{"id":16357,"date":"2014-09-25T02:05:23","date_gmt":"2014-09-25T08:05:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/?p=16357"},"modified":"2017-04-17T22:00:04","modified_gmt":"2017-04-18T02:00:04","slug":"beheading-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/beheading-god\/","title":{"rendered":"Beheading God","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"<div align=\"center\">\n<p>THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGS<br \/>for September 25th, 2014<\/p>\n<p>Liturgical texts <a href=\"http:\/\/www.usccb.org\/bible\/readings\/092514.cfm\"><em>here<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/crumbled_ruins_by_kyu_erien_Fotor.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"470\" height=\"459\" \/><br \/><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em>by Kyu Erien<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"fb-root\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<p>\n<script>\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n(function(d, s, id) {\n  var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];\n  if (d.getElementById(id)) return;\n  js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;\n  js.src = \"\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\";\n  fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);\n}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));\n\/\/ ]]><\/script>\n<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><strong>AS <\/strong>I wrote last year, perhaps the most short-sighted aspect of our modern culture is the notion that we are on a linear path of advancement. That we are leaving behind, in the wake of human achievement, the barbarism and narrow-minded thinking of past generations and cultures. That we are loosening the shackles of prejudice and intolerance and marching toward a more democratic, free, and civilized world. <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_16357_1('footnote_plugin_reference_16357_1_1');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_16357_1('footnote_plugin_reference_16357_1_1');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_16357_1_1\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[1]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16357_1_1\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/the-progression-of-man\/\">The Progression of Man<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_16357_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16357_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script><\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">We couldn&#8217;t be more wrong.<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><!--more--><\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">History will look back with furrowed brow someday upon the &#8220;age of Enlightenment&#8221;, these past four hundred years when man, thinking himself brilliant, has rather been led like a blind man up the tallest mountain only to find himself, unknowingly, a step away from tumbling headlong down a sheer cliff. Having gouged out his spiritual eyes, replacing them with the near-sighted guides of &#8220;science&#8221; and &#8220;reason&#8221;, man has not only obscured answers to the deepest questions of his existence, but generated phantom visions of a utopia on earth that demands the extermination of the greater part of humanity. <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_16357_1('footnote_plugin_reference_16357_1_2');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_16357_1('footnote_plugin_reference_16357_1_2');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_16357_1_2\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[2]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16357_1_2\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/the-great-culling\/\">The Great Culling<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_16357_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16357_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script>\u00a0In man&#8217;s attempt to behead God, he is on the verge of beheading himself.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>The Lord\u2019s question: &#8220;What have you done?&#8221;, which Cain cannot escape, is addressed also to the people of today, to make them realize the extent and gravity of the attacks against life which continue to mark human history\u2026 Whoever attacks human life, in some way attacks God himself.<\/strong> \u2014POPE JOHN PAUL II,<em> Evangelium Vitae<\/em>; n. 10<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">How foolish we must appear to the angels! For that matter, how foolish we must appear to the animals who must sense the manic insanity that has gripped their stewards.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, mono; font-size: small;\">Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities! All things are vanity! What profit has man from all the labor which he toils at under the sun? One generation passes and another comes, but the world forever stays&#8230; (First reading)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">In a hundred years, nearly every one of the seven billion people presently on earth will be deceased. All our castles, cars, gold and silver will be in the hands of another man (or decayed) while our own bodily temples will have become fodder for the fields.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, mono; font-size: small;\">There is no remembrance of the men of old; nor of those to come will there be any remembrance among those who come after them&#8230; You turn man back to dust, saying, &#8220;Return, O children of men&#8221;&#8230; You make an end of them in their sleep; the next morning they are like the changing grass&#8230; (First reading &amp; Psalm)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">But this reality evades the present lords of humanity who wield the sword over their fellow man with impunity, <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_16357_1('footnote_plugin_reference_16357_1_3');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_16357_1('footnote_plugin_reference_16357_1_3');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_16357_1_3\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[3]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16357_1_3\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Cf. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/the-great-culling\/\">The Great Culling<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_16357_1_3').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16357_1_3', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script> acting as the new Herods of our time. Thinking themselves gods at the apogee of evolution, they are deciding the fate of mankind for the &#8220;common good&#8221;\u2014ie. they&#8217;re own good.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>The Pharaoh of old, haunted by the presence and increase of the children of Israel, submitted them to every kind of oppression and ordered that every male child born of the Hebrew women was to be killed <\/strong>(cf. Ex 1:7-22)<strong>. Today not a few of the powerful of the earth act in the same way. They too are haunted by the current demographic growth\u2026 Consequently, rather than wishing to face and solve these serious problems with respect for the dignity of individuals and families and for every person\u2019s inviolable right to life, they prefer to promote and impose by whatever means a massive programme of birth control. <\/strong> \u2014POPE JOHN PAUL II, Evangelium Vitae, \u201cThe Gospel of Life\u201d, n. 16<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">But they too will be struck dumb like Herod. For when they think they have also beheaded the Church once and for all, a remnant will emerge victorious:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, mono; font-size: small;\">Herod said, \u201cJohn I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?\u201d (Today&#8217;s Gospel)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">And who is this remnant? The <em>anawim, <\/em>the poor, the little ones who will inherit the earth at the <em>dawn<\/em> of a new era of peace\u2014they who took their refuge in God rather than the empty promises and fleeting pleasures at the end of this age. These are the ones to whom Jesus will say, <em>&#8220;your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.&#8221;<\/em> <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_16357_1('footnote_plugin_reference_16357_1_4');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_16357_1('footnote_plugin_reference_16357_1_4');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_16357_1_4\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[4]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16357_1_4\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf. Luke 12:32<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_16357_1_4').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16357_1_4', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, mono; font-size: small;\">Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart. Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants! In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge. Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days. (Today&#8217;s Psalm)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">RELATED READING<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/the-great-culling\/\"><strong><em>The Great Culling<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/the-judas-prophecy\/\">The Judas Prophecy<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"fb-like\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/beheading-god\/\" data-layout=\"standard\" data-action=\"recommend\" data-show-faces=\"true\" data-share=\"true\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"twitter-share-button\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/beheading-god\/\" data-via=\"MarkMallett2\">Tweet<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n<script>\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=\/^http:\/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+':\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');\n\/\/ ]]><\/script>\n<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Thanks for your prayers and support.<br \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/store.markmallett.com\/donate\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Donateovalbtnonbeige.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"112\" height=\"48\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/store.markmallett.com\/store\/?sort=newest\"><span style=\"color: #800000;\">NOW AVAILABLE!<\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">A powerful new Catholic novel&#8230;<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/store.markmallett.com\/store\/?sort=newest\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft  wp-image-16012\" style=\"margin-right: 2px; margin-left: 2px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/TREE3bkstk3D.jpg\" alt=\"TREE3bkstk3D.jpg\" width=\"185\" height=\"221\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/TREE3bkstk3D.jpg 255w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/TREE3bkstk3D-252x300.jpg 252w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 185px) 100vw, 185px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/store.markmallett.com\/store\/?sort=newest\"><em><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">THE TREE<\/span><\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">by <br \/><\/span><\/strong><strong><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Denise Mallett<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #000000; text-align: center;\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>From the first word to the last I was captivated, suspended between awe and amazement. How did one so young write such intricate plot lines, such complex characters, such compelling dialogue? How had a mere teenager mastered the craft of writing, not just with proficiency, but with depth of feeling? How could she treat profound themes so deftly without the least bit of preachiness? I am still in awe. Clearly the hand of God is in this gift. Just as He has granted you every grace thus far, may He continue to lead you on the path He has chosen for you from all eternity. <br \/><\/strong>\u2014<em>Janet Klasson, author of <\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/pelianito.stblogs.com\">The Pelianito Journal Blog<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #000000; text-align: center;\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>Exquisitely written\u2026 From the very first pages of the prologue, <\/strong><strong>I could not put it down!<br \/><\/strong>\u2014Janelle Reinhart, <em>Christian recording artist<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong> I thank our amazing Father who gave you this story, this message, this light, and I thank you for learning the art of Listening and carrying out what He gave you to do. <br \/><\/strong> \u2014<em>Larisa J. Strobel<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"LEFT\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/store.markmallett.com\/store\/?sort=newest\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><em>ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/store.markmallett.com\/store\/?sort=newest\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-16016\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Tree-Book.jpg\" alt=\"Tree Book\" width=\"313\" height=\"394\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Tree-Book.jpg 446w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Tree-Book-238x300.jpg 238w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 313px) 100vw, 313px\" \/><br \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><em>Until September 30th, shipping is only $7\/book. <br \/>Free shipping on orders over $75. Buy 2 get 1 Free!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">To receive <strong><em>The <\/em><\/strong><em><strong>Now Word,<\/strong> <\/em><em><br \/><\/em>Mark\u2019s meditations on the Mass readings, <br \/>and his meditations on the &#8220;signs of the times,&#8221;<br \/>click on the banner below to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/subscribe\/\">subscribe<\/a>. <br \/> Your email will not be shared with anyone.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/subscribe\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12200 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/NowWord-Banner.png\" alt=\"NowWord Banner\" width=\"463\" height=\"148\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/NowWord-Banner.png 798w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/NowWord-Banner-300x97.png 300w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/NowWord-Banner-768x247.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 463px) 100vw, 463px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Join Mark on Facebook and Twitter!<\/span><br \/><\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/Mark-Mallett\/479309778804431\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Facebooklogo.png\" alt=\"Facebooklogo\" width=\"98\" height=\"98\" \/><\/a><\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MarkMallett2\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Twitterlogo.png\" alt=\"Twitterlogo\" width=\"98\" height=\"98\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"speaker-mute footnotes_reference_container\"> <div class=\"footnote_container_prepare\"><p><span role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_reference_container_label pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_expand_collapse_reference_container_16357_1();\"><h5>Footnotes<\/h5><\/span><span role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_reference_container_collapse_button\" style=\"display: none;\" onclick=\"footnote_expand_collapse_reference_container_16357_1();\">[<a id=\"footnote_reference_container_collapse_button_16357_1\">+<\/a>]<\/span><\/p><\/div> <div id=\"footnote_references_container_16357_1\" style=\"\"><table class=\"footnotes_table footnote-reference-container\"><caption class=\"accessibility\"><h5>Footnotes<\/h5><\/caption> <tbody> \r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_16357_1_1\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_16357_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_16357_1_1');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>1<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/the-progression-of-man\/\">The Progression of Man<\/a><\/em><\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_16357_1_2\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_16357_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_16357_1_2');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>2<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/the-great-culling\/\">The Great Culling<\/a><\/em><\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_16357_1_3\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_16357_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_16357_1_3');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>3<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Cf. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/the-great-culling\/\">The Great Culling<\/a><\/em><\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_16357_1_4\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_16357_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_16357_1_4');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>4<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf. Luke 12:32<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n <\/tbody> <\/table> <\/div><\/div><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> function footnote_expand_reference_container_16357_1() { jQuery('#footnote_references_container_16357_1').show(); jQuery('#footnote_reference_container_collapse_button_16357_1').text('\u2212'); } function footnote_collapse_reference_container_16357_1() { jQuery('#footnote_references_container_16357_1').hide(); jQuery('#footnote_reference_container_collapse_button_16357_1').text('+'); } function footnote_expand_collapse_reference_container_16357_1() { if (jQuery('#footnote_references_container_16357_1').is(':hidden')) { footnote_expand_reference_container_16357_1(); } else { footnote_collapse_reference_container_16357_1(); } } function footnote_moveToReference_16357_1(p_str_TargetID) { footnote_expand_reference_container_16357_1(); var l_obj_Target = jQuery('#' + p_str_TargetID); if (l_obj_Target.length) { jQuery( 'html, body' ).delay( 0 ); jQuery('html, body').animate({ scrollTop: l_obj_Target.offset().top - window.innerHeight * 0.2 }, 380); } } function footnote_moveToAnchor_16357_1(p_str_TargetID) { footnote_expand_reference_container_16357_1(); var l_obj_Target = jQuery('#' + p_str_TargetID); if (l_obj_Target.length) { jQuery( 'html, body' ).delay( 0 ); jQuery('html, body').animate({ scrollTop: l_obj_Target.offset().top - window.innerHeight * 0.2 }, 380); } }<\/script>","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGSfor September 25th, 2014 Liturgical texts here by Kyu Erien \u00a0 \u00a0 AS I wrote last year, perhaps the most short-sighted aspect of our modern culture is the notion that we are on a linear path of advancement. That we are leaving behind, in the wake of human achievement, the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,873,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16357","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-daily-journal","category-mass-readings","category-the-great-trial"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Beheading God - The Now Word<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/beheading-god\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Beheading God - The Now Word\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGSfor September 25th, 2014 Liturgical texts here by Kyu Erien \u00a0 \u00a0 AS I wrote last year, perhaps the most short-sighted aspect of our modern culture is the notion that we are on a linear path of advancement. That we are leaving behind, in the wake of human achievement, the [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/beheading-god\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Now Word\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2014-09-25T08:05:23+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2017-04-18T02:00:04+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/crumbled_ruins_by_kyu_erien_Fotor.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Mark\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Mark\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/beheading-god\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/beheading-god\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Mark\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/000af5cf476f9c725d5bc45f722aa99a\"},\"headline\":\"Beheading God\",\"datePublished\":\"2014-09-25T08:05:23+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2017-04-18T02:00:04+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/beheading-god\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1046,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/000af5cf476f9c725d5bc45f722aa99a\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/beheading-god\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2014\\\/09\\\/crumbled_ruins_by_kyu_erien_Fotor.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"HOME\",\"MASS READINGS\",\"THE GREAT TRIALS\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/beheading-god\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/beheading-god\\\/\",\"name\":\"Beheading God - The Now Word\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/beheading-god\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/beheading-god\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2014\\\/09\\\/crumbled_ruins_by_kyu_erien_Fotor.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2014-09-25T08:05:23+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2017-04-18T02:00:04+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/beheading-god\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/beheading-god\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/beheading-god\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2014\\\/09\\\/crumbled_ruins_by_kyu_erien_Fotor.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2014\\\/09\\\/crumbled_ruins_by_kyu_erien_Fotor.jpg\",\"width\":470,\"height\":459},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/beheading-god\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Beheading God\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"The Now Word\",\"description\":\"\u2014 With Mark Mallett \u2014\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/000af5cf476f9c725d5bc45f722aa99a\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\"},{\"@type\":[\"Person\",\"Organization\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/000af5cf476f9c725d5bc45f722aa99a\",\"name\":\"Mark\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2015\\\/08\\\/cropped-hurricaneearth_Fotor2.jpg\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2015\\\/08\\\/cropped-hurricaneearth_Fotor2.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2015\\\/08\\\/cropped-hurricaneearth_Fotor2.jpg\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"Mark\"},\"logo\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2015\\\/08\\\/cropped-hurricaneearth_Fotor2.jpg\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Beheading God - The Now Word","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/beheading-god\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Beheading God - The Now Word","og_description":"THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGSfor September 25th, 2014 Liturgical texts here by Kyu Erien \u00a0 \u00a0 AS I wrote last year, perhaps the most short-sighted aspect of our modern culture is the notion that we are on a linear path of advancement. That we are leaving behind, in the wake of human achievement, the [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/beheading-god\/","og_site_name":"The Now Word","article_published_time":"2014-09-25T08:05:23+00:00","article_modified_time":"2017-04-18T02:00:04+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/crumbled_ruins_by_kyu_erien_Fotor.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"author":"Mark","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Mark","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/beheading-god\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/beheading-god\/"},"author":{"name":"Mark","@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/000af5cf476f9c725d5bc45f722aa99a"},"headline":"Beheading God","datePublished":"2014-09-25T08:05:23+00:00","dateModified":"2017-04-18T02:00:04+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/beheading-god\/"},"wordCount":1046,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/000af5cf476f9c725d5bc45f722aa99a"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/beheading-god\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/crumbled_ruins_by_kyu_erien_Fotor.jpg","articleSection":["HOME","MASS READINGS","THE GREAT TRIALS"],"inLanguage":"en-CA"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/beheading-god\/","url":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/beheading-god\/","name":"Beheading God - The Now Word","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/beheading-god\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/beheading-god\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/crumbled_ruins_by_kyu_erien_Fotor.jpg","datePublished":"2014-09-25T08:05:23+00:00","dateModified":"2017-04-18T02:00:04+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/beheading-god\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-CA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/beheading-god\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-CA","@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/beheading-god\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/crumbled_ruins_by_kyu_erien_Fotor.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/crumbled_ruins_by_kyu_erien_Fotor.jpg","width":470,"height":459},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/beheading-god\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Beheading God"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/","name":"The Now Word","description":"\u2014 With Mark Mallett \u2014","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/000af5cf476f9c725d5bc45f722aa99a"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-CA"},{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/000af5cf476f9c725d5bc45f722aa99a","name":"Mark","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-CA","@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/cropped-hurricaneearth_Fotor2.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/cropped-hurricaneearth_Fotor2.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/cropped-hurricaneearth_Fotor2.jpg","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"Mark"},"logo":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/cropped-hurricaneearth_Fotor2.jpg"}}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"link","format":"url"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16357","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16357"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16357\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28703,"href":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16357\/revisions\/28703"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16357"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16357"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16357"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}