12/06/2023

What does the much loved "Sermon on the Mount" mean in today's world where there is a concerted effort to deny both the Providence and the very Being of God? 

Jesus promises consolation for the "poor in spirit". Is the "welfare state" this consolation? Or are anti-depressants?

Jesus advises "gentleness". Today's world promotes "assertiveness" as a necessary virtue. 

Mourning the dead has been transformed to "celebrating the life". 

What is "right" has become the reversed morality that says "Gender is wrong" and that abortion is right.

Mercy comes from God but can be misinterpreted when it is confused with leniency.

Most of the entertainment industry is devoted to corrupting the "pure in heart".

"Peace" has not really been had on earth anywhere where there is man.  Romans wiped out whole provinces and called that destruction "peace." What is happening in Ukraine is Putin's search for his idea of peace.The few tribes in the vast open spaces of Africa, America and Asia were always ready  to wage war with each other even before Europeans took sides in these homegrown conflicts.

What we are to make of "I do not come to bring peace but a sword" in the light of the seventh beatitude comes to my mind as a question to which I cannot find an easy answer. I will not however ignore it and will search first of all in the Fathers and other early Theologians to see how they responded to this apparent  contradiction in Christ's teachings.

Dear Lord you know my innermost thoughts. Help me to pacify the conflicts that unsummoned disrupt my prayers . Our Lady in heaven pondered you in her heart, may her prayers and those of all Saints bring  your Mercy to me and to the recently dead and dying.