"When The Hell Is This Going To Stop?"

That question was the last sentence in a New York Times article describing a ferocious wind event (known as a derecho) which destroyed crops in the Corn Belt of Iowa. As people hid in their basements they knew it would be bad, but it was worse than they imagined. "Many across the Corn Belt of central Iowa were stunned by what they saw: millions of acres of corn and soybean fields left toppled, tangled and torn apart; roofs ripped off grain bins; buildings leveled......." (New York Times 8/16/20). 

So what's going on? Seems like this is the year from Hell but good things are happening too.....my second granddaughter was born in August so there are blessed events still happening. Thank God for that! But we are messing with Mother Nature and though there have always been storms, wildfires, pandemics and civil unrest, we human beings can be careless, selfish, greedy and full of pride and that has consequences. We've been warned over and over again in the Bible, but people continue to live as if everything is fine. 

There needs to be more respect for Nature, for the effects that climate change can bring if we continue to be wasteful and careless. Are the days of reckoning upon us? Is this a year to wake us up?

Fr. Donald Haggerty, a priest of the Archdiocese of NY, gave a stirring homily yesterday at St. Patrick's Cathedral,  on the evil that is present in the world. He called out evil as he should be. (It was not about climate change, just to clarify.) Yes we are living in evil days, but good will win the day. We have the victory through Christ, but we all have to do our part to make this a better world and realize climate change is real and has consequences.

NJA

Taking the Name of the Lord in Vain-Not Pleasing To God-Like So Much Else

 Sometimes when I'm watching a movie and one of the actors as part of the script takes the name of the Lord in vain or worse, I always think this is not pleasing to God. Not only is it not pleasing but it breaks one of the Ten Commandments which states, "You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain." It's disrespectful.

The Holy Name of Jesus is often used in vain and worse in movies and books and in some idle conversations.  Again this is disrespectful. 

The Ten Commandments are of importance to both Judaism and Christianity. The Ten Commandments appear twice in the Hebrew Scriptures, once in The Book of Exodus (20:2-17) and in Deuteronomy (5:6-17). If only people would pay attention to the commandments, listen and live their lives according to these biblical principles, it would be a much better world. We would also give glory to God by doing so.

But people in the modern world, aren't paying attention, many think the Ten Commandments are ancient, outdated rules. But that's not true. 

I'm not sure why I'm bringing this up, perhaps it's the Spirit but I like many are discouraged by what is going on in the world. Besides the horrific pandemic, whose origins can be traced to greed, pride and selfishness, there are other problems. There seems to be a break-down of civility, a break-down of living justly, virtuously and righteously. 

New York City is where I was born and lived most of my life. I love the city, its a unique place. And yet I hear stories of the decline of the city. Not only because of the pandemic, but also because of an uptick in shootings and crime. This should not be. Rules are needed, rules keep order. 

We are living through strange times. I hope and pray, people realize that biblical truths and commandments are still relevant today. I hope screen writers will stop using the name of the Lord in vain in scripts they write (it's not necessary). I hope people wake up, see what's happening and try to turn things around.

NJA