sleonard

When his father Jacob (Israel) foolishly placed him between a “rock and a hard place by sending him to bring back a report on his brothers’ behavior, what was Joseph supposed to do?

This One who was the very glue and energy of the entire creation, a universe so incredible that 2000 years later we still have only seen 4% of it, if that; this One, they marveled, we have seen, and touched, and eaten with; this One we saw crucified unto death, and then we witnessed His resurrection from the grave and ascent into heaven.

What difference does the resurrection make? Or better, what difference should it make?

There is a reason tragedy proliferates in the world in which we live. There is a purpose for the tragedies we endure.

The recognition of the truth never removes the responsibility of those rich in grace to be merciful to the poor with the wisdom of the gospel message able to transform lives. At the Paul Anderson Youth Home we see young men with attitudes that would result in their extreme poverty if it were not for the sustenance of those around them. The source of such attitudes is sin. The remedy is Jesus Christ. His presence alone eradicates poverty.

Not blaming our ills on any one but ourselves is not something natural to our fallen nature. Such a radical departure from the tendencies that stalk us requires, the Apostle Paul says, a mystery unfolding within your own spirit, mind and emotions: “Christ in you, the hope of glory. It requires the knowledge and nurturing of Christ’s attitude in place of your own.

The old proverb “time heals all ills describes a prevailing attitude man continually nurses concerning his sins. Perhaps the common saying “out of sight, out of mind best explains how our minds work in this regard. C.S. Lewis wrote, “We have a strange illusion that mere time cancels sin. I have heard others, and I have heard myself, recounting cruelties and falsehoods committed in boyhood as if they were no concern of the present speaker’s, and even with laughter. But mere time does nothing either to the fact or to the guilt of sin.(The Problem of Pain)

Make-up is applied to beautify the face, cover blemishes, add color, and show us at our best. On the other hand, ashes on the forehead are a visible mark intended to declare the true nature of our heart, which cannot always be seen by others.

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