Be a "living image of mercy"

 

 

I was listening to a reflection about the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Deacon Arthur Miller, and he said: 

"Jesus sends us back into the world as living images of his mercy." 

If you have ever wondered about what Jesus is calling you to do in this world or who to be in this world, that's it!

Each of us is called to be a "living image" of the mercy of Jesus.

What does that mean?

That means that you actively show forgiveness and set aside judgment or personal criticism and offer love to others.

That means resisting the temptation to lean into any unkind attitude and consider how you can help someone.

I'm reading a book by Robin Roberts of Good Morning America, and throughout the book she keeps repeating a motto of her mother, which happens to be the title of her book: Everybody's Got Something.

That is so true. Indeed, everybody's dealing with something in their life, even if you cannot see it and are unaware of it.

Our "job" is to love not only with our human heart, but with the divine heart of Jesus. We know how he loved. We can see it on the cross.

Give everything to the Father for the sake of drawing others to him. Have courage. Have faith. Trust in his promises.

You never really know what an impact you might make when you become a "living image of the mercy of Jesus" because you may be the only visible proof for someone that God truly exists.

Pray for peace, joy, and an end to war.

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

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Résumé or eulogy virtues?

 

Do you think the virtues should be used to measure a politician's past or present behavior?  

Somewhere along the way I heard Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California, reference a quote by author David Brooks, that I thought was interesting.

Brooks referred to two sets of "competing" values identifying them as  "résumé virtues versus your eulogy virtues."

Is it more important to exhibit virtues that we need for work, i.e. our skill set, or those we want recognized at our funeral?

Further, while your eulogy virtues, such as your morality and honesty for example, can be used in a worthwhile way in your work, I can't see where your résumé virtues can enhance your eulogy virtues.

Of course, I could be wrong. How do you see it? 

Either way, it is clear that the superior virtues that can be universally applied everywhere in your life are what Christians call both Cardinal Virtues and Theological Virtues.

The Cardinal Virtues are: prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance.

The Theological Virtues are: faith, hope and charity (love)

I encourage you to read up on the virtues and see if you are living them out daily and consider where you might increase your understanding and use of them.

Pray for peace, joy, and an end to war.

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

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The Internet is Blowing Up

 

I came across a story on the Internet about this YouTuber that I can't get out of my mind . . .

He and his wife were expecting their first child and were so excited about it, until they got the news that the baby would likely have Down Syndrome.

After heart-wrenching deliberation, they decided to abort the baby. 

Not surprising, the Internet is blowing up. 

Unfortunately, the couple have received a lot of threats and have seen "a side of humanity that is deeply disturbing."

Any decent human being would feel compassion for this couple and would refrain from adding to their pain, since the deed is done. Perhaps we are not doing a good enough job getting the word out that responding with hate never helps any situation.

But the truth is, whether it is this couple, or any of the million other people that abort their baby, the act of abortion is a "side of humanity that is deeply disturbing."

To take a baby's life is never okay, no matter the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy, the potential condition of the child, or personal fear. Fear of the unknown can cause people to make all sorts of bad decisions.

I feel deep sorrow for the life that was never given a chance to grow.

I also feel deep sorrow for what this young couple will miss out on by not raising this child. It is perfectly relevant to remember that "God doesn't call the equipped, but he equips the called." 

That is not a cliche. 

This is from the New York Times ("They Had an Abortion After a Down Syndrome Test, Then Told Millions," Pooja Salhotra):

"In his post, Mr. Ridgway [the YouTuber] wrote that 50 percent of babies with Down syndrome have heart defects, 75 percent have hearing challenges and more than 50 percent have vision problems. 'Down syndrome isn’t a ‘blessing,’ he wrote.

Advocates for people with disabilities said that those statistics painted a dire and incomplete picture.

They give the impression 'that having Down syndrome makes your life not worth living,' said Stephanie Smith Lee, the co-director of policy and advocacy for the National Down Syndrome Congress, an advocacy organization. 'That is just absolutely wrong and it’s hurtful.'"

It has been quoted that a high percentage (60-90%) of pregnancies end in abortion when a Down Syndrome diagnosis is presented. This needs to change.

Clearly we are not doing a good enough job getting the word out that raising a child with a disability is, indeed, a blessing, albeit an unexpected one.

Perhaps the message is not getting out that every life is created by God and that we must trust in his goodness.

Having a disability should not be a death sentence. 

Perhaps that message is just being ignored.

Please, we need to stop culling disabled children through abortion because they don't meet our preconceived ideas or our parenting plans. 

Let us rise to whatever challenge we are given in life and put the needs of others before ourselves. 

Isn't that what Jesus did when he gave up his life for ours? 

Pray for peace, joy, and an end to war (and abortion).

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
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