RBWords - Volume 37 - Number 8: August 2024
Something to Think About
R. B. WORDS - V0L. 37 - NO. 8 - AUGUST 2025 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT - “These are times that try men’s souls..” wrote Thomas Paine in his 1776 pamphlet, THE AMERICAN CRISIS. He wrote to encourage the revolutionary soldiers facing the might of the British army. Those words could easily describe our own times. The wars in Ukraine and Gaza and Africa and the widespread agony and cost of human life fill the news and seem to offer little hope, Our own country, indeed our own Catholic Church suffers from polarized ideological/political struggles. Power seems more important than truth. On the political level, each day seems to bring another “executive order” that promises to bring misery to many people under the guise of making the country great again. Whatever became of the parable in Matthew 25:31-45 of the Last Judgment, so graphically rendered by Michaelangelo in the wall behind the altar in the Sistine Chapel? On the level of the Church, at least in the USA, efforts to restore certain liturgical practices (which are actually representative of broader theological positions prevalent from the post-Tridentine 16th century to the Second Vatican Council) have led to people leaving the church altogether. This is a very big and gloomy picture that I cannot completely describe here. The challenge I face is how to bring hope to people of all different opinions and mindsets. The election of Pope Leo XIV has given me a lot of hope since he would be more attuned to the Catholic situation in the USA as well as South America, where he was a missionary for 20 years. The famous American political figure, Tip O’Neil, is known for his words: “All politics is local.” I think that is true for living our faith. It has to be done day by day where we live. Praying for the “big picture” to improve is important but we do our part locally by remembering Jesus’ ways and teachings and living them out no matter what our situation is. AMEN \
It Has Been Said
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.”
James 3:17-18
<< Previous Date [Back to List] Next Date >>