Moses’ prayer in the first reading on Trinity Sunday is as follows:
“If I find favor with you, O Lord, do come along in our company. This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardon our wickedness and sins, and receive us as your own.”
We are indeed a stiff-necked people. We don’t listen. We wonder why there is violence. We know not what we are doing. We are even violent in the face of violence, thinking that violence will stop if we can just “win.” All the while we lose sight of what love really is.
Go and read the Gospels. Read them. Pray with them, and read them some more. Ask God for an open mind and heart. Ask for the courage to love. To really love. Again, go and read the Gospels. Read Mark from start to finish. Then read John from start to finish.
How do we know what love is? Love is what we see on a crucifix. Love is Who we see on a crucifix. The Holy Father tweeted today: “There are two Christian responses to escape the spiral of violence: prayer and the gift of self.”
Love is a gift of self. Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 to really know the qualities of love. True love bears fruit, namely, the fruits of the Holy Spirit. St. Paul tells us what those are too: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Gal 5:22-23).
When we produce this fruit we will promote and find within ourselves:
Peace amidst persecution.
A peaceful and gentle call to repentance when encountering sinfulness, even the gravest, and especially in ourselves.
We will know at the depths of our being that darkness is overcome by the Light and Love is Light.
We will be patient: with sinners, including and especially ourselves — and with those who consistently challenge us in bad faith, ie.,“to test.”
We will always speak love and goodness, with kindness and joy.
We will be always faithful, trusting in the Father and His eternal presence and action in our life.
We will be self-controlled, living in the virtues of prudence, temperance, fortitude, and justice.
These are the discerning criteria of a Christian. Every Christian should ask, “Is this the fruit I produce?”
Again, Paul said, “Against these there is no law.”
For your discernment: Who in our modern politics and media exhibits this? Who in our Church exhibits this?
Find them and follow them. To follow Christ is life and gain. For one and for all.
The change that must come is in our hearts. Our hearts of stone must be surrendered to Christ so He can turn them into hearts of flesh.
2uolord 