(GUITAR THEME MUSIC) >> WELCOME. I AM FATHER MITCH AND WELCOME TO SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION. A PROGRAM WHERE WE TEACH SACRED SCRIPTURE IN LIGHT OF OUR CATHOLIC TRADITION. PARTICULARLY THE APOSTOLIC TRADITION. WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU AS PART OF OUR SHOW. YOU CAN DO SO BY ADDING YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. DURING THE LIVE BROADCAST, TUESDAY AT 2 PM EASTERN TIME, YOU CAN CALL IN. IF YOU ARE IN NORTH AMERICA THE # IS 1 800 221 9460. IF YOU ARE NOT, THAT WILL NOT WORK. CALL 1 205 271 2980. ALSO SEND QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS BY EMAIL TO: SCRIPTUREANDTRADITION@EWTN.COM. YOU CAN GO TO OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES. TODAY WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT SOME AREAS OF LIFE WHERE DISCERNMENT IS NOT GOOD OR NECESSARY AND PLACES WHERE IT IS GOOD AND NECESSARY. ESPECIALLY WE WILL TRY TO TALK ABOUT EQUAL MINDEDNESS TO THE GOODS OF GOD'S CREATION AS A STARTING POINT FOR BEING ABLE TO DISCERN THE WILL OF GOD. WE ARE STARTING ON PAGE 72 OF MY BOOK 'HOW TO LISTEN WHEN GOD IS SPEAKING: GUIDE FOR MODERN DAY CATHOLICS.' YOU MAY GET A COPY OF THE BOOK BY GOING TO EWTNRC.COM WHERE IT IS ITEM 1833. ONE OF THE POINTS WE MADE EARLY IN MY BOOK AND IN THIS SERIES IS THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU DO NOT NEED TO DISCERN. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DISCERN THEM. AS A MATTER OF FACT IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO TRY AND DISCERN. YOU DO NOT NEED TO DISCERN WHETHER OR NOT YOU SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT COMMIT ADULTERY. YOU DO NOT NEED TO DO THAT. YOU DO NOT NEED TO DISCERN WHETHER YOU SHOULD MURDER SOMEBODY. THERE IS NO BASIS FOR DISCERNING WHETHER TO COMMIT AN ABORTION. THAT YOU SHOULD CUT A BABY INTO PIECES AND CUT OFF ITS ARMS AND LEGS AND SQUASH ITS SKULL. YOU DO NOT NEED TO DISCERN THAT. WHY? THAT IS ALWAYS WRONG. STEALING IS WRONG. AND WE CAN ALSO SAY WORSHIPING OTHER GODS. THERE IS NO REASON TO DISCERN WHETHER OR NOT TO BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST SOMEBODY. THERE MAY BE TIMES THAT YOU DO NOT SPEAK UP ABOUT WHAT YOU KNOW. IN PARTICULAR WHEN IT IS GOSSIP. YOU CAN STAY SILENT ON GOSSIP ESPECIALLY IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IN REGARD TO THAT PERSON. SO OFTEN I HEAR IN VARIOUS NEWS MEDIA, WELL, IT JUST HAS TO BE THAT HE WAS GOING TO DO THIS OR SHE HAD THIS IN MIND OR THIS IS WHAT THE REAL INTENTION HAD TO BE. YOU DO NOT KNOW THAT. YOU DO NOT KNOW THAT. SOMETIMES IT IS HARD ENOUGH FOR US TO KNOW OUR OWN MOTIVATIONS FOR DOING THINGS YET ALONE SOMEBODY ELSE'S AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO DISCERN ABOUT. WE DO NOT GOSSIP. AND WE DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS. YOU DO NOT NEED TO DISCERN WHETHER OR NOT YOU SHOULD COMMIT BLASPHEMY AGAINST GOD'S HOLY NAME. NO NEED TO DISCERN THAT. "WELL, THERE ARE TIMES." NO, THERE IS NO TIME TO BLASPHEME GOD. NO WAY. NO WAY. AND WE HAVE THESE COMMANDMENTS FROM GOD AND WE SIMPLY HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT THESE ARE GOD'S LAWS. WE TALKED ABOUT ACCEPTING GOD ON HIS TERMS. THAT MEANS ACCEPTING HIS LAW AND HIS COMMANDMENTS AS NORMATIVE. YOU DO NOT DISCERN THAT. ALL THAT YOU DO HAVE TO DO, WE HAVE TO OBEY GOD'S HOLY COMMANDMENTS AND IF WE BREAK THEM THEN WE NEED TO CONFESS THAT INFRACTION OF HIS LAW. WE DO NOT NEED TO DISCERN THAT EITHER. "WELL, SHOULD I GO TO CONFESSION OR NOT? IS THIS GOD'S WILL?" OF COURSE IT IS GOD'S WILL, SO YOU GO. YOU DO NOT NEED TO DISCERN THAT. AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT WHERE WE JUST DO NOT DO DISCERNMENT. YOU JUST ACCEPT GOD'S WILL. BUT THEN GIVEN THAT WE ARE GOING TO OBEY GOD'S COMMANDMENT, THERE ARE LOTS AND LOTS OF OTHER AREAS WHERE DISCERNMENT IS LEGITIMATE, GOOD AND AT TIMES VERY NECESSARY. THIS IS WHEN WE ARE DEALING WITH THE GOOD CHOICES THAT WE HAVE SET BEFORE US. NOW THE MOST IMPORTANT STARTING POINT HERE IS WHAT THE LORD GOD SAID IN GENESIS CHAPTER 1 AFTER EACH OF THE CREATIONS. GOD SAID LET THERE BE LIGHT AND THERE WAS LIGHT. AND GOD SAW THAT THE LIGHT WAS GOOD. GOD SAYS THE SAME THING ABOUT THE REST OF CREATION. THE ANIMALS ARE GOOD. THE SUN, MOON AND STARS ARE GOOD. THAT THE FISH AND THE BIRDS ARE GOOD. AND HUMANS THAT HE MAKES LAST ARE VERY GOOD. NOT JUST GOOD BUT VERY GOOD. THERE'S A GOODNESS ABOUT CREATION AND GOD PUT THAT GOODNESS INTO IT, CREATION IS NOT EVIL. IT IS A VERY SERIOUS ERROR AND SOMETIMES IT GETS FORMALIZED INTO ORGANIZED HERESY THAT PEOPLE SAY THE PHYSICAL WORLD IS EVIL. IT IS NOT EVIL. IT IS INHERENTLY GOOD. THE QUESTION IS IS IT GOOD FOR ME TO USE? OF COURSE DO NOT THINK THAT I AM UNAWARE THAT THERE ARE SINFUL USES OF GOOD CREATURES. WE CAN TAKE SOME CREATURES TOO MUCH AND OTHERS TOO LITTLE AND THEN BECOME SINFUL BUT IT IS NOT THE CREATURE THAT IS EVIL. IT IS OUR MISUSE OR FAILURE TO USE THE CREATURE THAT IS A SIN. THAT IS AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION. BUT THE CREATURE ITSELF IS GOOD. ALCOHOL IS GOOD. DRUNKENNESS IS A SERIOUS SIN. MARIJUANA HAS MEDICINAL PURPOSES AND YOU CAN MAKE ROPE OUT OF THE PLANT. THOSE ARE GOOD. BUT USING IT TO GET HIGH AND GIVING CONTROL OF YOUR WILL OVER TO ANY SUBSTANCE WHETHER IT BE DRUGS, ALCOHOL ETC. THAT GIVING UP OF YOUR WILL AND CONTROL OF YOUR WILL TO A SUBSTANCE IS SINFUL. BUT THE SUBSTANCE IS NOT EVIL. AND SOMETIMES CERTAIN USES OF THE SUBSTANCE ARE VERY GOOD. AND IT IS THE SAME WITH SEXUALITY. THIS IS A GREAT GOOD. GOD USES IT FOR THE BEGINNING OF HUMAN LIFE, AND WHEN THE LORD SAID TO ADAM AND EVE IN GENESIS CHAPTER 1, BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY, HE IS NOT GIVING THEM SOME MATH PROBLEMS. HE IS TELLING THEM TO HAVE CHILDREN. THIS IS A GOOD THING. BUT MISUSE OF IT IS AN EVIL. A SIN. AND MONEY IS NOT EVIL. THE BIBLE DOES NOT SAY THAT MONEY IS EVIL. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THE LOVE OF MONEY IS EVIL. AND THIS REFERS TO WHEN YOU PUT MONEY WHICH IS A TOOL, MONEY IS SIMPLY A TOOL TO MEASURE THE VALUE OF CERTAIN GOODS AT A PARTICULAR TIME IN A PARTICULAR SOCIETY. AND YOU KNOW YOU USE THAT TO EVALUATE. IT IS A TOOL. BUT IF YOU MAKE THE TOOL YOUR GOAL YOU CAN COMMIT A LOT OF SERIOUS SINS TO GET THAT TOOL. JUST KEEPING USING THAT THROUGH ALL, EVERY SINGLE CREATURE THAT EXISTS. THAT EVERYTHING IS GOOD AND IT IS HOW I USE IT THAT CAN BE SINFUL OR VIRTUOUS, AND DOES; 1 OF THE QUESTIONS THAT NEEDS TO ARISE IS, AM I USING THIS GOOD CREATURE, PART OF GOD'S CREATION, THE GOOD EARTH, FOR HIS GREATER GLORY OR FOR MY OWN PURPOSES? SOME OF WHICH MAY BE RATHER SELFISH. THAT IS ANOTHER QUESTION. THAT IS WHERE DISCERNMENT COMES IN. WHICH OF THESE GOOD CREATURES DO I USE? THAT IS VERY VERY IMPORTANT. SO, WE CAN MAKE DECISIONS ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. WELL, I WILL JUST GO WITH THIS, THIS IS HOW I FEEL RIGHT NOW. WELL, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE VERY INTUITIVE AND THEY HAVE A GOOD INSTINCT ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS. BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE OUR INSTINCTS DO POINT OUT, AND YOU JUST MAKE A DECISION BY THE SEAT OF YOUR PANTS RIGHT THEN AND THERE ON THE SPOT SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, THAT IS AN NOT OPTION OR AN OPPORTUNITY THAT SHOWS UP. I HAVE CERTAINLY DONE THAT PLENTY OF TIMES. AND SOMETIMES IT WORKS OUT, SOMETIMES NOT. IS IT THE RIGHT THING OR IS IT NOT? IT VARIES. BUT IT IS BETTER FOR US TO TAKE TIME AND USE OUR ABILITY TO THINK AND CONSIDER AND PRAYERFULLY DISCERN, DO I FIND GOD'S PEACE AND CONSOLATION IN A CERTAIN DECISION? THAT IS WHERE DISCERNMENT OF GOD'S WILL COMES INTO PLAY. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING. SO I GIVE AS AN EXAMPLE. SOME OF THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO ME BECAUSE I'M NOT VERY GOOD AT MATHEMATICS BUT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO JUST LOVE THE BEAUTY OF NUMBERS AND MATHEMATICS. THEY HAVE A CHOICE. THEY COULD GO ON AND BECOME A MATH TEACHER AND TRAIN YOUNG MINDS IN MATHEMATICS OR THEY CAN BECOME AN ACCOUNTANT. THESE MIGHT BE 2 VERY VIABLE OPTIONS FOR SOMEONE WHO IS GIFTED IN MATH. AND BOTH OF THOSE ARE GOOD. BEING AN ACCOUNTANT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN HELP YOU TO KEEP BUSINESSES HONEST AND IN GOOD WORKING ORDER, PAYING THEIR TAXES, PAYING THEIR WAGES, MAKING A PROFIT FOR THE OWNERS AND THE MANAGERS AND EVERYBODY ELSE. YOU KEEP ALL OF THAT IN BALANCE. AN ACCOUNTANT IS VERY NECESSARY, BUT A MATH TEACHER IS ALSO A GREAT GOOD. BECAUSE YOU TRAIN YOUNG PEOPLE HOW TO THINK, HOW TO USE MATHEMATICS AND UNLIKE SOME OF THE SILLY SOUNDING PEOPLE I HEAR ABOUT WHO SAY THAT TRYING TO GET CORRECT ANSWERS IN MATH IS RACIST, I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY HAVE EVER BEEN SHORT CHANGED AT A STORE OR BUSINESS. MAYBE THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THAT IS LIKE. BUT HAVING GOOD MATHEMATICS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS WILL HELP YOU NOT TO GET CHEATED IN BUSINESS OR IN TRANSACTIONS AND IT WILL HELP YOU NOT TO CHEAT OTHERS. I DO NOT SEE THAT AS RACIST. NOT ONE BIT. I DO NOT WANT ANYBODY FROM ANY RACE TO CHEAT SOMEBODY ELSE OR TO GET CHEATED. BOTH OF THEM ARE WRONG. SOMETIMES IT IS INADVERTENT. SOMETIMES IT IS PURPOSEFUL. KNOWING GOOD MATH IS A HELP TO PREVENT IT NO MATTER WHAT THE MOTIVE MIGHT BE. AND TO TEACH YOUNG PEOPLE HOW TO USE MATH CORRECTLY AND GET THE RIGHT ANSWERS AND FIND OUT WHY CERTAIN ANSWERS ARE WRONG IS VERY IMPORTANT. I WILL NEVER FORGET A CONVERSATION WITH A 15 OR 16 YEAR OLD YOUNG MAN I MET AT A WEDDING. HE WAS A RELATIVE OF THE FAMILY GETTING MARRIED. AND FOR SOME REASON IT CAME UP. WE TALKED ABOUT SOME ISSUE INVOLVING NUMBERS. HE COULD NOT MULTIPLY 6 × 7. HE WAS ALMOST 16. HE DID NOT KNOW HOW TO DO THAT. HE WAS LOOKING AT HIS FINGERS AND SAYS, I CANNOT DO THAT. NO, LEARN LEARNING HOW TO DO THAT IS A GOOD THING. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE. SOME PEOPLE MIGHT LOOK AT THIS CHOICE OF THE 2 GOODS, BEING AN ACCOUNTANT TO HELP BUSINESSES STAY HONEST OR BEING A MATH TEACHER TO TRAIN YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE PRINCIPLES OF MATH, AND THEY CAN LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, WELL, IT IS A SLAM DUNK. I WILL GET WAY MORE MONEY AS AN ACCOUNTANT THAN I WILL AS A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER OR GRAMMAR SCHOOL TEACHER. AS A CHRISTIAN THOUGH, YOU MIGHT WANT TO SAY WAIT A MINUTE. IS THAT THE PRIMARY ISSUE? I DO NOT THINK SO MYSELF. IN FACT WHEN I WAS TEACHING AT LOYOLA UNIVERSITY IN CHICAGO I FREQUENTLY TAUGHT INTRODUCTORY COURSES TO THE BIBLE. SO I HAD A LOT OF FRESHMAN. I WOULD TELL THEM THE 1ST DAY OF CLASS IF YOU ARE AT THIS UNIVERSITY, IN ORDER TO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY THEN I URGE YOU STRONGLY MAKE AS MUCH MONEY AS YOU CAN AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN, BECOME RICH QUICKLY. BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING TO NEED ALL OF THAT MONEY IN ORDER TO PAY FOR THE PSYCHIATRIST AND THE DIVORCE LAWYER BY THE TIME YOU'RE 45, SO MAKE IT FAST. BUT IF YOU ARE HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HUMAN AS WELL AS TO GET A JOB, TO LEARN ABOUT OUR RELIGION, OUR LITERATURE, OUR HISTORY AND THE FULL GAMUT OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE, THEN BY ALL MEANS YOU WILL ENJOY THIS COURSE. IF NOT YOU WILL NOT. BUT HAVING MONEY AS YOUR PRIMARY GOAL IS NOT WORTHY OF US. WE HAVE TO CONSIDER OTHER THINGS AND ONE CONSIDERATION THAT SHOULD TOP THEM ALL IS WHAT DOES THE LORD WANT ME TO DO? THIS IS KEY. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK. WE WILL COME BACK IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND CONTINUE ON WITH THIS SO PLEASE STAY WITH US. (GUITAR THEME MUSIC) (GUITAR THEME MUSIC) >> ALL RIGHT, BEFORE WE GET BACK TO OUR TOPIC, I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT SOMETHING I RECENTLY LEARNED. 1 OF OUR RADIO AFFILIATES UP IN WASHINGTON D.C. LET ME KNOW ABOUT THIS. THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 12 IN WASHINGTON, D.C. IT'S THE FIRST EVER PRO LIFE MEN’S MARCH, WHICH WILL BEGIN THIS SATURDAY AT 11 A.M. EASTERN TIME, WITH PRAYER IN FRONT OF THE WASHINGTON SURGI CLINIC, A LATE TERM ABORTION FACILITY NEAR GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY. IT IS WHERE ABORTIONIST DR. CESARE SANTANGELO WAS RECORDED AGREEING TO DENY MEDICAL CARE TO A VIABLE CHILD WHO SURVIVED AN ABORTION. RECORDED THE MAN DOING THAT. THAT WAS ILLEGAL BECAUSE EVEN ROE V WADE SAYS THAT, ONCE THE CHILD IS OUT OF THE WOMB, IT'S A HUMAN BEING. AND THAT DOES NOT MATTER TO SOME PEOPLE. THERE WILL BE THIS MEN'S MARCH, AND A LOT OF THE MEN THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PAID FOR THE ABORTIONS OF THEIR OWN CHILDREN. ONE MAN PAID FOR THE ABORTIONS OF THREE OF HIS CHILDREN. THE MEN'S MARCH WILL THEN PROCEED TO THE WHITE HOUSE. THERE WILL BE FEATURED SPEAKERS, LIKE ONE OF OUR GREAT FRIENDS OF THE NETWORK AND HOSTS, MONSIGNOR CHARLES POPE. ALSO REV. WALTER B. HOYE AND REV. CLENARD CHILDRESS. THESE FOLKS WILL BE THERE TO SPEAK AND IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE JUNE 12TH 1ST MEN'S MARCH FOR LIFE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., GO TO THEMENSMARCH.COM. FIND OUT A LOT MORE ABOUT IT. IT IS A GREAT THING. AGAIN AND ABORTION IS NOT JUST A WOMAN'S ISSUE, BECAUSE THERE IS A MAN INVOLVED IN THE ABORTION. THE FATHER OF THE CHILD. AND OFTEN TIMES IT IS MORE THAN JUST IT'S THEIR CHILD. SOMETIMES THERE IS MORE INVOLVED. SO IT IS A GOOD THING TO HAVE THEM REALIZE WHAT THEY DID WRONG AND LET OTHERS KNOW ABOUT THIS. LET US GET BACK TO OUR ISSUE OF DISCERNMENT. 1 OF THE VERY EARLY POINTS I MADE IN THIS SERIES IS THAT WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER WE WANT TO DO GOD'S WILL. DO I WANT TO OBEY HIM? AND NOT ONLY OBEY HIM IN TERMS OF THE COMMANDMENTS BUT ALSO OBEY HIM IN REGARD TO THE BASIC FUTURE OF MY LIFE. AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE I WILL NEVER FORGET WAY BACK IN THE 3RD GRADE, SR. CORDELIA AT ST. PRISCILLA'S GRAMMAR SCHOOL IN CHICAGO MADE IT CLEAR TO US THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE ARE FREE TO CHOOSE AND NOT CHOOSE. FOR INSTANCE A VOCATION TO RELIGIOUS LIFE. AND THAT IS WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT. A VOCATION TO BE A PRIEST OR RELIGIOUS. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT GOD SAYS IF YOU DO NOT FOLLOW THIS VOCATION YOU ARE GOING TO GO TO HELL. NO. THAT IS NOT TRUE. IT IS NOT A MATTER OF SIN TO NOT ACCEPT THE VOCATION GOD CALLS YOU TO. BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS GOING TO BE THE VOCATION THAT IS BEST FOR YOU AND FOR THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU AND FOR THE CHURCH AS A WHOLE. THAT IF YOU ACCEPT THE VOCATION GOD GIVES TO YOU, IT WILL BE THE VOCATION IN WHICH YOU WILL FIND THE HAPPINESS HE WANTS FOR YOU. YOU CAN CHOOSE, HAD I DECIDED NO, I DO NOT REALLY WANT TO BE A PRIEST, I REALLY WANT TO GET MARRIED AND HAVE A FAMILY, THAT WOULD NOT BE A SINFUL DECISION. IT WOULD NOT. BECAUSE MARRIAGE IS ALSO SUCH A GOOD AND BEING THE FATHER OF THE FAMILY IS A GOOD AND BEING A MOTHER OF A FAMILY IS A GOOD. AND I WOULD BE CHOOSING THAT OTHER GOOD. BUT MY LIFE WOULD BE BETTER IF I CHOSE THE VOCATION THAT GOD OFFERED ME. THAT IS 1 OF THE BASIC ASSUMPTIONS HERE. THEN THE NEXT ASSUMPTION THAT WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT SINCE EVERYTHING GOD MAKES IS GOOD THAT MEANS THAT A POOR LIFE, A LIFE OF POVERTY IS GOOD AS IS A LIFE OF RICHES. A LIFE OF FAME IS GOOD AND THE LIFE OF BEING UNKNOWN. THOSE ARE GOOD. AND BEING MIDDLE CLASS AND HAVING A MEDIUM AMOUNT OF WEALTH IS GOOD. IT IS NOT BAD AT ALL. YOU CAN BE A VERY HOLY, RICH POWERFUL PERSON. THAT IS WHY THE CHURCH HAS CANONIZED QUITE A NUMBER OF KINGS AND QUEENS. ST. MARGARET OF SCOTLAND. ST. HENRY THE HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR. ST. STEPHEN THE KING OF HUNGARY. THESE ARE A VARIETY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GREAT SAINTS. BUT WE ALSO HAVE SAINTS WHO ARE VERY POOR LIKE ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI, WHO IS KNOWN IN ITALIAN AS ... 'THE LITTLE POOR ONE.' AND ST. CLAIR AND MANY OTHERS. NOW THERE ARE ACTUALLY MORE SAINTS WHO WERE POOR THAN THERE ARE SUPER RICH SAINTS. THERE ARE SOME DISTRACTIONS THAT OCCUR WITH WEALTH THAT MAKE IT SOMETIMES MORE CHALLENGING. BUT IT IS STILL THE WAY OF HOLINESS. AND THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. AND THESE ARE VARIOUS POSSIBILITIES OF USING VARIOUS GOOD CREATURES, THEY ARE ALL WAYS TO BE HOLY AND GIVE GLORY TO GOD WHO MADE THEM. THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE CHOOSE WHAT TO FOLLOW? WE START OFF ASSUMING THAT GOD CAN USE EVERYTHING THAT IS GOOD. AGAIN THAT IS A STARTING POINT FOR US, TO DISCERN. AND WHAT ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA RECOMMENDED IS THAT WE BE INDIFFERENT. BY THAT, IN ENGLISH THE WORD INDIFFERENT MEANS SOMETIMES OR HAS THE CONNOTATION AT TIMES OF I DO NOT CARE. THAT IS NOT WHAT ST. IGNATIUS MEANT BY INDIFFERENT. SO A JESUIT FROM THE MARYLAND PROVIDENCE HAD TRANSLATED THIS LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY. HE CALLED IT BEING EQUAL MINDED. THAT I SHOULD BE EQUALLY IN FAVOR, EQUALLY OPEN TO RICHES OR TO POVERTY. EQUALLY OPEN TO RELIGIOUS LIFE OR TO MARRIED LIFE. TO LIFE AS A PRIEST OR TO LIFE AS A FATHER OF A FAMILY. AND I CAN BE EQUALLY MINDED TOWARD A LONG LIFE OR A SHORT LIFE. FOR INSTANCE ST. DAMIEN WORKED WITH LEPERS KNOWING THAT HE WAS LIKELY TO GET LEPROSY AND EVENTUALLY HE DID. SO HE WAS NOT CLOSED TO A SHORT LIFE. GOD CAN USE A SHORT LIFE TO MAKE YOU HOLY. AND THERE ARE ALSO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE SAINTS. BUT GOD CAN ALSO USE A VERY LONG LIFE TO BECOME HOLY. EITHER ONE CAN WORK OUT. SO THERE ARE SOME SAINTS WHO LIVED TO BE VERY OLD LIKE ST. JOHN AND OTHERS WHO WERE VERY SHORT LIVED LIKE ST. TARCISIUS WHO WAS A MARTYR. SO TO BE EQUAL MINDED TO A LONG LIFE OR SHORT LIFE EVEN TO BE EQUAL MINDED TO GOOD HEALTH OR BAD HEALTH. NUMBER OF SAINTS HAD VERY BAD HEALTH, OTHERS HAD VERY ROBUST HEALTH. AND A VARIETY IN BETWEEN. THE OPTION BETWEEN THEM SHOULD NOT MATTER TO ME. EXCEPT FOR ONE ISSUE. HOW DO I GIVE GREATER GLORY TO GOD? THAT IS THE QUESTION THAT I NEED TO ASK MYSELF. TO BE INDIFFERENT OR EQUAL MINDED TOWARDS ALL OF THE GREAT GOODS OF CREATION, AND BY THE WAY WE DO VERY WELL TO CONSIDER THE GOODNESS OF CREATION, TO MEDITATE ON IT. TO MEDITATE ON GENESIS CHAPTER 1 AND SOME OF THE OTHER PASSAGES OF THE BIBLE ABOUT THE GOODNESS OF CREATION, SUCH AS PSALM 104. IT GIVES THANKS TO GOD FOR THE STORMS AND FOR THE MOUNTAINS, FOR THE DIFFERENT HERBS AND GRASS THAT FEED THE ANIMALS. FOR THE GRAIN THAT FEEDS US AND FOR THE OIL THAT NOURISHES US. AS WELL AS FOR WINE THAT MAKES OUR FACE SHINE LIKE OIL. WE GIVE GOD THANKS FOR ALL OF THESE GOOD CREATURES. MEDITATE ON THAT. BUT THEN I ALSO WOULD VERY MUCH URGE US TO SAY, NOW LORD, I WANT TO USE THESE CREATURES FOR YOUR GREATER GLORY. HOW DO I SEEK WHAT IS GOING TO GLORIFY YOU MORE RATHER THAN LESS? THIS IS A KEY TO DISCERNMENT AND WHEN IT COMES TO DISCERNING AMONG VARIOUS GOODS THAT ARE ALL GOOD IN GOD'S EYES AND OURS THEN THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO I GIVE GREATER GLORY TO GOD? THAT IS THE QUESTION THAT YOU BRING TO YOUR PRAYER. I TELL YOU WHAT. LET US STOP THERE. NEXT WEEK I WILL TAKE A LITTLE TIME TO TALK ABOUT HOW I LEARNED ABOUT SOME OF THESE THINGS. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO NOW IS TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF YOUR EMAIL. SO LET US DO THAT. I THINK WE HAVE AN EMAIL FROM CHRIS. THAT IS ON THE MONITOR THERE. JUST LAST WEEK WE HAD THAT READING, MAYBE THE LAST 2 WEEKS THAT WE GOT THAT READING. IT IS WHEN OUR LORD GOES IN TO JERUSALEM AFTER PALM SUNDAY. HE IS COMING INTO JERUSALEM FROM BETHANY. AND HE SEES THE FIG TREE AND THERE'S NOTHING ON IT. SO HE CURSES IT. AND THEN WHEN HE COMES BACK AT THE END OF THE DAY THE FIG TREE IS WITHERED UP. BUT IT WAS NOT THE SEASON FOR FIGS. FIGS DO NOT COME INTO FRUIT UNTIL LATE JULY OR AUGUST. AND WHEN THEY DO COME INTO FRUIT IN JULY AND AUGUST IN JERUSALEM THEY ARE ALL OVER THE CITY. WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL FIGS. GREAT BIG ONES. HERE IN ALABAMA WE HAVE FIG TREES IN THE BACKYARD BUT THEY ARE KIND OF SMALL. THEY'RE GOOD BUT THEY ARE NOT AS RICH AND JUICY. SO WHY IS THIS SUCH AN ISSUE? LET ME GIVE YOU; I WAS PERPLEXED BY EXACTLY THE SAME PASSAGE WHEN I WAS IN GRADUATE SCHOOL. SO I DID A PAPER ON IT AND HERE'S WHAT I LEARNED. THE RABBIS, OF THE PHARISEE PARTY, HAD 2 KINDS OF LITERATURE, ONE FOR EVERYBODY WAS THE LEGAL MATERIAL. THIS WAS RECORDED IN THE MISHNAH. AND THESE WERE COMMENTARIES ON HOW TO LIVE THE LAW OF GOD. SO THAT IS THE LEGAL MATERIAL, THE MORAL MATERIAL. BUT THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER KIND OF LITERATURE MOSTLY FOR THE BETTER EDUCATED WHAT THEY CALL THE SCRIBES, AND THAT ESPECIALLY TALKED ABOUT THE END TIMES. AND IN THAT LITERATURE IT SAYS THAT WHEN THE MESSIAH COMES, THE GRAPES WILL BE SO LARGE THAT ONE GRAPE WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE A MAN ENOUGH WINE TO LAST HIM FOR A WHOLE YEAR. AND WHEN THE MESSIAH COMES THE FIG TREES WILL BEND DOWN TO HIM AND OFFER THEIR FRUIT. HERE THE MESSIAH IS COMING INTO JERUSALEM AND THE FIG TREE DOES NOT FIT THAT PICTURE. IT DOES NOT BEND DOWN AND OFFER HIM ITS FRUIT. AND SINCE IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE MESSIAH IN HIS COMING IT GETS CURSED. IT WITHERS UP AND DRIES. THIS BRINGS OUT THE 2 LESSONS. ONE, THE ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH WILL CHANGE CREATION. THINK OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION AT THE END OF CHAPTER I THINK 21 OR 22. WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT HOW THE FRUIT TREES WILL BEAR FRUIT EVERY MONTH. IN THE PRESENCE OF THE MESSIAH THEY WILL CONSTANTLY BEAR FRUIT. THIS TREE DID NOT RECOGNIZE HIM. AND THIS IS MEANT TO BE A SIGN FOR ALL OF THOSE IN JERUSALEM TO WHICH HE IS GOING AT THAT MOMENT THAT DO NOT RECOGNIZE HIM. YOU SEE THAT THEY TRIED TO TRICK HIM, TRIP HIM UP IN ARGUMENTS AND EVENTUALLY BY THE END OF THE WEEK THEY HAND HIM OVER TO PILATE TO BE CRUCIFIED. THEY DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE PRESENCE OF THE MESSIAH ANY MORE THAN THE FIG TREE DID AND THEREFORE LIKE THE FIG TREE THEY WILL BE WITHERED UP. THE OTHER REALITY IS THAT JESUS'S WORD HAS SO MUCH POWER THAT WHEN HE PUTS A CURSE ON SOMETHING IT WITHERS UP. IF HE BLESSES SOMETHING IT IS BLESSED. IF HE TELLS SOMEBODY THAT THEY CAN SEE OR THAT THEY CAN WALK OR THAT THEY CAN SPEAK OR HEAR, IT HAPPENS. HIS WORD IS INHERENTLY POWERFUL. IT IS ALSO A PREPARATION FOR WHAT WOULD HAPPEN ON HOLY THURSDAY NIGHT WHEN JESUS THEN, SAYS THIS IS MY BODY TO THE BREAD AND TO THE CUP OF WINE, THIS IS THE CUP OF MY BLOOD, THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT. THAT HIS WORD IS JUST AS EFFECTIVE IN TRANSFORMING BREAD INTO HIS BODY AND WINE INTO HIS BLOOD AS IT WAS TO WITHER THAT FIG TREE. BY THE WAY, THIS IMAGERY OF RECOGNITION OF HEAVEN AND OF THE RECOGNITION OF THE MESSIAH SHOWS UP IN LATER CHRISTIAN LITERATURE. THEY WERE AFFECTED BY THIS JEWISH LITERATURE. THE RABBINIC LITERATURE. THEN IT EVEN SHOWS UP IN THE QURAN. WHICH IS AFFECTED BY THE IMAGERY OF PARADISE AS WONDERFUL DATES AND GRAPES AND WINE FLOWING OUT OF FOUNTAINS FROM THE GROUND AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THAT KIND OF IMAGERY GOES BACK FROM THE QURAN TO THE SYRIAC LITERATURE. THE CHRISTIAN LITURGY, LITURGY IN SYRIAC LANGUAGE. AND THEN FROM THEM BACK TO THE RABBINIC STUFF. IN FACT MANY OF US ARE WELL AWARE THAT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT BEING PROMISED VIRGINS WHEN THEY GO TO HEAVEN TO PARADISE. IT IS CALLED THAT IN THE QURAN. HOWEVER THAT IS NOT WHAT IS REALLY WRITTEN THERE. THE ... IS ACTUALLY AN ARABIC WORD FOR VIRGIN. THAT IS ... THE ... ARE ACTUALLY LIKE GRAPES. THAT IS WHAT IS REFERRING TO. THIS COMES FROM THE ANCIENT LITERATURE. SO IT IS NOT THAT I AM FALSIFYING THE QURAN OR SOMETHING. I DO NOT DO THAT. BUT IT IS THAT A PERSIAN MISTRANSLATED ... TO MEAN VIRGINS WHEN IT ACTUALLY MEANS LIKE GRAPES. AND THAT GOES BACK TO THE IMAGES OF PARADISE IN CHRISTIAN AND JEWISH LITERATURE. WE WILL TAKE A BREAK. WE WILL BE BACK WITH MORE OF YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS. PLEASE STAY WITH US. (GUITAR THEME MUSIC) (GUITAR THEME MUSIC) >> ALL RIGHT. LET US HAVE ANOTHER EMAIL. THIS IS FROM DEBRA. DEBRA, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT YOU CAN ADD TO THAT. WHAT YOU SAID IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE. THAT WE ARE BAPTIZED INTO JESUS. AND IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE MATERIAL THAT WE DID IN THE PREVIOUS BIBLE STUDY ON THE EUCHARIST; EXCUSE ME, ON SALVATION. ARE YOU SAVED? I WAS TALKING THERE ABOUT HOW BAPTISM NOW SAVES YOU. THAT IS FROM 1ST PETER CHAPTER 3. DOES HE BELIEVE THAT? WE DO. AND YOU CAN ALSO TELL HIM THAT WE MAKE AN ACT OF FAITH AT MASS ON SUNDAY. WE PROFESS THAT FAITH. "I BELIEVE IN THE ONE GOD." SO WE TALK ABOUT OUR FAITH AND MAKE THAT ACT OF FAITH AND I AM SURE, DEBRA, THINK BACK IN YOUR OWN LIFE, AT MAYBE SOME OF THE TIMES OF DIFFICULTY IN FAITH. WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AND SAY, YES, I DID MAKE A DECISION FOR JESUS. THAT IS WHAT HE IS LOOKING FOR. BUT WE ALSO RECEIVE HIS BODY AND BLOOD. NOW, WHAT YOU DESCRIBE HERE YOU SAID THAT HE WOULD NOT BELIEVE IT. WHO HAS THE PROBLEM OF FAITH HERE? YOU OR YOUR FRIEND? IF HE WILL NOT BELIEVE IT, THAT IS NOT A PROBLEM ON YOUR PART. WE BELIEVE THE WORDS OF JESUS CHRIST THAT UNLESS YOU EAT MY FLESH AND DRINK MY BLOOD YOU CANNOT HAVE LIFE WITHIN YOU. AND HE PROBABLY DOES NOT THINK ABOUT IT IN THOSE TERMS. I SUSPECT HE IS NOT TRAINED IN THAT. BUT I WOULD URGE YOU TO SAY, LOOK, YOUR PROBLEM OF FAITH IS YOUR PROBLEM BUT I BELIEVE. I TRUST. I DO IN FACT INVITE JESUS INTO MY LIFE NOT ONLY ONCE BUT EVERY TIME I INVITE HIM WHEN I RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION, THE PRIEST PROCLAIMS THE BODY OF CHRIST AND IN FAITH I RESPOND, AMEN. WHEN THE PRIEST LIFTS UP THE HOST AT MASS AND SAYS, BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD, BEHOLD HIM WHO TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD, BLESSED ARE THOSE CALLED TO HIS SUPPER. AND WE PROFESS BACK, LORD, I AM NOT WORTHY BUT YOU ONLY SAY THE WORD AND MY SOUL SHALL BE HEALED. YOU MAKE AN ACT OF FAITH EVERY TIME YOU SPEAK THAT. SO TELL HIM, I AM PROFESSING MY FAITH ON A REGULAR BASIS NOT BECAUSE I DOUBT MY PREVIOUS ACTS OF FAITH BUT I AM GOING TO CONTINUOUSLY DEEPEN THAT FAITH AND MAKE THOSE AFFIRMATIONS OF MY FAITH AGAIN AND AGAIN AND GO THROUGH HOLY MASS AND SEE HOW MANY TIMES YOU MAKE ACTS OF FAITH. THAT IS WHAT HE IS LOOKING FOR. THAT IS WHAT YOUR FRIEND IS SEARCHING FOR. TELL HIM WE DO SO AND WE RECEIVE THE HOLY SACRAMENTS. TELL HIM HE MIGHT NEED TO DO THE SAME THING. ALL RIGHT, THEN WE HAVE A VIEWER FROM YOUTUBE NAMED MATTHEW WHO IS WRITING... A COUPLE OF THINGS. I WAS JUST SPEAKING TO A WOMAN YESTERDAY WHO BELONGS TO THE BLACKFEET PEOPLE. THAT IS 1 OF THE 1ST PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN SOUTHERN CANADA AND NORTHERN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, MONTANA. THEY HAVE THE BORDERS SET BY CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN AND SUCH. SO THEY LIVE THERE. SHE HAD AN AUNT THAT DIED OF TUBERCULOSIS IN 1 OF THOSE SCHOOLS. 1 OF THE PROBLEMS IS THAT THE SCHOOLS WERE NOT WELL FOUNDED. IT WAS DEMANDED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA THAT THE STUDENTS GO TO THOSE SCHOOLS IN ORDER TO BE EUROPEANIZED. THIS IS NOT THE CHURCH'S INITIATIVE. IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S. AND THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT FINANCE THEM VERY WELL. THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH HEALTH AND SUCH. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE 2 THINGS DONE. YOU KNOW, THE SITUATION HAS TO BE EXAMINED VERY CAREFULLY BECAUSE THERE ARE ALSO ACCUSATIONS OF PHYSICAL ABUSE THAT LED TO DEATH AND FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THAT BEFORE THEY JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS. A SIMILAR KIND OF ACCUSATION HAD BEEN MADE IN IRELAND. THE LONG AND SHORT PROVED TO BE A FALSE ACCUSATION. SO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT WAS GOING ON. AND PEOPLE SHOULD INVESTIGATE VERY CAREFULLY. BUT, WHERE THERE WAS DEFINITE WRONGDOING THEN WE NEED TO REPENT OF THAT. AND I DO NOT KNOW THAT ANY OF THAT IS STILL GOING ON, SO THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE OF BEHAVIOR. WHAT EXACTLY THEY WANT FROM POPE FRANCIS IS NOT CLEAR TO ME. IT MAY NOT BE CLEAR TO THEM EITHER. BUT I WOULD, YOU KNOW, I AM SURE THAT THE POPE WOULD THINK THAT ANY ABUSE, PHYSICAL OR SEXUAL OR FINANCIAL OF ANY KIND IS A GRAVE EVIL. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO THINK, WELL, MAYBE IT COULD BE OKAY. NO, IT IS NOT OKAY AT ALL. BUT IT WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THEY FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED SO THAT ANY KIND OF DEALING WITH THIS IS DONE WITH CORRECTNESS BUT INSIST ON A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION. AS THE POPE SHOULD ALSO. AND SEE WHAT IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS AND SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE BECAUSE I SUSPECT THAT THERE IS THAT THERE ARE MORE PROBLEMS TO GO AROUND TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT ENTITIES INVOLVED IN THIS, SO LET US DO SOME MORE WORK. BUT THEN WHEN THE ACTUAL SITUATION IS KNOWN THEN REPENTANCE FOR THAT IS ABSOLUTELY PROPER. ALL RIGHT. THIS IS FROM MARIA IN CHESAPEAKE, VIRGINIA. WELL, NOW I DO NOT THINK THAT THAT IS EXACTLY CORRECT. THIS IS TRYING TO REDUCE THE EXPERIENCE OF ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA TO THAT OF A MEDIUM. IN FACT A LOT OF TIMES SPIRITISTS AND MEDIUMS TRIED TO MAKE THAT CONNECTION. THEY TRIED TO REDUCE THE SAINTS TO WHAT THEY DO. I NEVER WILL FORGET A BOY THAT WAS INTO SATANISM BACK WHEN I TAUGHT HIGH SCHOOL. HE WAS CLAIMING THAT THE POPES WERE DOING THINGS BY THE POWER OF SATAN. AND I DID THE RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT HE; HE WAS NOT MAKING IT UP. THE PEOPLE TEACHING HIM SATANISM WERE THE ONES MAKING IT UP. HERE'S 1 OF THE KEY DIFFERENCES. A SPIRITIST TAKES THE INITIATIVE TO CONJURE DOWN THE SPIRITS. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY FORBIDDEN, AND IT IS CALLED AN ABOMINATION AND ANYONE WHO DOES THEM WILL BE DOING ABOMINATIONS. AND ST. CATHERINE AND ST. BRIDGET RECEIVED THESE AS GIFTS AT GOD'S INITIATIVE. GOD GRANTED THEM SPIRITUAL FAVORS. THEY WERE NOT CALLING IT DOWN AND MANIPULATING IT AND CONTROLLING IT. IT IS RATHER THAT GOD GIVES THEM THIS GIFT. JUST LIKE ST. PAUL DID NOT CONJURE JESUS. JESUS CAME TO HIM AND APPEARED TO HIM A NUMBER OF TIMES. SO ALSO FOR THESE OTHER SAINTS. THAT IS A BIG DIFFERENCE. BIG DIFFERENCE. NEXT WEEK WE WILL BEGIN WITH PAGE 73 OF MY BOOK 'HOW TO LISTEN,' AND UNTIL THEN MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU AND CAUSE HIS FACE TO SHINE UPON YOU. LEAD YOU AND ALL OF YOUR WAYS BY HIS PEACE. MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU ALL. THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN. AGAIN WE ASK THAT YOU KEEP US BETWEEN YOUR UTILITY BILLS AND IF YOU DO WE WILL BE ABLE TO PAY ALL OF OUR BILLS ALSO. SO KEEP THEM COMING. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU ALL. (GUITAR THEME MUSIC)
