I have decided to stick with Fr. Jack throughout Lent, if only for the fact that listening to him makes me rather uncomfortable, and I always feel that Lent is a rather uncomfortable time.
What I have gleaned from sharing my ironing time with Fr. Jack over the last couple of weeks, is that whilst I am fantastic at being a traditional Catholic, I am not that great at being a Christian. Sadly lacking, in fact. It needs work. Quite a lot of work, actually.
Anyway, here's what he says about the poor:
'In the Gospels Jesus gives us a very clear preview of the general judgement. The questions will be scandalously materialistic. I will not be asked about prayer, religious experiences or church observances. I will be asked about food, drink and clothes.
When I was hungry, thirsty, naked, a stranger or in prison, what did you do to help me? That is the acid test of my Christianity.
Using figures from a seminar on evangelisation some years ago, if there were 100 people on earth, all living in the same village, 67 of them would be poor while 33 of them would be at various levels of being well off.
93 would have to watch while the other 7 spent half the money, had half the bathtubs, ate one third of the food and had ten times as many doctors looking after them as the other 93 put together.
The real problem though, occurs when the 7 attempt to evangelise the 93, telling them what a wonderful Saviour they have, while throwing out more food than would feed the 93, and building bigger and better basilicas to this God of theirs, while the 93 find it more and more difficult to find a place to live'.
I told you it was uncomfortable.
Watch the video.
I can't see it happening, but I've signed the petition.
I live in hope.
10 comments:
Dearest Jackie, May the Saviour bless your gracious tender heaqrt.
You are hungering and thirsting for righteousness, that is why you wrote this post. God bless Father Jack.
The sstats are very disturbing. In my world the unequality is very jarring, it can be numbing too, I am tempted to look away rather quickly I must confess.
But the little we can do becomes much when God is in it.
I am listening to Ancient Faith (internet) Radio....sponsored by the Orthodox church, the music and readings and prayers are so calming and soothing and lift the soul to God.
Specially during Lent
Thank you for The Fr Jack link. Very helpful.
Food for thought.
God bless you for this post.
Thanks for the link to The Robin Hood Tax - I've signed the petition too and sent the link to others.
Sounds like something the Republicans here would definitely work to snuff out ...
I hadn't heard about the Robin Hood Tax, so I popped over your link and watched the video. Loved Bill Nighy, but as a mathematician I don't think it adds up. Yes, 0.05% sounds a tiny little tax, but adding up to over 100 billion pounds means that someone would miss it. If the banks could give away billions, why have the government just lent them billions? Surely, if the banks are taxed, they will claw it back in other ways? Saying that the tax will apply to transactions that don't affect the public is rubbish, every bank transaction affects us in some way - in our pension pots, our local government's investments and subsequently our council taxes, in corporate investment that trickles down to the high street prices. Whichever way you look at it, it would come down to us, the public, losing out in the long run. It's like saying insurance fraud doesn't matter 'cause only the insurance companies lose; they don't, they just increase our premiums.
Nice idea, but I can't see it working.
That certainly hit a raw spot, Jackie and it makes me think. Wow..... yes it certainly does.
Maggie X
Nuts in May
Admirable! I'm afraid my 'ironing listening' is usually Five Live Sport on a Saturday afternoon.
"I will be asked about food, drink and clothes."
Ouch! Me culpa, me culpa, mea maxima culpa!
You've inspired me to renew my efforts for the remainder of Lent. Thank you.
I thought the Robin Hood tax video was great - Bill Nighy is brilliant as the shifty-eyed banker. I've signed and posted on Twitter and Facebook.
It is always good to be reminded to be grateful for all we have and that we were always meant to share. Thank you.
So true but so shocking to read it like that. I try always to think about those who have things so much harder than my problems. I give a widow's mite to help but wish it could be more. And then today, I splurge on a Starbucks, took two sips, decided I didn't like it and threw 4 bucks in the trash. yikes.
Great blog you have heree
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