Still On A Crescendo: Anti-Trump Sentiments – October 26. 2020 - Monday

 

 

 

I always quiver in wonderment, though also saddened at times, when I open media in the Internet where almost daily I get all my information about the world.  There is still the increasing crescendo of anti-Trump criticism that has seen no abatement this late in the game, but has instead intensified and toughened each new day.  And this emanating from all sources, both from supposedly friendly and clearly hostile, from friends and even relatives to committed partisans, from most of the elite establishments in the US and in most of the globe to bored or maybe tepid-minded social media consumers who cannot help themselves trying to get some kind of mileage with a brusque kind of talk.

But the exception I believe has come from religious, particularly Christian, communities that have expressed kind words to him, not for his person or personality, but for what he has done for Christianity.  And they have responded not just with typical platitudes, but by collective prayers and contemplation.  Two of any faith’s greatest tools for support and strength.  Notably and sadly missing from this has been pronouncements from the Catholic hierarchy, save for a splintered few who have been unequivocal for their support.  Some Catholic quasi-religious groups have even articulated in labored rhetoric why it would be okay to not vote for Trump, and vote instead for one who is Catholic in name but clearly anti-Catholic in rhetoric and stance, and whose party would limit even further the already constricted religious liberties.

It was no surprise then that when I opened to read one of my sources for daily devotionals, these terse passages below jumped to my attention.

Excerpted from the book, Jesus Christ The Son of God, Rev. Alban Goodier, SJ, who served as Archbishop of Hierapolis (Turkey).  Written in the 1920’s.

By way of introduction, the author writes about all the people who participated in the conspiracy to finally put Jesus to his crucifixion.  From the crowd of ordinary and meek people, to the high priests who sat in judgment, to the temporal and secular rulers both domestic and foreign.  This as a matter of explanation for the alignment and coming together of very disparate groups, bent only on one thing.  Dispose of Jesus Christ!

“And it is easily understood.  For what is any crowd but a mass of ignorance, wandering in the dark and in confusion, made weaker by its very strength, since the greater its number the greater must be the babel of tongues to which it is compelled to listen?”

“What is it but a huge dependent force, unable to act for itself by the very independence of its units, dependent on any power that can master it, and by it led one way or another, little enough by any choice of its own entirely, or almost entirely, under the sway of him that dominates it?” 

The collective crowd made weaker by its very strength!

Which crowd has become a dependent force by the very independence of the various units.  The independence of supposedly enlightened groups made dependent on an outside force.

The final question to ask is who or what is the force that holds the sway and dominates this frenzied crowd?

What Would Christ Do? - October 21, 2020 Wednesday

 

 

A question I repeatedly have to ask myself each day as I rise from slumber, upon being assailed by many unrelenting challenges that test one’s person and nature.

Though man intends well as a species, as a’  Kempis affirms, his flawed nature and his concupiscence have need to constantly be examined and reminded.

A most apt and most often confronted issue has been how we address those that do not agree with us or who we just loathe or hate for what they stand for.

We know how we treat and entreat our loved ones, with the most diligent attention and most glowing words of praise and kindness.  As much and even beyond what and where our God-given natural affections could lead us.  And no doubt it is one relatively easy task, not only because it comes naturally but also because the object of our praises reflect our very persons and perceived virtues.  And how many of us do not love our own selves?  And thus all the superlatives rush out from our innermost core.

But what of those who though not necessarily at direct enmity, but simply those we disagree with whether personally, socially, or politically?

One looks around and sees the following.  The harshest and unkindest pejoratives of words and sentences are uttered and heaped upon others without much reservations or circumspection.  Likened to addressing the vilest, the most abominable of creatures.  Like one is the evil incarnate. Though even Christ would say, no man is.  After all, Christ showed us how.  With the admirable ways he addressed and treated the very people who defamed him, those who conspired against his very person, and even those revered magistrates who unjustly sentenced him to a most horrible end.

And mind you, this is coming not just from the ordinary man on the street, the coarse and uncouth creatures congregating in ghettoes or hovels of the world.  This coming also from those most educated, most accomplished in the many noble and commendable fields of endeavor chosen by upright and right-thinking persons.  People in polite society would call friends, acquaintances, or their loved ones.

But why?  Why, in this respect otherwise sainted men could suddenly turn to such an extreme?

What Would Christ Do?