Posted by It occurred to me that I’m not making use of this site as I planned to use it. The occasional post to communicate my views on the “hot issue of the moment” is sporadic at best.
In an effort to get more posts on this site, I’ve decided to begin this series: Thinking Out Loud. Although I may be the only one to read these, I’ll have the opportunity to reflect on thoughts and issues that fill my days and nights. The daily readings in the Wall Street Journal reveal many issues of interest I need to document. On Wednesdays I read the voices of reason that help me stay focused on truth and reality. And I’m actually making progress on my “rest in peace mathematics research” that will result in Lectures I’ll Never Give and Papers I’ll Never Publish. But there are other activities I need to document.
During my morning prayers I include religious and spiritual readings that are helpful for personal spiritual growth. Right now, I’m working my way through The Beginning and the End, George Weigel’s second book on the life of Pope Saint John Paul II. This morning’s reading continues Pope John Paul II’s Year 2000 Jubilee activities. The Pope’s visit to Israel reflects the depth of his spiritual personality. During his visit to the Yad Vashem Museum, the pope offered the following truth to challenge Christians and Jews: “Jews and Christians share an immense spiritual patrimony, flowing from God’s self-revelation. Our religious teachings and our spiritual experience demand that we overcome evil with good.”
To “overcome evil with good” is a great challenge each of us. During Lent, Catholics work to purify themselves to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus at Easter. But we can’t pursue the good if we are not focused on the truth. And the truth is that the dignity of human beings is their image and likeness to God. As the pope noted, “I have come to Yad Vashem to pay homage to the millions of Jewish people who, stripped of everything, especially of their human dignity, were murdered in the Holocaust.” [SPEECH OF JOHN PAUL II, Jerusalem, Yad Vashem, Thursday, 23 March 2000 ].
This morning’s readings for the Mass were taken from the book of Deuteronomy (Dt 4: 1, 5 – 9) and from the Gospel of Matthew (Mt 5: 17 – 19). The readings reflected truths that are clear to devout Jews and Christians: our dignity is tied to our obedience to the Old Testament statues communicated by Moses and to the Word of God revealed in Jesus Christ. The celebrant for the Mass on EWTN, Fr. Mitch Pacwa, offered powerful insights to the threats to human dignity in today’s world. Take some time to listen to his homily [Mass for Wednesday, March 10, 2021]
Ironically, as I read this morning’s edition of the Wall Street Journal, there was a book review of Pure America, by Elizabeth Catte, which centers on this country’s sterilization programs of the early 20th century. Although I probably won’t buy this book, I will reread War Against the Weak, by Edwin Black. I purchased and read this book in the Summer of 2004 (my Summer Reading). I recommend it. Edwin Black reveals the level of disrespect this nation has for human dignity. The hypocrisy of some holier-than-thou Christians in this country is currently being exploited by today’s cancel culture hypocrites (a truly unholy war). Pray we can “overcome evil with good”.
Among the Wednesday reading selections, are the following
| Mathematics and Liberal Education, Arthur Hippler, The Imaginative Conservative |
| The Brave New World of Children’s Propaganda, Annie Holmquist, Intellectual Takeout |
| Sound Reason Is Missing in Action, Jeff Minick, Intellectual Takeout |
| The Miseducation of America’s Elites, Bari Weiss, City Journal |
| Books and Those Who Read Them Are the Real Endangered Species, Jeff Minick, Intellectual Takeout |
I’ll offer thoughts on these in my next post (hopefully tomorrow). Until then,
“Good night and good luck” (Edward R. Murrow).
Joe Allen 