will know God’s purpose for your life." The book is being promoted and studied in some Catholic parishes, especially as a Lenten exercise, so it is worth examining whether it can deliver on its exaggerated promise.
The book’s author, Rick Warren, was labeled as "America’s most influential pastor" by Christianity Today. He is the pastor of Saddleback Church, which is situated on a 120-acre campus in southern California that was designed by theme park experts. Every weekend nearly 20,000 people attend services at one of nine "venues," including a 3,000-seat main sanctuary, a religious coffee bar, and a "beach hut" for high school students. Sculpted into the landscape are settings for forty Bible reenactments, including a stream that can part like the Red Sea.
.........
Warren is also doing praiseworthy work in Rwanda. After he and his wife observed the poverty and AIDS epidemic ravaging that nation, they set up foundations to distribute 90 percent of the proceeds from Warren’s book to alleviate poverty and combat AIDS in that country. Unlike so many other programs, Warren’s seems to be focused on abstinence and monogamy rather than simple condom distribution. Of course, because of this morality-based approach, Warren has already been severely criticized in the secular press. It also means, though, that his program might have a real impact.
.....................
Purpose-Driven Salvation
Warren assures his readers that "God won’t ask about your religious background or doctrinal views. The only thing that will matter is, did you accept what Jesus did for you and did you learn to love and trust him?" For salvation, "all you need to do is receive and believe." He encourages his audiences to join God’s family as follows: "I invite you to bow your head and quietly whisper the prayer that will change your eternity, ‘Jesus, I believe in you and I receive you.’" Then, "if you sincerely meant that prayer congratulations! Welcome to the family of God!"
Entry into eternal life? "If you learn to love and trust God’s Son, Jesus, you will be invited to spend the rest of eternity with him. On the other hand, if you reject his love, forgiveness, and salvation, you will spend eternity apart from God forever."
All of this can sound plausible to a Catholic who doesn’t have a firm grasp of the faith. Surely God doesn’t care about "religious background or doctrinal views"! But Warren’s assertions are themselves "doctrinal views," unstated and undefended. More urgently, is Warren talking about the same "eternal life" as Jesus did, the Jesus who taught that "the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (Matt. 7:14)?
Warren is right that we must love and trust Jesus, but Jesus himself told us what that really meant. For starters, Jesus said: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15). He also said, "Not every one who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 7:21). And to those who say "Lord, Lord," Jesus warned that God may reply, "Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matt. 25:41). But Warren makes little if any mention of sin, damnation, repentance, or the cross. read it all
Warren assures his readers that "God won’t ask about your religious background or doctrinal views. The only thing that will matter is, did you accept what Jesus did for you and did you learn to love and trust him?" For salvation, "all you need to do is receive and believe." He encourages his audiences to join God’s family as follows: "I invite you to bow your head and quietly whisper the prayer that will change your eternity, ‘Jesus, I believe in you and I receive you.’" Then, "if you sincerely meant that prayer congratulations! Welcome to the family of God!"
Entry into eternal life? "If you learn to love and trust God’s Son, Jesus, you will be invited to spend the rest of eternity with him. On the other hand, if you reject his love, forgiveness, and salvation, you will spend eternity apart from God forever."
All of this can sound plausible to a Catholic who doesn’t have a firm grasp of the faith. Surely God doesn’t care about "religious background or doctrinal views"! But Warren’s assertions are themselves "doctrinal views," unstated and undefended. More urgently, is Warren talking about the same "eternal life" as Jesus did, the Jesus who taught that "the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (Matt. 7:14)?
Warren is right that we must love and trust Jesus, but Jesus himself told us what that really meant. For starters, Jesus said: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15). He also said, "Not every one who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 7:21). And to those who say "Lord, Lord," Jesus warned that God may reply, "Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matt. 25:41). But Warren makes little if any mention of sin, damnation, repentance, or the cross. read it all
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Beyond Tolerance
I am currently reading a highly acclaimed recent book by Gustav
Niebuhr (great nephew of Reinhold Niebuhr and grandson of Richard
Niebuhr-two eminent Christian theologians of America)titled "Beyond
Tolerance" (published by Viking) which cites Swami Vivekanananda's
brilliant talk before the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago
(1893 CE) about the insanity of religions fighting each other in the
name of God and then quotes a New York paper's coverage of the
Swamiji's speech thus, "After hearing him we feel how foolish it is to
send missionaries to this learned nation" (meaning India).
However, India and other developing nations continue to attract
proselytizers of both Christianity and Islam which in recent years
have triggered the aping of their tactics by Hindu fundamentalists as
well, who are indulging in reverse "conversions". Net result,is
communal disharmony which often provokes physical violence, arson,
rape and even murder. All in the name of God, the very embodiment of
love and compassion!
I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in going beyond the
notion of "religious tolerance". The author's message is that mere
religious tolerance is no substitute for the respect that we as
Christians must develop for the faith traditions of non-Christians, by
going deep into the study of them. As long as we remain superficially
educated about our own faith as well as the faiths of others, we will
always remain far apart, and we will never develop the much-needed
respect for the faiths of others.
Until the monotheistic faiths embrace at least modestly the humility
that eastern faiths such as Sanatana Dharma, Buddhism, Jainism, Taoism
etc have within their tenets, Christianity and Islam will remain at
odds with other faiths and the clashes of civilizations will become a
reality in our life time.
C. Alex Alexander to Gregorian Study Circle
Niebuhr (great nephew of Reinhold Niebuhr and grandson of Richard
Niebuhr-two eminent Christian theologians of America)titled "Beyond
Tolerance" (published by Viking) which cites Swami Vivekanananda's
brilliant talk before the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago
(1893 CE) about the insanity of religions fighting each other in the
name of God and then quotes a New York paper's coverage of the
Swamiji's speech thus, "After hearing him we feel how foolish it is to
send missionaries to this learned nation" (meaning India).
However, India and other developing nations continue to attract
proselytizers of both Christianity and Islam which in recent years
have triggered the aping of their tactics by Hindu fundamentalists as
well, who are indulging in reverse "conversions". Net result,is
communal disharmony which often provokes physical violence, arson,
rape and even murder. All in the name of God, the very embodiment of
love and compassion!
I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in going beyond the
notion of "religious tolerance". The author's message is that mere
religious tolerance is no substitute for the respect that we as
Christians must develop for the faith traditions of non-Christians, by
going deep into the study of them. As long as we remain superficially
educated about our own faith as well as the faiths of others, we will
always remain far apart, and we will never develop the much-needed
respect for the faiths of others.
Until the monotheistic faiths embrace at least modestly the humility
that eastern faiths such as Sanatana Dharma, Buddhism, Jainism, Taoism
etc have within their tenets, Christianity and Islam will remain at
odds with other faiths and the clashes of civilizations will become a
reality in our life time.
C. Alex Alexander to Gregorian Study Circle
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Prohibition of yoga to Muslims
Top Malaysian Islamic body prohibits yoga to Muslims
Sun, Nov 23 03:05 PM
Kuala Lumpur, Nov 23 (ANI): A top Malaysian Islamic body has reportedly issued an edict prohibiting the Muslims from practising yoga, with the view that elements of Hinduism in the ancient Indian exercise could "corrupt them".
National Fatwa Council (NFC) Chairman Abdul Shukor Husin said that many Muslims fail to understand that yoga's ultimate aim was to be one with a God of a different religion. He said that yoga, which originated in India, involves not just physical exercise but also includes spiritual elements, including chanting and worshipping, reported the Daily Times.
News of the yoga ban prompted activist Marina Mahathir to wonder what the council will ban next: "What next? Gyms? Most gyms have men and women together. Will that not be allowed any more?" she said.
Recently, the Council said that girls who act like boys violate Islamic tenets.
The government has also occasionally made similar conservative moves, banning the use of the word 'Allah' by non-Muslims earlier this year, saying it would confuse Muslims. (ANI) source
Saturday, November 22, 2008
The soul lives a thousand lives
EDITS | Saturday, November 22, 2008 | Email | Print |  The PioneerThe soul lives a thousand lives Mandakini Sankhdher Punarapi jananam punarapi maranam punarapi janani jathare shayanam... Here the Shankaracharya has stated the pathetic process of incarnation and reincarnation of the universe. To take birth is very painful, to live in the womb of mother in dirt and darkness, and to leave this samsara, to leave all near and dear ones is too sorrowful. That is why he says “Bhaj govindam … bhaj govindam mudhamate…” How is a man reborn? It was first published in the 1970 July and August volumes of Prabuddha Bharata. The author, Swami Satprkashananda, was a senior monk of the Ramkrishna Order and the founder-head of the Vedanta Society of St Louis, USA. Reincarnation is not just a belief system but a definite science explaining our past and future lives. It even occurs regularly within our bodies during our own lifetime. Every seven years one’s body is rejuvenated completely. Right from the cells to the shape and size. Do we not grow from infancy to youth to middle age and then to old age? Yet the person I, the self within the body, remains the same. It never really grows old. The Gita provides a beautiful and complete explanation of reincarnation. Not only Hinduism but all major religions like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam believe in the theory of reincarnation, expressing their ideas from time to time through their teachings. The idea of continued rebirth had first been taught in the west by Pythagoras who learned it from the ancient sages of India. The world’s greatest thinkers have studied and expressed their convictions about this topic in very interesting ways. “I am confident that there truly is such a thing as living again, and that the living spring from the dead, and that the souls of the dead are in existence”, said Socrates. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The soul comes from within the human body, a temporary abode, and it goes out of it anew… it passes into other habitations for the soul is immortal and the body is perishable.” Well known philosopher Leo Tolstoy thought that one’s present life was made up of thousands of dreams and that such a life was one of many such thousands of lives which one entered from the other more real life and then returned after death. And so life goes on endlessly, until one merges into the the last real life — the life of god. source |
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Paul Mccain on Pope's remarks about Luther's understanding of fatih
The Bishop of Rome has stated, in the remarks reproduced below,
that "Luther's expression 'sola fide' [faith alone] is true." But please note how carefully nuanced the Pope's remarks are. He says Luther's statement is true "if." If what? If faith is understood to be our activity, as well as as the receiving instrument by which we are given salvation. This is the nothing other than the classic Roman Catholic error in regard to salvation by grace alone, through faith alone.
While I appreciate some aspects of the Pope's remarks, we still have, at the end of his remarks, a view of faith that is not the Biblical understanding of faith as "trust" but rather faith defined as woks of love, yes, works of love made possible only by God's grace, but nonetheless this is the view of faith Rome has always held since its formal dogmatization at the Council of Trent after the Reformation in the sixteenth century. Hence, the Pope concludes: "by love of God and neighbor, we can be truly just in the eyes of God." Read that carefully...by love of God and neighbor, we can be truly just in the eyes of God. Whose love? Our love, which is a fruit of faith, a good work. But Paul is clear: faith alone justifies. Forgiveness is given before we do works of love, for without forgiveness, there is no life, there is no salvation, there is no response from us. Salvation is entirely a result of God's love, not our love.
The Lutheran Confessions explicitly, clearly and specifically reject
the Pope's view of faith, as for example:
"The adversaries are in no way moved by so many passages of Scripture, which clearly credit justification to faith. Indeed, Scripture denies this ability to works. Do they think that the same point is repeated often for no purpose? Do they think that these words fell thoughtlessly from the Holy Spirit? . . . They say that these passages of Scripture (that speak of faith) ought to be received as referring to faith that has been formed (fides formata). This means they do not credit justification to faith in any way, but only to love. . . if faith receives forgiveness because of love, forgiveness of sins will always be uncertain, because we never love as much as we ought to. Indeed, we do not love unless our hearts are firmly convinced that forgiveness of sisn has been granted to us. . . We also say that love ought to follow faith . . . yet, we must not think that by confidence in this love, or because of this love, we receive forgiveness of sins and reconciliation, just as we do not receive forgiveness of sins because of other works that follow. But forgiveness is received by faith alone." (Apology of the Augsburg Confession IV. 110ff; Concordia, p. 100).
Pope Benedict explains St. Paul’s teaching on justification to thousands
Vatican City, Nov 19, 2008 / 11:10 am (CNA).- On Wednesday morning,
Pope Benedict XVI continued his weekly teachings on St. Paul while
speaking to the thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square. The Pontiff further explained the apostle's teaching that believers
are justified by faith in Christ and by the acts that flow out of love for him.
When Paul met the Risen One on the road to Damascus, the Pope began,
"he was a successful man: blameless as to righteousness under the
Law." Yet "the conversion of Damascus radically changed his life, and he began to consider all the gains of his honest religious career as 'rubbish' in the face of the sublimity of his knowledge of Jesus
Christ."
Turning to St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, Pope Benedict found
that "Paul understood that until then, what seemed to him a gain, in
reality, in front of God was a loss. He decided, therefore, to bet all his being on Jesus Christ." In other words, "The Risen Lord became the beginning and end of Paul's existence," the Pope taught.
With this understanding of Christ’s resurrection in mind, Pope
Benedict turned to the two possible ways of being made new in Christ.
"The Letter to the Philippians," the Pope said, "provides moving
testimony of Paul's shift from a justice founded on the Law and
achieved by observing certain prescribed actions, to a justice based
upon faith in Jesus Christ. ... It is because of this personal
experience of the relationship with Jesus Christ that Paul focuses his Gospel on a steadfast contrast between two alternative paths to
justice: one based on the works of the Law, the other founded on the
grace of faith in Christ."
In his Letter to the Galatians, Paul further explains that even Jews
who have believed in Christ Jesus have done so because it is through
faith in Christ and not by works of the law that they can be justified. As St. Paul states, “by works of the law no one will be
justified."
Pope Benedict then addressed the interpretation of this passage by
Martin Luther, who translated it as “justified by faith alone.”
“Before returning to this point it is necessary to clarify which is
the 'Law' from which we have been freed and what are the works that do not justify us,” Benedict XVI said.
“In the community of Corinth,” the Holy Father explained, “there
already existed an opinion, that crops up again throughout history, to the effect that it is the moral law, and that hence Christian freedom means freedom from ethics. ... Obviously this is an incorrect interpretation. Christian freedom is not debauchery, ... it is not
freedom from doing good."
"For St. Paul, as for his contemporaries, the word Law meant the Torah in its entirety, ... which imposed ... a series of actions ranging from an ethical core to ritual observances ... and substantially defined the identity of the just man, ... such as circumcision, dietary laws, etc. ... All these precepts - expressive of a social, cultural and religious identity - were very important" in the Hellenistic age when polytheism was rife and Israel felt threatened in its identity and feared "the loss of faith in the One God and in His promises."
At the moment of his encounter with the Risen Lord, Paul understood
that "with Christ, the God of Israel, the one true God, became the God of all nations. The wall -so he says in the Letter to the Ephesians-between Israel and the pagans was no longer necessary: it is Christ who protects us against polytheism and all its deviations; it is Christ who unites us with and in the one God; it is Christ who
guarantees our true identity in the diversity of cultures. The wall is no longer necessary, our common identity in the diversity of cultures is Christ, and it is he who makes us just,” the Pope said.
Pope Benedict then offered the interesting insight that “Being just
simply means being with Christ, being in Christ, that is all. The
other precepts are no longer necessary. Luther's expression 'sola
fide' is true, if faith is not against charity, against love. To
believe is to see Christ, to trust in Christ, to become attached to
Christ, to conform to Christ, to his life."
"Paul knows that in the twofold love of God and neighbor the Law is
present and fulfilled. So in communion with Christ, in faith, which
creates charity, the Law is realized. We become just by entering into communion with Christ, who is love. We will see the same thing in the Gospel of next Sunday, the Solemnity of Christ the King. Love is the only criteria of the Gospel of the judge," the Pope explained.
In closing, the Pope invited the faithful to "ask the Lord to help us believe, to truly believe, so belief becomes life, unity with Christ, a transformation of our lives. And so, transformed by his love, by
love of God and neighbor, we can be truly just in the eyes of God." courtesy
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