The trouble with ridiculing and attacking other people, whether it be a referee at a basketball game (they zebras are patently blind!) or a rival or a public official is that the very bitterness of our attacks makes us hate the other person even more.

 If one considers, let us say, Northern Ireland and Israel, one understands that the bitter rhetoric of attack in both places is often more the cause of conflict than merely its effect.

 The advise Jesus is giving is not merely sound spirituality, it is also wise psychology.

Valentine Special:

The Book Of Love
A reflection of love.
Read sleeve notes
Order Book

Juliette Binoche, the wondrous French actress, was being interviewed on the Jay Leno show about her film “Chocolat” – a marvelously Catholic film in which chocolate is a sacrament of the goodness and love which animates the universe.

Mr. Leno, as is his custom, was making fun of President Clinton. Ms. Binoche was not amused. You Americans, she informed Leno, do not have enough respect for your leaders. You should respect them more. Leno was nonplused.

None of his guests had ever said anything like that. He tried to laugh it off. Ms. Binoche would have none of it. I am serious she said, if you don’t respect your leaders, then you wont respect your country. Leno tried to change the subject. The woman was trying to deprive him of his comedy sthick.

Yet which of the two was following more closely the description of Christian behavior in today’s Gospel?

Articles | Messages | Author | Homilies | Previews | Mailbox Newsletters | Home

 
February Homilies:  7th  |  14th  |  21st  |  28th
Return to January Homilies 

Psalm 91:1-2,10-15

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty,
2 will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust."
10 no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.
11 For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.
14 Because he cleaves to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will rescue him and honor him.

Father Greeley's blog - Read and comment on new articles directly? Click here: