This was on my heart...
Today, because I am President of the Philosophy Club at my school, I hosted an informal debate.
Most of the attendees are democrats (mostly girls my age). I usually moderate the discussion. The topic was embryonic stem cell research. However, a member who came today wanted to change it to Church/State relationships. I agreed. What the debate turned into was a fiasco. The debate eventually turned into me having to counter the attackers' misunderstandings on Christianity (and especially demonized Catholicism) in order to explain the doctrines and dogmas of the Church.
Today I learned a very valuable lesson.
1 Corinthians 2
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,
13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.
14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
I realised, especially when I tried to explain why someone would want to die for their faith, that these people have never experienced the power of faith, the anchor of hope, and the abyss of God's charity. These are all his gifts. I realised by experience that what we have as Christians, we have as a gift of God. Through that knowledge, may we learn humility!
Our opponents are not as worthy of our anger as they are our prayers, love, and respectful but firm disagreement and tender care. I am personal friends with many of those who opposed me. For that, I am glad God has given me that grace.
I tried to be objective today as a moderator, but there was so much venom
in their attacks, I had to say something. I asked God to forgive me if I was being cowardly - I was almost grinding my teeth to see our holy faith so indiscriminately attacked and ripped apart by those who truly "do not know what they do." I pray it not be imputed to their account in judgment.
When I asked them (as it is Philosophy club) what Natural Law was, no one knew. I think a lot of our moral questions in America are directly related to the underlying theme of relativism. I try to tie back ideas to philosophies and worldviews; many of those who oppose us do so because they do not understand our view - that we base them on an irrational faith and we are brainwashed and not "open minded."
I praise God that he reveals his secrets to those who are not wise in their own mind. The little children he holds close to his heart.
Everyday I am more and more led to pray to trust in God's mercy. Everyday, however, I am nagged with the feeling to pray, "Maranatha, Lord Jesus Christ..may you punish the world for its offenses."
Then I remember in my heart, "What are your offenses?"
That we would be holy before our deaths - would that we allow God to change us into the image of his Son. If only we were clay in the hands of the Holy Spirit.
I feel that there is a great need in the world for penance, and sacrifice. We will never see the resurrection without the cross. By suffering, the world will be saved. Let us suffer bravely, with the fortitude the Spirit gives us, in union with our head, our Lord Jesus Christ.
We will be the Elijahs of our age, whom the Lord sent into the world,
Malachi 4:5 "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse."
May Christ have mercy on us for our daily infidelities and frequent sins. May our sins become less, and may God purify our hearts from spiritual adultery, which seeks to love both God and the world. Let us fear not, because perfect love casts out fear. We have not received a Spirit of cowardice, but of love, power, and self-control.
Let us then be sober minded and viligant, and run the race by the grace of God, and may the prayers of the Holy Mother of God, and all the Blessed in heaven, be heard by our Lord, as we march together. As Christ came to cast fire upon the earth, would that he would find it already enkindled in our hearts!
When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?
Let us then be his faithful ones. The power of the Spirit will show others that the cross is glory, and the cross is salvation to all who believe in the one who died upon it.
May his name be perpetually praised, adored, revered, and greatly exalted throughout all generations, and may his name be invoked by every lip with the sweet smelling aroma of charity, with the sight of faith, in the firm hope of Christ Jesus, who does not deceive, nor can he be deceived; he who is eternal truth, perennial beauty, unending majesty.
Amen.
Today, because I am President of the Philosophy Club at my school, I hosted an informal debate.
Most of the attendees are democrats (mostly girls my age). I usually moderate the discussion. The topic was embryonic stem cell research. However, a member who came today wanted to change it to Church/State relationships. I agreed. What the debate turned into was a fiasco. The debate eventually turned into me having to counter the attackers' misunderstandings on Christianity (and especially demonized Catholicism) in order to explain the doctrines and dogmas of the Church.
Today I learned a very valuable lesson.
1 Corinthians 2
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,
13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.
14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
I realised, especially when I tried to explain why someone would want to die for their faith, that these people have never experienced the power of faith, the anchor of hope, and the abyss of God's charity. These are all his gifts. I realised by experience that what we have as Christians, we have as a gift of God. Through that knowledge, may we learn humility!
Our opponents are not as worthy of our anger as they are our prayers, love, and respectful but firm disagreement and tender care. I am personal friends with many of those who opposed me. For that, I am glad God has given me that grace.
I tried to be objective today as a moderator, but there was so much venom
in their attacks, I had to say something. I asked God to forgive me if I was being cowardly - I was almost grinding my teeth to see our holy faith so indiscriminately attacked and ripped apart by those who truly "do not know what they do." I pray it not be imputed to their account in judgment.
When I asked them (as it is Philosophy club) what Natural Law was, no one knew. I think a lot of our moral questions in America are directly related to the underlying theme of relativism. I try to tie back ideas to philosophies and worldviews; many of those who oppose us do so because they do not understand our view - that we base them on an irrational faith and we are brainwashed and not "open minded."
I praise God that he reveals his secrets to those who are not wise in their own mind. The little children he holds close to his heart.
Everyday I am more and more led to pray to trust in God's mercy. Everyday, however, I am nagged with the feeling to pray, "Maranatha, Lord Jesus Christ..may you punish the world for its offenses."
Then I remember in my heart, "What are your offenses?"
That we would be holy before our deaths - would that we allow God to change us into the image of his Son. If only we were clay in the hands of the Holy Spirit.
I feel that there is a great need in the world for penance, and sacrifice. We will never see the resurrection without the cross. By suffering, the world will be saved. Let us suffer bravely, with the fortitude the Spirit gives us, in union with our head, our Lord Jesus Christ.
We will be the Elijahs of our age, whom the Lord sent into the world,
Malachi 4:5 "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse."
May Christ have mercy on us for our daily infidelities and frequent sins. May our sins become less, and may God purify our hearts from spiritual adultery, which seeks to love both God and the world. Let us fear not, because perfect love casts out fear. We have not received a Spirit of cowardice, but of love, power, and self-control.
Let us then be sober minded and viligant, and run the race by the grace of God, and may the prayers of the Holy Mother of God, and all the Blessed in heaven, be heard by our Lord, as we march together. As Christ came to cast fire upon the earth, would that he would find it already enkindled in our hearts!
When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?
Let us then be his faithful ones. The power of the Spirit will show others that the cross is glory, and the cross is salvation to all who believe in the one who died upon it.
May his name be perpetually praised, adored, revered, and greatly exalted throughout all generations, and may his name be invoked by every lip with the sweet smelling aroma of charity, with the sight of faith, in the firm hope of Christ Jesus, who does not deceive, nor can he be deceived; he who is eternal truth, perennial beauty, unending majesty.
Amen.
