What does it really mean to love authentically? How do we walk the fine line between tender and tough love? The great speaker and TV evangelist Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen offers timeless guidance in this poem...
Christian love bears evil, but it does not tolerate it.
It does penance for the sins of others, but it is not broadminded about sin.
The cry for tolerance never induces it to quench its hatred of the evil philosophies that have entered into contest with the Truth.
It forgives the sinner, and it hates the sin; it is unmerciful to the error in his mind.
The sinner it will always take back into the bosom of the Mystical Body; but his lie will never be taken into the treasury of His Wisdom.
Real love involves real hatred: whoever has lost the power of moral indignation and the urge to drive the buyers and sellers from the temples has also lost a living, fervent love of Truth.
Charity, then, is not a mild philosophy of "live and let live"; it is not a species of sloppy sentiment.
Charity is the infusion of the Spirit of God, which makes us love the beautiful and hate the morally ugly.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Of a boy and his lunch
Apparently, 'tis the week to enjoy small-boyish antics! ;) I have made various sandwiches for my brother David's lunches this week, and today when I asked mom what she'd like for lunch, he piped up, "Please, not a sandwich."
"But that is yummy bread, and with garden tomatoes..." I pointed out, "You should be grateful you can eat those things!" (I'm gluten-sensitive and allergic to tomatoes)
He comes downstairs to the kitchen a bit later and asks, "Where's my food?"
"Well, I was thinking of ham and cheese..." I answer. "But now that you're down here, you can make it yourself."
"Oh!" he reasons. "I guess I better disappear for a while. Bye!" He pops out the back door, but is inside again a moment later.
"Claire, are you making my sandwich?" (insert puppy dog eyes)
"Maybe."
"Oh, thank you!" (He plants a kiss on my cheek and opens the fridge.) "Now in the meantime, I'm going to eat a snack...er, I mean, an appetizer!"
David: (watching me prepare it) "Mmm...hot ham and cheese."
Me: "But David, you don't like sandwiches."
David: "Um, I thought I didn't."
Few bites into the sandwich: "Claire, why didn't you tell me this would be a good sandwich?"
Three-quarters done: "You can make me a sandwich like this every day!"
=)
"But that is yummy bread, and with garden tomatoes..." I pointed out, "You should be grateful you can eat those things!" (I'm gluten-sensitive and allergic to tomatoes)
He comes downstairs to the kitchen a bit later and asks, "Where's my food?"
"Well, I was thinking of ham and cheese..." I answer. "But now that you're down here, you can make it yourself."
"Oh!" he reasons. "I guess I better disappear for a while. Bye!" He pops out the back door, but is inside again a moment later.
"Claire, are you making my sandwich?" (insert puppy dog eyes)
"Maybe."
"Oh, thank you!" (He plants a kiss on my cheek and opens the fridge.) "Now in the meantime, I'm going to eat a snack...er, I mean, an appetizer!"
*Fast forward a few minutes*
David: (watching me prepare it) "Mmm...hot ham and cheese."
Me: "But David, you don't like sandwiches."
David: "Um, I thought I didn't."
Few bites into the sandwich: "Claire, why didn't you tell me this would be a good sandwich?"
Three-quarters done: "You can make me a sandwich like this every day!"
=)
Listen Up, World
The too-cute 4-year-old mentioned in yesterday's post is quite the character: he's blonde-haired, big-eyed, and closer to the size of a 2 year old, but will open his articulate mouth and talk like he's 22. :)
Francis prompts laughter and endearment continually, but this particular exchange from last night is too good not to document. His brother three years his elder had been doing a bit of name-calling, prompting me to pull him aside for a little talk. Francis was meanwhile standing behind me on the porch steps.
Me: "Joseph, would Jesus have talked like you did?"
J: "No. But why do we have to be like Jesus?"
Me: "Because if we do not act like Jesus, that makes our enemy happy. Do you know who that is?" (Very helpful: always capitalize on spiritual warfare when catechizing little boys) ;)
J: "The devil."
Me: "And the devil hates us. He doesn't want us to be happy. He wants us to hurt God, others, and ourselves."
Francis: (with hands expressively lifted) "And why would you want to listen to someone who doesn't even love you? That doesn't make sense!"
You go, little one. If only the rest of the world would figure that out, a lot of people would be a whole lot happier!
Francis prompts laughter and endearment continually, but this particular exchange from last night is too good not to document. His brother three years his elder had been doing a bit of name-calling, prompting me to pull him aside for a little talk. Francis was meanwhile standing behind me on the porch steps.
Me: "Joseph, would Jesus have talked like you did?"
J: "No. But why do we have to be like Jesus?"
Me: "Because if we do not act like Jesus, that makes our enemy happy. Do you know who that is?" (Very helpful: always capitalize on spiritual warfare when catechizing little boys) ;)
J: "The devil."
Me: "And the devil hates us. He doesn't want us to be happy. He wants us to hurt God, others, and ourselves."
Francis: (with hands expressively lifted) "And why would you want to listen to someone who doesn't even love you? That doesn't make sense!"
You go, little one. If only the rest of the world would figure that out, a lot of people would be a whole lot happier!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Simple Joys
Today I am delighting in the simple pleasures and home joys of life...
...watching four small boys play "battle" as only little boys can
...sharing music (and laughter) with my students
...sending love to my sisters via text (though 700 miles separates us)
...chatting on the phone with my great-uncle and aunt down in Louisiana and being thoroughly entertained by their endearing Southern charm and drawl!
...greetings and hugs to gals at the University choir after not seeing each other all summer
...walking amidst the late summer trees under an azure sky
...watching five beautiful children tonight: giggling over innocent amusements with Miss 9-yr-old and Miss 11-yr-old, cuddling Mr. 4-yr-old and listening to him philosophize
...playing in bread dough with Mr. 7-yr-old and Mr. 4-yr-old, who at one point were constructing a cave and tunnel in it :)
...laying in our new hammock under a round, glowing moon
...just being a child of God.
...watching four small boys play "battle" as only little boys can
...sharing music (and laughter) with my students
...sending love to my sisters via text (though 700 miles separates us)
...chatting on the phone with my great-uncle and aunt down in Louisiana and being thoroughly entertained by their endearing Southern charm and drawl!
...greetings and hugs to gals at the University choir after not seeing each other all summer
...walking amidst the late summer trees under an azure sky
...watching five beautiful children tonight: giggling over innocent amusements with Miss 9-yr-old and Miss 11-yr-old, cuddling Mr. 4-yr-old and listening to him philosophize
...playing in bread dough with Mr. 7-yr-old and Mr. 4-yr-old, who at one point were constructing a cave and tunnel in it :)
...laying in our new hammock under a round, glowing moon
...just being a child of God.
"...I came that they might have life, and have it more abundantly."
(John 10:10)
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
