Give to the Most High as he has given to you, generously, according to your means. For he is a God who always repays and will give back to you sevenfold.
But offer no bribes; these he does not accept! Do not trust in sacrifice of the fruits of extortion, For he is a God of justice, who shows no partiality. He shows no partiality to the weak but hears the grievance of the oppressed. He does not forsake the cry of the orphan, nor the widow when she pours out her complaint.
Reflections: Who is our house built upon? Are we generous with our gifts or hold them back? Do we perform a cost/benefit analysis? Do we engage in extortion through monetary means, or physical, or mental coercion? Whose cry do we hear the oppressed, the orphan, window? Instead, do we hear the voices of the rich and powerful? Are our eyes, ears and hearts blind to suffering?
I’m a product of public-school education (elementary through high school), and Catholic universities and public community colleges. Those experiences provided me with knowledge, tools to critically apply that knowledge, and reinforced the values learned from my family. Education has utilitarian functions – employment, etc. Importantly, education is a gift to be used in the service of others.
Arlington HS 1976Seattle University 1981Seattle CC 1982
That was not the view of Adolph Hitler in 1925.
The question of “nationalizing” a people is among other things primarily a question of creating healthy social conditions to make possible the education of the individual. Only when upbringing and school training have taught a man the cultural and economic, but, above all, the political greatness of his own fatherland can and will he acquire an inward pride in the privilege of belonging to such a people. And you can fight only for something you love, love only what you respect, and respect only what you at least know.” Adolph Hiller, Mein Kampf, Volume 1, Chapter 2, Par 46, 1925 https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Mein_Kampf_(Stackpole_Sons)/Volume_1/Chapter_2
Donald Trump in September 2020 proclaimed a similar view at White House Conference on American History his educational vision and by extension the MAGA movement’s.
Our mission is to defend the legacy of America’s founding, the virtue of America’s heroes, and the nobility of the American character. We must clear away the twisted web of lies in our schools and classrooms and teach our children the magnificent truth about our country. We want our sons and daughters to know that they are the citizens of the most exceptional nation in the history of the world.
One hundred years later in 2025, President Trump, VP Vance and 15 cabinet/department directors are putting those themes into practice throughout the American Publication education system.
As individuals, the whole Catholic Church in the USA, and our nation will be judged by how we treat the poor, stranger, hungry, naked and those in prison. Thank you God for this call to justice from Archbishop Wenski of Archdiocese of Miamito the People of God entrusted to him.
Archbishop_Wenski_Immigration_Ennforcement.pdf
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Archbishop Sample of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon, we the clergy, lay leaders, and parishioners need in your moral guidance on this issue and others when we violate Christ’s message of feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, giving water to the thirsty, clothing the naked, comforting the sick and visiting those in prison – Matthew 25:31-46.
We are not only called to”Vultum Christi Contemplari- “to contemplate the face of Christ” in the Eucharist. We are called to see the Christ in the poor, marginalized, and stranger (immigrant and refugee).
May the people of God in the People of entrusted to you answer the call to justice.
As James 2:14-17 states, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
We are spiritual beings in a human body which are gifts from God. Yes, pray with your spirit, and pray with your body. Give food to the poor, give drink to the thirsty, truly welcome the stranger, immigrant and refugee, clothe the naked, comfort the, and visit those in prison.
Give not only money. Be of humble service in your community, state, nation, and world when and how you can. You will see the face of Christ.
Three weeks ago, I was talking on the phone with a friend. They said, “Why Aren’t there protest songs like the 1960s and 70s?” I reflected and yes, prayed about it.
Music is very important in my life. I have sung in church choirs, and enjoy singing all kinds of music – soul, blues, rock and many ballads. Ask my wife, family and neighbors.
I came across “If I Can Dream” by Elvis Presly first recorded in 1968. A tumultuous time in the country: Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy were assassinated in April and June. Elvis wanted to do something.
One of the kids in our neighborhood remarked, “Was Martin Luther King part of your family?’ I responded, “No, our last name was Kingery.” Reverend King’s “I have a dream” touched me even then as a ten-year-old at Monroe Elementary School in Riverside California. In October 1965, Riverside Unified School District became the first large district in the nation to integrate its schools without a court order.[1]
Dawn Hassett, editor of “No Easy Way” published by Inlandia Institute, said she realized that most white people didn’t realize the extent of segregation.
“I think people really have an odd and mistaken notion of what it was like in California and the West, of what it was like for people who were Mexican American and African American,” she said. “What people think of as the Jim Crow South kind of existed everywhere,” Hassett said.[2]
Today, many do not accept or choose to ignore what is happening our Immigrant, Refugee, and Communities of color. We are all children of God, no exceptions!
I was getting ready for school when I heard Bobby Kennedy had been shot. How could this be? What was happening to the world? At school, we watched the funeral together – Hispanic, White, Japanese, Middle Eastern of ever religion, faith and creed.
Today is no different. Public figures are injured or die, plus regular citizens doing regular things like worshiping, shopping, going to school, participating in family and community events. We must rededicate ourselves together to building a more perfect union with liberty and justice for all.
The phrase “To sing is to pray twice” is attributed to St. Augustine. Colossians 3:16 teaches “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”
I hope I am praying twice with my recording of “I I Can Dream”. Captions coming soon,
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Good Bye. I am going to my Father. I will pray for you.
“Love, which is the heart of the Beatitudes, even if it seems weak in the world’s eyes, in fact always triumphs.” Pope Francis – Homily in Bagdad Cathedral 2021
I woke this morning and heard of the passing of Pope Francis. He was a humble apostle of peace and love for all humanity, especially the poor and marginalized. Pope Francis followed Jesus as a Servant of God. May we do the same.
After Pope Francis visited the United States in 2015, I wrote him a letter never expecting a response. He did respond in January 2016 through his papal nuncio Monsignor Peter B. Wells.
Your Holiness is grateful for this gesture of closeness, which he reciprocates with a fervent remembrance in prayer for you and for the people and concerns in your heart. Pope Francis also begs him to pray for him and for the fruits of his service to the holy People of God, while cordially imparting the Apostolic Blessing, as a pledge of abundant divine favors.
Oración de apertura: Para el inmigrante y refugiado, el cambio puede requerir dejar atrás a la familia, los amigos y el hogar. Cuando hacemos espacio en nuestras vidas para dar la bienvenida a los recién llegados, también cambiamos.
Respuesta: Oramos por la gracia del amor que echa fuera todo temor
We should love one another just as he commanded us.
The present form of the world passes away,
and there remains only the joy of having used this world to establish God’s rule here.
All pomp, all triumphs, all selfish capitalism,
all the false successes of life will pass
with the world’s form.
All of that passes away.
What does not pass away is love.
When one has turned money, property, work in one’s calling into service of others,
then the joy of sharing
and the feeling that all are one’s family
does not pass away.
In the evening of life you will be judged on love.
St. Oscar Romero, The Violence of Love
Oscar Romero (1917–1980) became archbishop of San Salvador in 1977. A prophetic voice of the poor, he was martyred at the altar while saying Mass. Romero was canonized in 2018.
