You Gotta Love Him“Humanity is in need of a vigorous witness and proclamation of God’s mercy” even “in the wake of the tragic events of September 11th 2001, which overshadowed the dawning of the third millennium”: was the affirmation of Benedict XVI today before the recitation of the Angelus prayer in the presence of thousands of pilgrims gathered in the courtyard of the apostolic palace of Castel Gandolfo. Continue reading ...
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the pontiff affirms that “true religion consists …. Of entering into harmony with this great Heart, ‘ rich in mercy’ which asks us to love everyone, even those who are our enemies, imitating the heavenly Father who respects individual freedom and draws all onto him by the strength of his faith”.
...entering into harmony with this great Heart...
...asks us to love everyone...
...imitating the heavenly Father...
...draw(ing) all onto him by the strength of his faith...
This is no whimpy, liberal, warm & fuzzy guide of how to be in this world.
His referece of 'real religion' is tied to 'real transcendence'.
Our true self is not determined by a seeking only of one's identity, but by understanding the significance of the consituting other, others, or Other. The Pope clearly sees this by saying that we enter into being with the Real Transcendent Other so that we can love everyone through his very own faith.
As the Holy Father would, and, of course, does, affirm Nos. 2263-2267 in the Catechism.
The example of knowing that a loved one may be in doubling rivalry compounds the difficulty of loving; the case of King David and his son, Absalom, comes to mind. David knew that Absalom wanted his throne, and their armies met: the former to try to protect the common good (a key concept of social teaching in the Church), the latter, to take by force the throne from his father.
When Absalom was killed, David grieved mightily for all that happened. So much, in fact, that his military leaders had to pull him round to take up his kingly responsibilities lest his people think he loved his rascal-son who wanted him dead more than them.
I KNOW you wrestle mightily with these matters, Aramis: don't think that I think otherwise. I also promise not to throw hypothetical situations at you (What if a guy with a gun entered your house...etc.). But NEITHER am I a gun-totin'-country-first-God-second type.
We just have to know that sometimes we must love the one who is fracturing the "common good" and resist him, strongly. IMO, and in accordance with the Magisterium...
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