Evangelical Witness

People of certain religious persuasions have their own parallel language. It is not terminology of specifics that do not exist elsewhere. No, it is the same words with different meanings. I read an article about Trump's effect on the evangelicals. He created a disruptive wave among them. This writer says it is lingering, but over all they are as they were. The one area where it has caused a problem is in "witnessing".

When certain Protestants use the word "witness", or "witnessing" they are using internal code. Witness in standard speech refers to attesting to fact as in testimony, evidence, proof, knowledge from being present, and the like. They mean proselytising. They want to recruit converts. To many this is not wanted, it is uncomfortable, irritating, sometimes insulting, especially when it is intrusive, or aggressive.

Outside of religious services, this is the most religious activity they engage in. This activity is verbal, almost exclusively. One does not have to behave as a Christian (they find good works meaningless, faith is expressed in words), one hectors. Many see this as an aspect of conspicuous hypocrisy.

So why is witnessing in the age of Trump more difficult? This is the elephant in the room that is not mentioned, but fully acknowledged silently—credibility. White evangelicals were [and are] so allied with Trump. It was noticed with disgust by the world, because Trump has no positive attributes in common with good Christian living, morality, or ethics. The only thing that is shared is hypocrisy, and unnecessary verbiage. Trump is first, and most of all—a liar. He is a psychopath. This bears a  permanent stain of shame.

Saint-Barthélemy

José de Ribera (‘Spagnoletto’). Martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew. 1624. Cleveland.

To-day is St. Bartholomew's Day, i have posted on this before [click]. English is not strictly phonetic. The spoken word comes first, then it is written, then it is formalised, and while this is happening pronunciation may change. Now, Bartholomew used to be said near the French manner, 'Bartleme'. English changed the spelling, and the pronunciation then mimicked the spelling. 

Ribera sketched and painted Bartholomew many times. Baroque religious art often portrayed piety in torment. Of Jesus' apostles, only John died of old age. There were several subjects to choose from.

The Gospels are compact. In the second half of John's first chapter, he tells of the calling of some of the apostles. The synoptic Gospels, as John, notes Nathanael as Philip's friend; but they call him by his patronymic, son (Bar) of Tolmai.

Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith to him: We have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus the son of Joseph of Nazareth. And Nathanael said to him: Can any thing of good come from Nazareth? Philip saith to him: Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him: and he saith of him: Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile. Nathanael saith to him: Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered, and said to him: Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. — John i. 45-48.

Phil: The Christ is here.
Nate: From Nazareth?
Jesus: A man of no false charm.
Nate: How do you know me?
Jesus: You were just under the fig tree.

Why a fig tree? This the reader/hearer has to ponder. First: Jesus was not around at that time with Nathanael Bartelme. Nathanael thought he was alone before Philip found him. Some shock and awe that a non present stranger knew this. Second: Why a fig tree? A fig tree and (grape) vine are mentioned elsewhere in Scripture, as pleasant possessions of men in peace. Perhaps, that was his happy, and/or thinking place. Third: It is a poetic choice of words, a metaphor to be used. I knew you, when you were alone by the fig tree.

stewards of the earth

How long shall the land mourn, and the herb of every field wither for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? The beasts and the birds are consumed: because they have said: He shall not see our last end. — Jeremias xii.4.

There are several biblical passages, that when taken together, outline and define the concept of stewardship over the earth. Now, a steward is not the owner, he is the manager of the possessor. This comes in the first chapter, of the first book, at the end of the account of creation:

And he said: Let us make man to our image and likeness: and let him have dominion over the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air, and the beasts, and the whole earth, and every creeping creature that moveth upon the earth. — Genesis i. 26.

'Dominion' is the word that is often, purposely, misused. It means 'ownership' in Latin, but it is translated not from that word but from 'praesit', which is a third person form of 'praesum', which means to take charge, or be present. No, man is not the owner. And not a single man. Here man is a collective (and gender common) subject. All men, all humanity, is to take charge in caring for God's creation of the earth, and all things of the earth.

And the Lord God took man, and put him into the paradise for pleasure, to dress it, and keep it.  — Genesis ii. 15.

Now, greedy, avaricious, manipulative individuals wish to seize possession of the earth, and its abundance, and use it for selfish means. This is contrary to all legitimate Jewish and Christian understanding. People that claim to be of high religiosity and do not care for God's creation are deficient in the practice of faith. Hypocrisy is strong in this world.

Dómini est terra, et plenitúdo ejus ; orbis terrárum, et univérsi qui hábitant in eo.

The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof: the world, and all they that dwell therein. — Psalm xxiii. 1.

The understanding within Catholicism is represented in the recent Catechism under these two numbers thusly:

2402 —  In the beginning God entrusted the earth and its resources to the common stewardship of mankind to take care of them, master them by labor, and enjoy their fruits. The goods of creation are destined for the whole human race. However, the earth is divided up among men to assure the security of their lives, endangered by poverty and threatened by violence. The appropriation of property is legitimate for guaranteeing the freedom and dignity of persons and for helping each of them to meet his basic needs and the needs of those in his charge. It should allow for a natural solidarity to develop between men.

2415 — The seventh commandment enjoins respect for the integrity of creation. Animals, like plants and inanimate beings, are by nature destined for the common good of past, present, and future humanity. Use of the mineral, vegetable, and animal resources of the universe cannot be divorced from respect for moral imperatives. Man's dominion over inanimate and other living beings granted by the Creator is not absolute; it is limited by concern for the quality of life of his neighbor, including generations to come; it requires a religious respect for the integrity of creation.

Capitalists, and others who claim themselves as dominionists are contrary to respected religious, and the general, moral order. Those that deny that man is ruining the biosphere are fools, or more often, and accurately, selfish liars. Climate change as the result of the activity of man is not only logically possible, but climate change as an hoax is absurd. Those that only believe in private ownership are lying for self interest. The anti-Earth Day crowd are such people. Some create the red herrings of pagan celebration, and world wide conspiracy of communism, or one world government are the same, or in league with the greedy, or are their stupid and foolish tools. The conspiracy believers have let irrational paranoia overtake them. The claim that there are people who are irreligious, or pagan earth worshippers are non sequiturs at best. One does not have to have a religious belief system to have a moral sense of shared human respect and responsibility for the world; and people with alternative, and even strange, religious belief may still share the common moral humanity of religious believers. We are one people of one earth (that God created).

Allied ideas alongside of respectful stewardship are love, charity, and justice. These together are in harmony. The physical world, and the moral world are related and comparable to body and soul.

This was on a plaque dedicated to a docent at the Cleveland Zoo. Note the errant placement of the 'h'.

The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be measured by the way its animals are treated. This has been attributed to Mohandas Gandhi. Well, it sounds like something he would say, anyway; yet i have not seen when he did. There are other such cases when certain words have been attached to famous persons. Some things are of the same spirit (of course, sometimes some things are falsely created as manipulative propaganda that mimics a view and not the integral spirit, and here subjectivity lies). 

  map at Cleveland Zoo's  Rain Forest Building showing deforestation of tropic woodlands.

Saint Colman's Honors Labor

  old workers' tools before the altar (notice stick rule)

The feast day of Saint Colmán of Cloyne is 24 November.  That day, here, is near Thanksgiving and the weather is often inclement. The parish in Cleveland, the one he is patron of, revived the celebration of his feast day in 2007, but moved it to an earlier Saturday in November. It was almost as if a Mass turned into a céilí. It was beautiful Mass with fine songs, fine music, and fine musicians. This year the building tradesmen were honored. It is near the one hundredth year of Cleveland's Council of the A.F.of L.'s Building and Trade Council.

A former priest of the parish, Fr. James O'Donnell (supra, statue of Colmán behind him) spoke of the 'Workingman's Pope', Leo XIII. Pope Leo in 1891 issued Rerum Novarum, speaking to the dignity of the workingman. And contrary to much propaganda, this has been the position of his successors, of course the pharisees in the American church ignore this, and contradict it. Fr. O'Donnell did not mention that, he did recall when he, and his father worked the hand shovel in construction. He did mention the unity and progression of the work of tradesmen, whom built this church edifice, and so many more.

 happy kid at Mass

recessional procession

 

The cover of both programmes'  borrow Fritz Eichenberg's Labor Cross. An hundred years ago, fifty years ago, such a Mass could have happened all over the United States. To-day, this is one of the few parishes that could have done so. I seriously doubt, that another parish in the Cleveland Diocese would have even considered such a Mass. Father Robert Begin concluded Mass saying, unions have made it possible for the working man to receive the wages he deserves. Jesus makes similar statements, in regards to the worker deserving his pay, in the Gospels; but to-day's American priest does not emphasise such words. Alas, many American Catholics reject both Labor and the Gospel for capital (Mammon).

the Portersharks playing before the Magdalen

After Mass, the local folk group, the Portersharks played a concert for those on the main floor. The fiddler, Francis Quinn is a journeyman wireman (construction electrician). They had a broad repertoire of Irish dance tunes, and both modern American folk songs, and traditional Irish and Irish American ones. They played a rousing Mary Ellen Carter. In the social hall below, a long party took place.

Jesus, the camel, and Republicans

Dear Republicans, choose one. They are not a pair.

Jesus had to repeat Himself. The crowd was surprised to hear what Jesus said. They understood the world taught that you get what you deserve in this life. But, to-day's Gospel* for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary time (Mark x. 17-30) says:

...And Jesus looking round about, saith to his disciples: How hardly shall they that have riches, enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus again answering, saith to them: Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches, to enter into the kingdom of God? It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. ...

This is another one to make some pew sitters squirm if they choose to hear. This Gospel falls serendipitously into the American election season. Officially, our society forbids partisan political preaching from the pulpit, but it happens. Sometimes it is directly by name, sometimes it is heavily stated, but only to avoid the name of the candidate, or party. To-day, there may be the incongruent situation [for those using the common lectionary, many Protestant churches follow a version of the Catholic lectionary] wherein the sermon/homily contradicts the Gospel. We know which party is the apologist, and champion, of the rich.

The Gospel goes further to suggest, all these things that are impediments to following God are idols. The favorite idol in America is Mammon. The quotation about the camel is very well known as a word of Jesus; yet people try to deny the only possible meaning.
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*Yes, that is in Mark. In Matthew xix. 24: And again I say to you: It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.
In  Luke xviii. 25: For it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time B

For those who use the new lectionary, we have some interesting readings for Sunday. The Old Testament reading is from the Books of Moses. Josue was jealous for Moses' sake. Two men, Eldad and Medad, were prophesying. This did not trouble Moses. The Gospel reading has Marcus quoting Jesus, "And whosoever shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me; it were better for him that a millstone were hanged around his neck, and he were cast into the sea."* If the homilist was willing, he could be very anti-clerical. The church police would be very offended (scandalised).

The Epistle reading is from the first of the Catholic Epistles, James, the book Luther could not tolerate.

1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl in your miseries, which shall come upon you. 2 Your riches are corrupted: and your garments are motheaten. 3 Your gold and silver is cankered: and the rust of them shall be for a testimony against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire. You have stored up to yourselves wrath against the last days. 4 Behold the hire of the labourers, who have reaped down your fields, which by fraud has been kept back by you, crieth: and the cry of them hath entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. 5 You have feasted upon earth: and in riotousness you have nourished your hearts, in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and put to death the Just One, and he resisted you not.

The fourth verse, i have written on one of my tool boxes. It has been retouched whenever the marker ink wears off. It has been there almost twenty years. There are four sins that cry out to heaven for divine justice (murder, sodomy, defrauding labour, cruelty to widows and orphans). The Jacobean verse is not in isolation, when Moses the Lawgiver spoke for God, he also did say, "But thou shalt pay him the price of his labour the same day, before the going down of the sun, because he is poor, and with it maintaineth his life: lest he cry against thee to the Lord, and it be reputed to thee for a sin."

I have always understood Jesus to be the Friend of labour:

Come to me, all you that labour, and are burdened, and I will refresh you. Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: and you shall find rest to your souls. For my yoke is sweet and my burden light.—Matthew xi. 28-30

There are several such passages in the Bible. The words of the prophets were not enjoyed by all. Jesus was a trouble maker in the eyes of the Pharisees. Some rich, and powerful people go to church. Do they hear these words? Would they quote these words on the campaign trail? You know not in the boardroom.

Whoever is the lector in church that reads these words, read them loud, clear, slow enough, and with feeling, so they will be heard by the congregation. Some listeners may be agitated, they will be like the proverbial "nervous whore in church". And if anyone contradicts these words moments after, pray the congregation notices the discrepancy.
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*That was the Douay-Rheims version. In the US, currently the NAB is read, "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea." The Latin has 'scandalizaverit' (tempt to evil; cause to stumble).

nota bene: About bishops and other Catholic Republicans: party platforms are propaganda documents to satisfy noisy, pushy people in the party. The public does not read these, and they are not binding. Previous action by parties and politicians are a real guide to future action.  Did the Republican party say in their 2000 platform, "We will steal this election, start expensive and unnecessary wars based on lies, increase national debt, and make the rich richer, and the poor poorer, and do everything we can to hold on to and gain power"?

The propagandist that came up with "intrinsic evil" versus "prudential judgments" is a casuistic prevaricator. We know what you mean by the first, and it has become the status quo, and it is a false political issue to divert us from other issues. It is tangentially a political issue. It makes for much noise, motivates some people, is a good fraud to pull on people and to see nothing change.  The second one says, sinisterly, cynically, perversely, banefully, "Yes we know what is right, you know what is right, but if you say something else is right (and we know it is wrong), and do what is wrong, we will not interfere." It would be so nice if Republican bishops were to read the Bible and the doctors instead of shilling for the moneyed establishment. Make you a prudential judgment, when you weigh such words from such men.

The episcopal scrupulosity about clerical misbehaviour is not as stringent. "And whosoever shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me; it were better for him that a millstone were hanged around his neck, and he were cast into the sea."
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postscriptum:  There is at least one internet petition calling for the resignation of such a bishop:

Petitioning President, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
This petition will be delivered to:
His Eminence Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan President, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops     Most Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz Vice President, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops     Rebecca Summers Dir. of Communications - Diocese KCSJ
Bishop Robert Finn Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph, MO     Bishop R. Daniel Conlon Chairman, USCCB Committee on Child Protection    
Bishop Robert Finn: Resign as Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph, MO.

by Jeff Weis
Kansas City, MO

Bishop Robert Finn is head of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. He is also the highest-ranking U.S. Catholic cleric to be convicted in a decades-long child sexual abuse scandal.

In September of 2012, a judge found Bishop Finn guilty on one misdemeanor charge after he failed to report a priest who had taken or possessed hundreds of pornographic pictures of young girls. Even though Finn was found guilty in a court of law, he remains the Bishop of the Kansas City – St. Joseph Diocese. Now, many members of our community feel he is unfit to lead and should resign. He is currently the highest-ranking U.S. Catholic cleric to be convicted in a decades-long child sexual abuse scandal.

This isn’t a new problem. Only three years ago, Bishop Finn settled lawsuits with 47 plaintiffs in sexual abuse cases for $10 million and agreed to a long list of preventive measures, among them to immediately report anyone suspected of being a pedophile to law enforcement authorities.

I’m from Kansas City, MO - born and raised Catholic in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. As a Catholic, I believe in forgiveness. But I also believe that forgiveness and change can exist together and that’s why I feel it’s necessary for Bishop Finn to immediately resign. The spiritual, emotional, and moral pain that this issue has caused to Finn’s fellow clergymen, diocesan employees, volunteers, parishioners and faithful must begin to come to an end.

Begin the healing by resigning.

Feast of the Slaughtered Innocents

No picture with this one. Sometimes, i have found a photo of a masterpiece to illustrate or begin an essay; sometimes i have found something nearby to photograph and present here; not to-day. The paintings by Rubens and the rest, do not do justice.

Then Herod perceiving that he was deluded by the wise men, was exceeding angry; and sending killed all the men children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.
Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet, saying:
A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. — Matthew ii. 16-18.

To-day is Herod's big day. Shakespeare refers to Herod, some eight times. Now, people remember Hamlet's acting advice, and his summation of the bad overacting: It out-Herods Herod. Shakespeare grew up in an England where catholicism was not extinguished. He had seen the Coventry and other mystery plays. This was a scene that played to people in town squares, where there was no stage. Men would mount wagons and carts. The role of Herod was as extravagant as could be mustered. Chaucer two centuries before mentions such an Herod. The Coventry Carol as a lullabye refers to it.

Herod, the king,
In his raging,
Chargéd he hath this day
His men of might
In his own sight
All young children to slay

Herod was a child killer. Everyone knew his wickedness, and children would be scared of him, and fully knew the dread of the tale.

Shakespeare, in Henry V, brings up a more accurate reference to Herod:

...If not, why, in a moment look to see
The blind and bloody soldier with foul hand
Desire the locks of your shrill-shrieking daughters,
Your fathers taken by the silver beards
And their most reverend heads dashed to the walls,
Your naked infants spitted upon pikes
Whiles the mad mothers with their howls confused
Do break the clouds, as did the wives of Jewry
At Herod’s bloody-hunting slaughtermen.
What say you? Will you yield and this avoid
Or, guilty in defense, be thus destroyed? — Henry V, III. iii.

Henry V advises the town of Harfleur to surrender without a fight, without a siege. I can control my soldiers now, but not when they have been deployed, and when they are, only murder and rape will follow.

Now, for years Jonah House in Washington, D.C. has held retreats and demonstrations about the death wars and militarism bring about. Peaceniks that stand against violence, not far from the Pentagon will meet at St. Stephen and the Incarnation in D.C. Catholic Workers in Cleveland, to-day at 4 p.m., will have a small demonstration at Public Square, and then will march to the Cathedral of John the Evangelist.

Yes Rachel weeps for her children. This is an image that is used by some ministries to the unborn and the aborted. Taking of life is killing and murder, and great sadness follows. But in the scriptural text, it is the government that is killing the children. Whether it is the male children of Bethlehem, in order to include Jesus, or the mediæval knights of Herod in the plays, or the military and police of to-day, it is governmental action that causes the deaths.

Those children, two millenia ago in Palestine, were the first anonymous christian martyrs. Martyring of children has not stopped. Rachel still cries, and if she is in Iraq or Afghanistan or some other foreign land, which American hears her?

What Sunday is this?

For most of the catholic world this is the 7th Sunday after Easter; for the church of easy observance this is Ascension Sunday; on the old calendar it is Sunday within the Octave of Ascension. Here it is the middle one. I feel least comfortable with that option. For many it is not an onerous burden to have Ascension on Thursday as it was meant to be. Thursday is forty days after Easter. At one time in this non-catholic country, we were noticed, in part, on account of us having extra holidays, catholic holidays others did not recognise, and even snickered at, and demeaned. There are countries where Ascension Thursday is a public holiday [remember 'holiday' is another spelling of 'holy day']. It was a source of distinction, and a chance to share, and evangelise the faith; not so much now. With the new calendar, and the new Mass, one positive matter is the greater number of Scripture readings people hear in worship in the three year, and two year cycles. By the using of the middle option, the readings of the first option are not heard to-day. Acts vii.55-60 Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit,

looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God

and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,

and Stephen said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened

and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

But they cried out in a loud voice,

covered their ears, and rushed upon him together.

They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.

The witnesses laid down their cloaks

at the feet of a young man named Saul.

As they were stoning Stephen, he called out,

“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice,

“Lord, do not hold this sin against them;”

and when he said this, he fell asleep. Apoc. xxii. 12-14, 16-17, 20

I, John, heard a voice saying to me:

“Behold, I am coming soon.

I bring with me the recompense I will give to each

according to his deeds.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last,

the beginning and the end.”

Blessed are they who wash their robes

so as to have the right to the tree of life

and enter the city through its gates.

“I, Jesus, sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches.

I am the root and offspring of David,

the bright morning star.”

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”

Let the hearer say, “Come.”

Let the one who thirsts come forward,

and the one who wants it receive the gift of life-giving water.

The one who gives this testimony says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! Gospel of John xvii. 20-26

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying:

“Holy Father, I pray not only for them,

but also for those who will believe in me through their word,

so that they may all be one,

as you, Father, are in me and I in you,

that they also may be in us,

that the world may believe that you sent me.

And I have given them the glory you gave me,

so that they may be one, as we are one,

I in them and you in me,

that they may be brought to perfection as one,

that the world may know that you sent me,

and that you loved them even as you loved me.

Father, they are your gift to me.

I wish that where I am they also may be with me,

that they may see my glory that you gave me,

because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

Righteous Father, the world also does not know you,

but I know you, and they know that you sent me.

I made known to them your name and I will make it known,

that the love with which you loved me

may be in them and I in them.” The stoning of the protomartyr Stephen and the apostle Paul's[Saul's] rôle is a story we need to hear. The second reading is virtually the last words of Scripture, there is only one more verse, it is a final salutation and "Amen". "Amen" is the last word of Scripture. Most, here, missed these words at church to-day. _____________________________ supra windows: Ascension. John Cantius, Cleveland. Stoning of Stephen. St. Stephen, Cleveland. Alpha. Omega. St. Anthony of Padua, Akron.

Lent: Repentence and the U.S.

Duccio di Buoninsegna. Temptation on the Mount. 1308-11. New York City.
To-day is the first Sunday of Lent.

The devil is wily and devious. Jesus, the man, had spent forty days fasting, and was in a physically weakened posture. The devil gave three temptations. Jesus, as both God and man, was not stupid and fooled. The devil could not give Him anything that He could not have Himself. Permit me an odd diversion, this lyric is metaphorically close, “Oz never did give nothing to the Tin Man that he didn’t, didn’t already have.” And this is a message to all of us, the devil has nothing to give; he wants to possess. He wants your soul, your true allegiance, and clever trickery is his method.

The second temptation (in Luke, the third in Matthew):

And the devil led him into a high mountain, and shewed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time; And he said to him: To thee will I give all this power, and the glory of them; for to me they are delivered, and to whom I will, I give them. ― Lk iv. 5-6. When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time. ― Lk iv.13.

As we understand, Jesus could have done this without help. He chose not to. He was one with the poor and downtrodden, not with the powers of the earth. But, what does this tell us of the powerful? The roman empire was the great power then, as the United States is to-day.

Now in Lent, we are meant to repent. What is it to repent? To be sorry, feel remorse with sincere contriteness for past sin. One is self reproachful. “God, God, what have I done?”, is the sentiment.

Now this is not the ‘american way’. The United States shows no remorse and admits to no guilt, or at least a certain party’s advocates. Anyone who recognises the evil the country has done and is doing, is denounced as part of the ‘blame America crowd’. Part of this is the extreme nationalism that is jingoism and chauvinism, part of this is distilled calvinism, or as it is called currently in political theory, ‘american exceptionalism’, a divine gift of predestined grace. It is also a sick form of self love, narcissism.

We have seen this recently proved by the Justice Department in giving passes to the architects of torture, Jay S. Bybee and John C. Yoo. Dick Cheney even boasts of his crimes, and scolds, and berates those whom may refrain. Any crime committed for the government, by the military or secret police or mercenaries, is waived. The Geneva Conventions and Nuremberg War Crimes principles are inapplicable to americans by the US government. The great fear espoused supposedly by the busheviks about a supposed Democratic administration has proved groundless. Neither Obama, nor Holder are willing to execute justice. The change promised is the status quo ante done reservedly. The Republicans feared punishment, for they knew they were guilty, but the government has shown it is bi-partisanly complicit.

The rules of God for us are not those of Cæsar for Cæsar. The godless hypocrite says the former and does the latter.

Capitalism (Greed) is a (capital) sin

The central part of the Gospel read in last Sunday's mass (Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time-Year B):

And Jesus looking round about, saith to his disciples: How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus again answering, saith to them: Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God? It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. — Mark x. 23-5.

These words of Our God spoken to his disciples astonished them! There are some who try to equivocate this passage away by saying it does not mean what it says, but it does. Two weeks before the words of James v. 1-6 were read. The rich, who oppress the poor, were warned. They were accused of theft of workmen's wages, and this was akin to murder. It is one of the sins that cries out to Heaven.

In between these masses, Michael Moore's movie on capitalism was released. In the film, he speaks to four priests (two of them bishops). Their unanimous consensus was—capitalism is a sin.

More from James

Luther, in his vituperations, called the Epistle of James, the Epistle of Straws. Yes, these straws broke the misshapen hump of that camel. Several gems of truth are in that slim book. The second reading of the mass to-day (Year B) is from James v. 1-6. It is a cry for social justice. God is with the poor and mistreated. God is a friend to the laborer, and his justice will fall harshly on the robbing rich. There are many congregations, and congregants that will not receive this message gladly. There are four sins that cry out to heaven. This is the one from the New Testament:

Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries.
Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten,
your gold and silver have corroded,
and that corrosion will be a testimony against you;
it will devour your flesh like a fire.
You have stored up treasure for the last days.
Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers
who harvested your fields are crying aloud;
and the cries of the harvesters
have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure;
you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter.
You have condemned;
you have murdered the righteous one;
he offers you no resistance.―NAB

Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl in your miseries, which shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted: and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered: and the rust of them shall be for a testimony against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire. You have stored up to yourselves wrath against the last days. Behold the hire of the labourers, who have reaped down your fields, which by fraud has been kept back by you, crieth: and the cry of them hath entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. You have feasted upon earth: and in riotousness you have nourished your hearts, in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and put to death the Just One, and he resisted you not. ― DRC

Fortunate and just the congregation that has a lector with a stentorian and dramatic voice to proclaim God’s Truth. Some might recognise their faults and squirm in discomfort, or sit in stony silence and contempt.

Also, to-day in the Gospel is the warning about the millstone to the corrupters of youth. From the following many applications of to-days horrors can be expounded upon, especially self-inflected scandal.

Et quisquis scandalizáverit unum ex his pusíllis credéntibus in me : bonum est ei magis si circumdarétur mola asinária collo ejus, et in mare mitterétur.
And whosoever shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me; it were better for him that a millstone were hanged around his neck, and he were cast into the sea. ― Mark ix. 41. DRC

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Now, on most Sundays, the Mass has three Bible readings, plus the psalm. To-day’s first reading was an oration from the Suffering Servant of Isaias. He has been unjustly and brutally treated, yet he stands unbowed and challenges any adversary to compare to him for judgment. He knows, he is right, and any opponent is not his equal. He also knows, God is with him.

...I have not rebelled,
have not turned back.
I gave my back to those who beat me,
...I am not disgraced;
...I shall not be put to shame.
...if anyone wishes to oppose me,
let us appear together.
Who disputes my right?
Let that man confront me.
See, the Lord GOD is my help;
who will prove me wrong?—Isaias l.5-9a (abbreviated)

What good is it, my brothers and sisters,
if someone says he has faith but does not have works?
Can that faith save him?
If a brother or sister has nothing to wear
and has no food for the day,
and one of you says to them,
“Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well, ”
but you do not give them the necessities of the body,
what good is it?
So also faith of itself,
if it does not have works, is dead.
Indeed someone might say,
“You have faith and I have works.”
Demonstrate your faith to me without works,
and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.
—James ii.14-18. NAB

The second reading destroys Martin Luther [and the protestant heresy*], and in his [their] own terms. The self proclaimed theological claim of rightness and superiority against catholicism is — justification [salvation] by faith alone, with a corollary that ‘works’ are meaningless. Luther also claimed only Scripture could change his mind, ‘sola scriptura’; and by that rationale his programme is demolished. Protestant theology stands on feet of clay.

The Gospel reading, from Mark viii, has Peter recognising that Jesus is the Christ [Messias], and then refers back to Isaias, in that of the suffering Jesus would undergo. Wavering, fearful but perceptive [Simon] Peter can see the true importance of Jesus.
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*To some this is a minor point to start a schism an heresy—faith not works, instead of faith and works. For faith does not exclude good works. The false dichotomy of faith OR works is partially a non-sequitar, and a straw man argument.