Degančios anglis

TAI yra tiek daug karo. Karas tarp tautų, karas tarp kaimynų, karas tarp draugų, karas tarp šeimų, karas tarp sutuoktinių. Esu tikras, kad kiekvienas iš jūsų tam tikru būdu yra nukentėjęs nuo to, kas įvyko per pastaruosius dvejus metus. Skirtumas, kurį matau tarp žmonių, yra karti ir gilus. Galbūt jokiu kitu žmonijos istorijos metu Jėzaus žodžiai nėra taikomi taip lengvai ir tokiu masiniu mastu:

Atsiras daug netikrų pranašų ir daugelį suklaidins; o dėl piktadarystės padaugėjimo daugelio meilė atšals. (Mt 24, 11–12)

What would Pope Pius XI say now?

Taigi, net ir prieš mūsų valią, kyla mintis, kad dabar artėja tos dienos, kurių pranašavo mūsų Viešpats: „Ir kadangi gausybė neteisybės, daugelio meilė sušals“ (Mt 24, 12). - popiežius PIUS XI, „Miserentissimus“ atpirkėjas, Encyclical on Reparation to the Sacred Heart, n. 17, May 8th, 1928

Burning Injustice

For me, there is nothing more painful than the wound of injustice — words, actions and accusations that are false. When we or others we respect are falsely maligned, the injustice can burn away at one’s thoughts and peace. Today, the injustice toward so many doctors, nurses, scientists, and yes, truckers, is painful to witness and almost impossible to stop in the face of this global juggernaut.

Jesus seems to imply that part of the reason for the love of many growing cold is the emergence of “many false prophets.” Indeed, Jesus said Satan is “a liar and the father of lies.”^[1]John 8: 44 To those false prophets of His day, Our Lord said:

You belong to your father the devil and you willingly carry out your father’s desires. (John 8:44)

Today, so many of the divisions among us are precisely the fruit of “false prophets” — so-called “fact-checkers” who are censoring and shaping everything we hear, see, and are to believe. It is on such a massive scale^[2]plg Masinė psichozė ir totalitarizmas that when anyone questions or contradicts that narrative with new evidence, they are immediately mocked and scorned, dismissed as “conspiracy theorists” and idiots — even those with Ph.D.s. Of course, there are also the genuine conspiracy theorists who invent ideas out of thin air inspiring fear and confusion. And finally, there are the false prophets who wage war against the perennial truths of our Faith. Sadly, many wear collars and mitres, only widening the divisions and deepening the betrayals of the faithful.^[3]plg čia ir čia

How do we end these wars, at least, those within our control, if possible? One way, certainly, is to engage others with the truth — and truth is powerful; Jesus said, “I am the truth”! Yet, even Jesus refused to engage His executioners who mocked Him, for it was clear that despite their questioning, they were not interested in truth but in defending their position — even if by brute force. The weaker their case, the more vitriolic they became.

Degančios anglis

The temptation is to lash out at others in our frustration, to lose decorum and throw back the stones being hurled at us. But St. Paul tells us otherwise.

Niekam negrąžink blogio už blogį; susirūpinkite tuo, kas visų akyse yra kilnu. Jei įmanoma, iš jūsų pusės gyvenkite taikiai su visais. Mielieji, neieškok keršto, bet palik vietos pykčiui; nes parašyta: „Kerštas yra mano, aš atsilyginsiu, sako Viešpats“. Verčiau: „jei tavo priešas alkanas, maitink jį; jei jis ištroškęs, duokite jam gerti; nes taip darydamas sukrausite ant jo galvos degančias anglis “. Negalima užkariauti blogio, bet užkariauti blogį su gėriu. (Rom 12, 17–21)

Šios burning coals of love. Why is this powerful? Because God is love.^[4]1 Jonas 4: 8 That’s why “love never fails.”^[5]1 Cor 13: 8 Now that may not convince your friends or family members of your argument. But what it does do is pour an imperishable seed upon a cold and closed heart — a seed that is capable of melting another’s heart over time and finding a place to germinate. Here, we have to adopt the attitude of the true prophets who were faithful — but not always successful.

Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another,that you may not be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates. Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Indeed we call blessed those who have persevered… because Viešpats yra gailestingas ir gailestingas. (James 5:9-11)

How patient were the prophets? To the point of being stoned to death. Hence, we too need to persevere under a hail of words from the mouths of those who vilify us. In fact, their salvation might even depend upon your response.

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” …The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said, “This man was innocent beyond doubt.” (Luke 23:34, 47)

I wish I could say that I am an exemplar in this regard. Instead, I throw myself again at the feet of Jesus begging His mercy for the numerous times I have failed to love as He has loved us. Yet even now, with the failures of my tongue, all is not lost. Through forgiveness, humility, and love, we can undo the devil’s apparent victories achieved through our faults.

…let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)

The Great Storm of our times has only begun. Confusion, fear, and division are only going to multiply. As soldiers of Christ and Our Lady, we have to prepare ourselves to engage all whom we meet with the burning coals of love so that they would encounter in us Divine Mercy. Sometimes we are taken by surprise at the immediate harsh vitriol of another. At moments like that, we have to be ready with the words of Jesus: Tėve, atleisk jiems, jie nežino, ką daro. Sometimes, like Jesus, all we can do is silently suffer, and unite this burning injustice to Christ for their salvation or that of others. And if we can engage, it is often not what we say, but how we say it that will win the most important battle of all: that for the soul of the one before us.

Burning coals. Let us pour them upon a frozen world!

Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders,
making the most of the opportunity.
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt,
so that you know how you should respond to each one.
(Kol 4, 5–6)