Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Word of the day:
Tuesday of the Seventh week of Easter
Today the Church celebrates : Philip Neri
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 17:1-11.

When Jesus had said this, he raised his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to all you gave him. Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began. I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you gave me is from you, because the words you gave to me I have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are.

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Thoughts from the cornfield:

Christianity, like politics, has many facets. Some Christians are more "fundamental" than others. I think we go down a dangerous road when we call others names, whether they are Christian or not, but particularly if they are. Disagreement is one thing, but namecalling takes it to another level. Satan likes nothing better than to divide Christians and set them up against each other. I was saddened to hear a particular televangelist called out by name and proclaimed a fool. To make it worse, I immediately thought of several radical Christian preachers who I would have preferred to be called out - some who actively proclaim hatred for our country. So that makes me just as guilty. But my point is that after I heard one Christian calling another a fool, I immediately tuned out and did not hear the rest of the message. I think leading by example is much more productive and much more loving. But that's just my take on things. What do I know? I'm just sittin' here in my cornfield doin't the best I can.

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