Monday, October 27, 2008

If a man leans on such a reed...

"Why should I fear in evil days, when my wicked pursuers ring me round, Those who trust in their wealth and boast of their abundant riches? One cannot redeem oneself, pay to God a ransom. Too high the price to redeem a life; one would never have enough To stay alive forever and never see the pit. Anyone can see that the wisest die, the fool and the senseless pass away too, and must leave their wealth to others. Tombs are their homes forever, their dwellings through all generations, though they gave their names to their lands. For all their riches mortals do not abide; they perish like the beasts. This is the destiny of those who trust in folly, the end of those so pleased with their wealth.

Selah Like sheep they are herded into Sheol, where death will be their shepherd. Straight to the grave they descend, where their form will waste away, Sheol will be their palace. But God will redeem my life, will take me from the power of Sheol.

Selah Do not fear when others become rich, when the wealth of their houses grows great. When they die they will take nothing with them, their wealth will not follow them down. When living, they congratulate themselves and say: "All praise you, you do so well." But they will join the company of their forebears, never again to see the light. For all their riches, if mortals do not have wisdom, they perish like the beasts." (Psalm 49: 6-21).

We have heard so much talk during this election campaign about the economy and how it is the number one concern of Americans. We have heard so much about the stock market and the trillions lost in recent weeks. This is what people of the world are most concerned about. Even though some fifty Bishops said just recently that abortion is the most important issue in this campaign, the media have ignored the issue.

Where do we stand? Do we put more importance in money and stocks than we do human life? We should recall the words of my patron Saint, Anthony of Padua: "Earthly riches are like the reed. Its roots are sunk in the swamp, and its exterior is fair to behold; but inside it is hollow. If a man leans on such a reed, it will snap off and pierce his soul, and his soul will be carried off to hell."

3 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:09 AM

    This country has become idolatrous. Most care more for their stock portfolios than they do the unborn who are ripped apart in their mother's womb and thrown away into a garbage dump. America may have been blessed at one time. Now she has turned away from God and is calling His chastisement down.

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  2. Anonymous2:42 AM

    The signs are present in the aberrations of the weather, earthquakes, volcanic activity, diseases, plagues, wars and rumors of wars, the move towards a one world government and a one world religion, abortions, homosexuality, illicit sex, deceit and violation of contracts, liberal theology, lack of personal responsibility, unprecedented weapons of mass destruction, divorce, murder, rape, DNA engineering, harvesting human organs from animals, medical experimentation which only 60 years ago were considered atrocities, cloning, theft, greed, etc. No other period has known illicit sex broadcast into every home via television, making the family environment a cesspool. Man has made materialism his golden calf. Since Adam, man has always sinned, but today he laughs at sin, even boasts of it. MAN HAS LOST THE SENSE OF SIN AND MADE IT A LIFESTYLE..

    "For as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man." (Cf. Matthew 24:37)

    Our world is in crisis. We need a return to holiness. People are more concerned with getting to the shopping mall on Sunday than they are attending Holy Mass.

    At my parish, the numbers are dwindling. And while the church is nearly empty, the mall is filled to capacity.

    Our materialism, our greed, our hard-heartedness and self-worship will be our undoing.

    In one hour mighty Babylon falls. And all the merchants of the world are heard lamenting over her.

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  3. Anonymous2:54 AM

    Another Bishop warns against Catholics voting for a pro-abortion candidate:

    "A retired US bishop has issued a public statement declaring that Catholics cannot in good conscience vote for Barack Obama in this year's presidential election. "A Catholic cannot be said to have voted in this election with a good conscience if they have voted for a pro-abortion candidate. Barack Hussein Obama is a pro-abortion candidate," said Bishop Rene Gracida, the retired head of the Corpus Christ, Texas diocese. Bishop Gracida's statement has been released as a potential radio advertisment by pro-life activist Randall Terry."

    The link to this is at www.spiritdaily.com

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