Preparing for the Day of Reflection last Saturday gave me some information I want to share with you. We are well aware that the early church embraced the nonviolence of Jesus until 313 when Constantine and the empire recognized the church. In 313, you could not be a soldier if you were a Christian. One hundred years later, you could not be a soldier unless you were a Christian. The cross morphed into the sword. Continue reading
This is today’s responsorial Psalm. See order form if interested in reading all 150 Psalms.
Psalm 146
Praise God, my soul.
I will praise God with all my life.
I will sing praise to God as long as I live.
I put no trust in presidents and prime ministers
In mere mortals who offer no true security.
When they draw their last breath, they return to dust.
That day all their greed will have come to nothing.
Happy are those whose help is in God.
Whose hope is in God alone.
God made the heavens and the seas
And all that is in them.
God is faithful forever.
God secures justice for the oppressed.
God feeds the hungry
And gives them drink.
God sets prisoners free.
God gives sight to the blind
And hearing to the deaf.
God raises up those who are bowed down.
God loves the righteous.
God walks beside the stranger
And sustains the widow and the orphan.
God thwarts the ways of the Evil Ones
Who oppress the strangers, the widows, the orphans.
God rules forever. God rules through all generations.
Alleluia!
The Vatican has cleared the way for beatification of Franz Jagerstetter. Franz was an Austrian who refused military service under Hitler and was beheaded. He had a wife and three children. The Pope Benedict has declared him to be a martyr. He will soon be Blessed Franz Jagerstetter. This is a strong affirmation of peacemaking and nonviolence. Continue reading
Jesus curses the fig tree, cleanses the Temple, finds the fig tree withered and gives his disciples hope for the future. Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in God.
Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain,
‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’
and does not doubt in his heart
but believes that what he says will happen,
it shall be done for him.
Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer,
believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.
When you stand to pray,
forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance,
so that your heavenly Father may in turn
forgive you your transgressions.†(Mk 11: 22-26) Continue reading