Crucifying Christ all over again!

Crucifying Christ all over again!

Look at the latest example of hate that is creating the Passion of Christ, a repeat of anti-Christian beliefs.  The hate that sent Jesus to the Cross at Calvary is now being resurrected in society that will certainly crucify innocence forever.  When we speak of hate it is not without a tragic ending that would even dig up those who died without justice and are asking for an end to this last vestige of destroying the human race. 

By recalling the commandment, “You shall kill,” our Lord asked for peace of heart and denounced murderous anger and hatred as immoral.  Anger is a desire for revenge.  “To desire vengeance in order to do evil to someone who should be punished is illicit,” but it is praiseworthy to impose restitution “to correct vices and maintain justice.”  If anger reaches the point of a deliberate desire to kill or seriously wound a neighbor, it is gravely against charity; it is a mortal sin.  The Lord says, “Everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment.”   (CCC 2302). 

Deliberate hatred is contrary to charity.  Hatred of the neighbor is a sin when one deliberately wishes him evil.   Hatred of the neighbor is a grave sin when one deliberately desires him grave harm.  “But I say to you,Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.”  (CCC 2303).

Let us contemplate God's words, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” and dissect the real meaning here.  It seems that too many either pass over this short statement as hyper-bole or simply apply their own idea of what God is all about.  In either sense of considering what God meant we need to state reverently the two commandments of who God is.  Image means Love like no human knows how to accomplish.  Likeness indicates the very premise of God through his forgiveness for man’s selfish attitude to hold grudges against his neighbor.  

The recent admonishment towards a Jewish professor, Shai Davidal, at Columbia in New York is an example of how to exclude his mission to stand up for righteousness which is not being considered towards Israel and Jewish students who are being ostracized from hateful students and citizens In New York, and around the country.  What Hammas did on October 7, 2023 has become a movement that has placed corrupted thinking people against innocent citizens, many who were killed, including babies with their throats cut, and the great number of innocent hostages who may still be murdered without a settlement for peace.   We are watching on the world stage of violence the very atrocities that CCC 2302 and 2303 portray.

We still are watching what the ultimate results will be with so much hatred erupting across the globe and nation fighting against nation, and neighbor against neighbor over the rights of everyone else because of jealousy and pride that has crept into the hearts of man.  Will the punishment predicted by God with the return of Jesus Christ be sooner than expected?  The Parousia is not too far away and perhaps we shall be living in the time of the Rapture before the Tribulation that will resolve the end of evil that will be destroyed.

Ralph B. Hathaway