What true shepherd of God would "trouble his own house?" Scripture tells us that "where there is no governor, the people shall fall."
What will happen to the faithful when their churches are threatened, their faith rocked, and controversy and corruption rule the day? Our Lord paints a disturbing picture. Wickedness leads only to spiritual death. It is in Justice, who is the Lord God alone, that we may place our hope, and consequently we are called to live uprightly.
Proverbs 11 in its entirety is a scripture that speaks to our time and circumstance. Truly we must follow God for His own sake and not our own, because He is God the Truth and deserves our total commitment. Through His Word, the Lord teaches us again and again that righteousness is to be pursued for its own sake, because it is His way, not because we can expect righteousness as an end result or because we hope for some special favors in this life. It's as simple as this: Good may never be obtained by doing wrong. That is God's law.
We rise by God's grace and fall by our own doing. We elect not to follow Christ--there are no accidents in this life. We should not be deceived by "the mouth of the wicked;" we must choose to seek out the truth and follow it. Therefore we beg the mercy of the Father and pray never to succumb to wickedness. "The dissembler with his mouth deceiveth his friend: but the just shall be delivered by knowledge." Wickedness comes from only one place, one being, and that being is not God. Be delivered by the uncomplicated Truth.
May God help us in this time of trial! God bless all of you, and please continue to pray daily for the bishop and all those working with him. Offer up a little prayer or sacrifice for his conversion and for the many countless souls who will likely perish as a result of this unholy de-evangelization. Even without church closures, the "last nails in the coffin" have been hammered for many who have already left the Faith or would never again entertain the thought of returning. Many of us have, unfortunately, witnessed this in our interactions with disgusted friends, family, and neighbors. Sadly, even good, practicing Catholics have begun to have doubts of all kinds. The faith of so many have been shaken by this crisis. But let's not forget that what's at stake is the dethroning of Christ. Christ must be seated on the throne of our hearts. He must be enthroned within our Diocese also, or else it is a house built on sand.
What will happen to the faithful when their churches are threatened, their faith rocked, and controversy and corruption rule the day? Our Lord paints a disturbing picture. Wickedness leads only to spiritual death. It is in Justice, who is the Lord God alone, that we may place our hope, and consequently we are called to live uprightly.
Proverbs 11 in its entirety is a scripture that speaks to our time and circumstance. Truly we must follow God for His own sake and not our own, because He is God the Truth and deserves our total commitment. Through His Word, the Lord teaches us again and again that righteousness is to be pursued for its own sake, because it is His way, not because we can expect righteousness as an end result or because we hope for some special favors in this life. It's as simple as this: Good may never be obtained by doing wrong. That is God's law.
Either make the tree good and its fruit good: or make the tree evil, and its fruit evil. For by the fruit the tree is known. O generation of vipers, how can you speak good things, whereas you are evil? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of a good treasure bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of an evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. Matthew 12:33-35
We rise by God's grace and fall by our own doing. We elect not to follow Christ--there are no accidents in this life. We should not be deceived by "the mouth of the wicked;" we must choose to seek out the truth and follow it. Therefore we beg the mercy of the Father and pray never to succumb to wickedness. "The dissembler with his mouth deceiveth his friend: but the just shall be delivered by knowledge." Wickedness comes from only one place, one being, and that being is not God. Be delivered by the uncomplicated Truth.
May God help us in this time of trial! God bless all of you, and please continue to pray daily for the bishop and all those working with him. Offer up a little prayer or sacrifice for his conversion and for the many countless souls who will likely perish as a result of this unholy de-evangelization. Even without church closures, the "last nails in the coffin" have been hammered for many who have already left the Faith or would never again entertain the thought of returning. Many of us have, unfortunately, witnessed this in our interactions with disgusted friends, family, and neighbors. Sadly, even good, practicing Catholics have begun to have doubts of all kinds. The faith of so many have been shaken by this crisis. But let's not forget that what's at stake is the dethroning of Christ. Christ must be seated on the throne of our hearts. He must be enthroned within our Diocese also, or else it is a house built on sand.
At length he appeared to the eleven as they were at table: and he upbraided them with their incredulity and hardness of heart, because they did not believe them who had seen him after he was risen again. And he said to them: Go ye into the whole world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be condemned. Mark 16:14-16At last, here are some pieces from Proverbs 11:
3 The simplicity of the just shall guide them: and the deceitfulness of the wicked shall destroy them. 4 Riches shall not profit in the day of revenge: but justice shall deliver from death. 5 The justice of the upright shall make his way prosperous: and the wicked man shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 The justice of the righteous shall deliver them: and the unjust shall be caught in their own snares. 7 When the wicked man is dead, there shall be no hope any more: and the expectation of the solicitous shall perish. 8 The just is delivered out of distress: and the wicked shall be given up for him. 9 The dissembler with his mouth deceiveth his friend: but the just shall be delivered by knowledge. 10 When it goeth well with the just the city shall rejoice: and when the wicked perish there shall be praise.
11 By the blessing of the just the city shall be exalted: and by the mouth of the wicked it shall be overthrown.14 Where there is no governor, the people shall fall: but there is safety where there is much counsel.
17 A merciful man doth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel casteth off even his own kindred. 18 The wicked maketh an unsteady work: but to him that soweth justice, there is a faithful reward. 19 Clemency prepareth life: and the pursuing of evil things, death. 20 A perverse heart is abominable to the Lord: and his will is in them that walk sincerely.
23 The desire of the just is all good: the expectation of the wicked is indignation. 24 Some distribute their own goods, and grow richer: others take away what is not their own, and are always in want.
28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the just shall spring up as a green leaf. 29 He that troubleth his own house, shall inherit the winds: and the fool shall serve the wise.