We are browbeat by a plethora of entertainments. It hard to discern any facts, much less give
them their structures, from the mountains of scintillating details. How to discern truth, when diversion is the
order of each and every newsday.
One of many bomb ravaged neighborhoods in Damascus, Syria
Photo shown round the world this Sept. -- Body of refugee 3-year-old Aylan Kurdi
Submerged below dramatic tragic images that do sometimes
appear [as with the current flood of refugees] is just the plain banality of
war—its pain, sufferings, destruction, with no higher purpose other than perhaps
the greed for oil and power. Our conflicts
in the Middle East, are not in defense of democracies; these nations don’t exist
as democracies. In this combative
process, our own democracy is under threat of becoming a plutocracy, run by rich
military industrialists. This all to the
delight of the evil one who roams about all nations and religions seeking the
ruination of souls.
War is the brainstorm from Hell, masking rotten pride
with glory. Where did all these
migrants, refugees come from, unprecedented since the worldwide disaster of
WWII? From our fears, a multiplicity of
savage unnecessary wars propagated out of the toppling of our World Trade
Towers. How should we respond to this
multitude, 14 million plus, displaced by these wars and their decimating economic
effects?
he Gospel of Luke 16, the story of the rich man and
Lazarus the beggar at his gate, has the crucial answer. We must recognize them, welcome them, and try
to meet their needs. We must beware of
this tendency to build walls to keep them out, and the gates we won’t open, or
we shall march powerfully into eternity yearning for a drop of healing water to
touch our own tired tongues, to moisten our parched souls—finding ourselves far
across a chasm from the love of God.
Syria is at present the source of most of the world’s
refugees. A recent report from FAIR indicates how
the U.S. has intervened there, only helping to further provoke
a disastrous civil war. Please take time
to read this informative review. http://fair.org/home/down-the-memory-hole-nyt-erases-cias-efforts-to-overthrow-syrias-government/
We have the words of St. James’ epistle [I’ve reversed
paragraph order] from yesterday’s Sunday service, for further contemplation. JAS
3:16—4:3
Where do the wars
and where do the conflicts
among you come from?
Is it not from your passions
that make war within your
members?
You covet but do not possess.
You kill and envy but you
cannot obtain;
you fight and wage war.
You do not possess because you
do not ask.
You ask but do not receive,
because you ask wrongly, to
spend it on your passions.
Beloved:
Where jealousy and selfish
ambition exist,
there is disorder and every foul practice.
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure,
then peaceable, gentle, compliant,
full of mercy and good fruits,
without inconstancy or insincerity.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace
for those who cultivate peace.
This is today! That more may celebrate, let us pray.
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