Commentary by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
While many of us were unaware, the Equal Rights (ERA) Amendment – which many believe is just about granting women equality in America – almost met the 38-state threshold needed to amend the U.S. Constitution a few days ago when Virginia lawmakers took up the issue. Thankfully, it failed to garner sufficient votes.
January 28
“The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
-Mark 12:28-31
Today’s Reflection:
The passage reveals an important truth to us about the virtue of charity: true love of neighbor flows from true love of God. Jesus tells the scribe that the first commandment is to love God with the entirety of our being. Then we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. The love of God is a prerequisite for love of neighbor and
for every charitable action.
Practicing the corporal works of mercy is a practical way to grow in the virtue of charity. Seek at least one way that you can do so this week.
(1) Feed the hungry.
(2) Give drink to the thirsty.
(3) Clothe the naked.
(4) Shelter the homeless.
(5) Visit those in prison.
(6) Comfort the sick.
(7) Bury the dead.
Connie asks: “I have a question about using vitamins and herbs. I take a multivitamin, Vit E, Vit C, Acidolpholis, Calcium, Magnesium, and zinc daily. I also take for peri-menopause Black Cohosh Extract and Alpha Lipoic Acid(which has helped me greatly) daily. Would any of these vitamins or herbs be considered New Age and should I stop taking any of them?”
January 25
“It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
-Galatians 2:20
Today’s Reflection:
Today we celebrate the conversion of St. Paul. His powerful experience of Jesus Christ turned him from a persecutor of Christians to one of the greatest evangelizers of Christianity. Like him, we are called to meet Christ and grow in union with Him. How can you meet Him today? In what ways can you allow Him to live more powerfully in you?
Commentary by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Nearly a week after the mainstream media promulgated a highly edited video that made a group of Catholic high school boys appear to be mocking a Native American at the March for Life, a whole different story has emerged – and it’s leaving both the press and the Native American involved with a whole lot of egg on their face.
By Ellen Mongan
Every Christian faith walk takes you on a journey; journeys where you are asked to take Jesus’s nail-scarred hand and trust Him to lead you. Jesus leads you to the very heart of our loving Heavenly Father.
The gentle bishop of Geneva, St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622), whose feast day is today, taught the faithful many things about the interior life – not least of which is the need to learn how to be patient with ourselves.
In a hard-hitting op-ed, Monsignor Charles Pope says the bishops need to do more than issue statements expressing sadness and ringing a church bell in mourning after the state’s Governor championed the most radical abortion bill in the country into law. Enough is enough. The time has come for real penalties.
