The Voice of God?

Last weeks’ Bulletin from St. Paul’s Church here in Riverside noted a couple of Masses were dedicated to Donald J. Trump. This weeks' Bulletin contained a letter from the Parish priest letting the Parish know the Mass requests were made by an individual member of the Parish and was not, in any way shape or form, guided by the Parish administration. 

In his homily this week, Father Leonard spoke of the day's gospel Mark 12-28-34 in which Jesus speaks of the love for God we all must have, and that we must love others as we love ourselves. Any time Father Leonard speaks of Love is time well spent. But then, any time anyone speaks of Love is time well spent, if you ask me. So...

This always reminds me of Luke 6-27-38. Jesus says, "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?" Then states that's what sinners do and challenges us to love our enemies. 

In Mathew 18-21-22 Peter asks Jesus "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times? Jesus responds, "I tell you not even seven times, but seventy-seven times."

These are demands for unconditional love and nonjudgemental behavior. This, my friends, is a tall order, to say the least. But we should know what that looks like, a mother's love for her child is a great example. Most mothers can separate the act from the child. My mother was like that, and God bless her for that. I was a challenge to say the least. I like to think a little of that rubbed off on me. But then, I am a man, and I fail.  But as a fill-in priest once said at a Mass so many moons ago "...the desire to forgive the wrongs...to be non-judgmental...love unconditionally is all you need...". So, I keep running that "play" and maybe one day I'll get it right. 

Right now, lot of people are hurting and that manifests itself in myriad ways in them. They are fearful of the future and what it may bring. And really, isn't that something we all feel a little or a lot, every now and then? What about now? How are you feeling? Is Judgement Day nigh?

I leave you with my all-time favorite scene from "Ted Lasso". Yeah, the hustle was sublime, and he sure captured those down-home colloquialisms masterfully. But the spin on judgementalism was a tour de force.

That's all I have today from this third rock from the Sun, here in the Milky Way Galaxy nestled in a distant corner of a universe.