tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24383995.post2506436804652152186..comments2024-03-22T04:12:44.008+08:00Comments on Breaking the Word: Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24383995.post-45011590837323684572008-04-16T08:38:00.000+08:002008-04-16T08:38:00.000+08:00Another brilliant expose! Awesome.I have just two ...Another brilliant expose! Awesome.<BR/><BR/>I have just two side points to share.<BR/><BR/>First, I'm sure we have come across the dogmatic, almost fundamentalistic, brethren in the Faith who are fixated with rules and who won't listen to reason. They 'cling stubbornly to preconceived positions' and nothing will budge them. I don't know about you; I just kick the dust off my shoes and move on, because the time is not right for a meaningful engagement. I wonder what the Good Shepherd would do..<BR/><BR/>I belong to a neighborhood group. In that group, there is the spouse of a member, who is a baptised Catholic, but never one to be involved in extra-Sabbatical activities. He was extremely difficult to talk to on matters of faith because he wanted answers where answers are not always evident. By the patient action of the Holy Spirit, he is now an active member of our neighborhood group.<BR/><BR/>The same Shepherd seeking out His sheep not all of which could hear His voice...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24383995.post-36497628593183118082008-04-14T18:31:00.000+08:002008-04-14T18:31:00.000+08:00Today's readings and the scenario you built is so ...Today's readings and the scenario you built is so true to life. It is something that most people can relate to in our everyday circumstances.<BR/>When confronted, our natural instince is to react, instead of responding. This is usually a poor move since our emotions rule. Peter was definitely empowered and not only defused the situation but won over the "critics" in a manner of speaking. <BR/>This inclusive act of embracing others in the name of Christ is so true of what we Catholics are trying to achieve today in our interfaith dialogue. The flipside is that we may compromise our core beliefs if we acquiesce too much in the one truth, many paths approach.<BR/>We can emulate Peter by being patient and share our lives in a Christlike manner. When we insist on being right we risk offending the other person in that they must be wrong.<BR/>Guided wisdom through the working of the Holy Spirit is ever present.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24383995.post-10040187614334676322008-04-14T16:44:00.000+08:002008-04-14T16:44:00.000+08:00Interestingly, this week's Monday Manna Working To...Interestingly, this week's Monday Manna <A HREF="http://www.cbmcint.org/resources/monday_manna?manna_id=1386" REL="nofollow">Working Toward Truth and Peace</A> (from CBMC) seems to address a similar issue: "Conflict is uncomfortable for me, but I have learned to respect people who are willing to confront disagreement directly when they believe it will ultimately result in resolution... We see good balance between these two drastically different approaches (Matt 5:9 vs Matt 21:12) to handling conflict described in God's long-term plan for peace and prosperity of Zion, as He presented it through the prophet Zechariah.<BR/><BR/>In Zechariah 8:16-17 we learn, "These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath for all these things I hate; declares the Lord."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24383995.post-7956525528896111112008-04-14T16:07:00.000+08:002008-04-14T16:07:00.000+08:00Fr Chris, strange how it didn't occur to me that t...Fr Chris, strange how it didn't occur to me that this could be an explosive situation until you point this out today. Now I'm reminded of chapter 21, where a riot occurred just because some Jews said Paul "has even brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this sacred place." <BR/><BR/>Sometimes though, feelings can go bad in a group just by not saying anything. For example, I think it's fortunate that the Jewish Christians had chosen to confront Peter and point out clearly (but not aggressively) what they are unhappy about. They could have chosen instead to bear grudges, talk bad about Peter behind his back, or even take subversive actions. On the other hand, Peter, on being confronted, chose not to go on the defensive. As you've put it, "he chooses instead to patiently explain the reasons for his actions."<BR/><BR/>By the way, by "guarding a familiar font", do you mean "guarding a familiar front"?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com