Jesucristo: Pastor de Pastores

Jesucristo: Pastor de Pastores

Por

Angel R. Cepeda Dovala

En el acontecer del siglo XXI, dentro del Ciclo C en el 2010, es de mucha actualidad no perder la brújula espiritual del Pastor de Pastores: Jesucristo, quien es la segunda persona en la Santísima Trinidad.

En este Domingo IV de Pascua de Resurrección, se hace remembranza al libro de San Lucas: Hecho de los Apóstoles (Cf. Hech 13, 14. 43-52), al libro de San Juan: Apocalipsis (Cf. Apoc 7, 9. 14-17) y al Evangelio de San Juan, en donde menciona lo que dijo Jesús: “Mis ovejas escuchan mi voz; yo las conozco y ellas me siguen. Yo les doy la vida eterna y no perecerán jamás; nadie las arrebatara de mi mano. Me las ha dado mi Padre, y Él es superior a todos, y nadie puede arrebatarlas de la mano del Padre. El Padre y yo somos uno”. (Cf. 10, 27-30)

Ante los hechos recientes que han salido a la luz pública, que han llenado de vergüenza y provocado un gran escándalo y sufrimiento, en este Año Sacerdotal, es necesario la renovación espiritual mediante la purificación que nos da el Evangelio, por lo que tenemos que orar por quién lleva el Callado de San Pedro: el Santo Padre Benedicto XVI, Obispos, sacerdotes, seminaristas, religiosos y religiosas, y todas las demás ovejas del rebaño de Jesús: Él Pastor de Pastores.

También es importante estar bien informados en las distintas agencias católicas de medios de información, visitando desde luego el sitio oficial de la Santa Sede, para mejorar nuestro testimonio de vida en los distintos ambientes en que nos desempeñamos.

¡Feliz IV Domingo de Pascua!

PAZ Y BIEN

ARCD EDITOR

Congratulations To Roger Behra!

Congratulations To Roger Behra!

The always very, very interesting writings of Roger Behra on Cultural Topics, Greetings! Congratulations!

Sincerely

ARCD EDITOR

Those Misguides Tragedies, By Roger Behra

SHORT COMMUNICATION 165

Those Misguides Tragedies

By

Roger Behra

It is very hard to understand the mental makeup of someone who volunteers to be suicide bomber. The end result of a suicide bombing is a lose-lose situation. The young life of the bomber is lost long before the time ordained by God, and the many innocent people that unexpectantly die is also saddening. Instead of the young life thanking God and doing loving and helpful things for others, the young misguided life ends in hatred, suicide, and murder. No religion or religious belief justifies that behavior. It is a cowardly and murderous deed.

The reason given for the recent bombings in Russia is the fact that Russian police have killed several Islamic militant leaders. The bombings are in retaliation for that. What is clearly brought into focus is the false radical belief by Islamic that such actions are okay. No Russian police were victims. Only innocent people were victims. The result of the bombing was also misguided.

God would never condone such a belief as suicide bombing. It is contrary to what he tells us to believe. And that is to:

1. Love God with all our minds, hearts, and actions.
2. Love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
3. Keep his 10 commandments.

All these are what God tells everyone. Christians and non-christians alike.

The Islam practice is not Christian. Radical Muslims live by their own rules, which are not according to religious living. Muslims are not Christians, so that is to be expected. The goal of radical Muslims is to murder all Christians. There is considerable trouble down the road because of radical Muslims.
Satan has to love all radical Muslims and their beliefs and actions. Satan has to love all non radical Muslims who stand silently and do not loudly speak out against radical Muslim who gives Islam a very, very bad name. That gives the world the strong impression that all Muslims are in the same boat together.

All hearts and prayers should go out loved ones and innocent victims of the Moscow bombings that took place on Monday, March 29, 2010, specially, and to all innocent victims of suicide bombings elsewhere that take place everyday. And we pray that the cowardly and murderous bombings stop soon.

R. B.
4-5-10

What They Says, By Roger Behra

SHORT COMMUNICATION 164

What They Says

By

Roger Behra

A surprisingly large number of people have read books on near-death experiences. Therefore, many people know about them. Another surprisingly large number of people do not know about near-death experiences or the message everyone is given through them. And science has failed everyone when it refers to near-death experiences as drug induced or just plain hallucinations. Science has failed to investigate why near-death experiences transform so many lives in such a positive way. Science has also failed to understand why almost all near-death experiences are happy ones and strikingly similar regardless of race, creed, or geographical location over thousands of years. Both the happy and fearful near death experiences transform lives. Science needs to open their narrow minds.

Several questions are answered through the NDE. It begins as the person is pronounced clinically dead. The NDE can last for only a few minutes or for an extended period of time. It indicates that there is a Supreme Being (God) that emits a powerful feeling of love, and that an afterlife exists. There is a life review that is very quick, vivid, and instructive. The knowledge gained from it causes one to transform life here on earth, and the most important ingredients during earthly life are love of God and neighbor and to gain knowledge, plenty of knowledge, not money, fame, and material goods. Fear of dying is lost. Many near death experiences go into occupations or activities that help or comfort others. Many living loved ones do receive visits from deceased relatives. (After death visits from deceased relatives are also verified trough after-death communications. Red Hello From Heaven, by Bill and Judy Guggenheim).

The light that is experienced during a NDE brings to mind the words of Jesus who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the light”. Near-death experiences comment on the light especially that it is all loving, all knowing, and all helpful. The feeling gotten from the light is that the light is God, and the feeling is overwhelming!

The happy near-death experience is comforting and reassuring. It more so correlates in many ways with what the Bible reveals to us that there is an afterlife, happy in most cases, and not so in some cases. The unhappy ones are of a dark place full of fear, pain, and suffering in flaming embers. It fills the near death experience with the great desire not to end up there and to change one’s life for the much better after returning to complete their destiny on earth.

The science people consider the near-death experience as drug induced and/or hallucinations. They are the ones who are not comforted or reassured. That is what the science people deserve because they do not take things seriously enough to really investigate the NDE. They should start to do so by reading the Bible and what has gone on down through history over so many centuries. What happens to everyone when they die is the most important question science can answer. Verification by science would give the science people the comfort and assurance that millions of people already have.

R. B.
4-4-10

Wordshiping Gods, By Roger Behra

SHORT COMMUNICATION 163

Wordshiping Gods

By

Roger Behra

Sports in America on the professional level-baseball, football, basketball-is not only big business, it is so big emotionally that it can be classified as clear fanaticism. It is out of control, and American sports fans need to have their heads examined. The facts that American sports fans are such fanatic cause’s monumental problems in sports and the American culture. The fanaticism causes a dual problem: for the player and one for the team.

The player is the biggest problem and suffers the most, because his misdeeds are the root of the problems. The misdeeds are brought about when a player is so idolized he feels his brazen behavior is very acceptable. The idolized players convince themselves that normal rules do not apply to them as fans are falling at their feet with so much attention and idolization.

Some very big sports figures recently have become victims of their own serious and multiple misdeeds, which have increased and multiplied so much over the past five years. Misdeeds by players have become quite commonplace. It is a very, very worrisome problem for the fans.

Everyone in sports already knows how Tiger Woods has ruined his marriage, his personal life, his image, and his career may never be the same. He lost millions. Then, there is Antonio Cromartie who has paternity obligations to solve that involves his seven children by six different women. Wow! How is that for misdeeds! An NFL quarterback with million dollar talent and a 25₵ brain who is being accused for a second time of sexual assault. He has lost considerable standing in his community and with his team. Alan Iverson’s plain awful behavior on and of the basketball court has left his career and personal life in shambles. The same kind of disruptive behavior greatly marred the football career of Terrell Owens. And the beat continues to go and on.

The second big problem in the worshiping false gods saga are the fans. All the players mentioned here (and many others too numerous to mention) have been treated as sports gods, swelling them to larger than life figures, and suggesting that they are godlike royalty. When the fans stop holding the door open for them and realize they are accomplices, and that fan accomplice behavior greatly fuels the fire, some improvement may take place. As it stands now, things are very much out of control.

The idolization of player by fans is greatly not-productive for several good reasons. It hurts the players. It hurts the teams. It hurts the sports world. It has also hurt the team owners. Idolization and the worshiping of false gods in sports has created a fine mess, and many people have stepped in that mess. The whole mess badly stinks, and the stink is on many people.

R. B.

Don´t Open Doors, By Roger Behra

SHORT COMMUNICATION 162

Don´t Open Doors

By

Roger Behra

On the first floor large buildings there are many large rooms. Each room has a door that is closed. On each door is a word plate that contains a word or two. The words tell why the doors should never be opened, but some people disregarded the words and are in the rooms behind closed doors.

It is very hard for earth’s people not to see the closed doors and the words or the word plates. There are people who do not wish to open any of the doors, and they do not. There are many people who gladly open some of the doors. As a result their lives are full of problems, and in many cases their lives are ruined in many ways along with careers and personal relationships. Spiritual lives are also in bad shape, some for very long periods of time.

The words on the name plates on the many doors are self-explanatory. That is why many people do not open them. The word plates say ABORTION, ADULTERY, INFIDELITRY, COHABITATION, SEXTING, PORNOGRAPHY, MURDER, TEACHER-STUDENT SEX, GREED, FRAUD, CAREER CRIMINALS, and all kinds of other IRRELIGIOUS LIVING. So many people have opened door(s) and let evil, and in many cases evil entities, into their lives. It is so evident throughout the American culture, specifically.

Once the door(s) to evil is opened, it is very hard to close it or escape the results. Characters are ruined. Careers come to an end. Severe addictions take over. Prison terms are handed down. Lives are altered forever. Many people die saturated in evil behavior, and that is how they meet God. The very sad thing is evil activity is so easily accepted in modern times. That makes it hard to close doors to evil.

The solution is to bring God into one’s life early on. Practice religious living early in life. Parents have the strict responsibility to instill that into the lives of their children and to practice what they teach. Thankfully, many parents do just that. But nearly 60% percent of people do not practice religious living, so many parents and their children are sitting ducks for evil activity and even evil entities to enter and take over their lives.

Bringing God into one’s life means everything. God is there for everyone. He loves us all without measure. He died on the cross to prove that and to insure our salvation if we love Him in return and live as loving Christians. Pray to God often. Everyday is best. His graces will then give us abundant help, and the many doors to evil will never be opened. God’s graces will also help close the doors to evil that are already open. Nothing good happens without God’s help and graces, but we must ask in order to receive. That is the secret. Otherwise, evil continues to flourish and take over. That is not a secret. It is a reality. And lives are much happier when God and His graces are part of them. That is an added result, indeed.

R. B.
3-28-10

Rodney Alcala Revisited, By Roger Behra

SHORT COMMUNICATION 161

Rodney Alcala Revisited

By

Roger Behra

During March, 2010, serial killer, Rodney Alcala, was on trial for the gruesome torture murders of five female persons. One was a 12-year girl. Near the end of March he was convicted and sentenced to death row. DNA linked him to all five murders. He left his victims naked and in brutally posed and in various obscenely sexual positions. It took the jury only 45 minutes to find him guilty.

In preparation for the trial considerable evidence was revealed and allowed to be seen by the jury. That was mind numbing and heart wrenching for the jury. It left no doubt Rodney is a monster. The photos showed tortured and bleeding victims after they had been raped. During the trail he showed no remorse whatsoever.

During his days of murder, Alcala used his camera as to gain friendliness whit girls and women. He took hundreds of photos. When detectives located and opened Alcala’s storage locker in Seattle, Washington, they found hundreds of them and all kinds. Most of the photos were of teens, young girls, and young adult women. Some photos were nude young girls and women engaging in sex acts. Some showed women were unconscious. The discovery of the photos has caused a great deal of interest and investigation into Alcala’s past from 1965 to 1980. What they are going to dig up is going to be astounding. He may be the worst serial killer.

A few days after his recent trial, over 100 portrait type photos in color were printed in several newspapers in America and abroad. Phone calls have come in from all over the United States and even Europe. Presently, the investigation is starting in Seattle and New York City. Paris, France has also been mentioned. There is a strong link and suspician of his activities in those places in the 1070’s. Alcala is strongly linked to 4 other murders in these places because of the photos, the time period, and the type of murders committed there.

There definitely seems to be much more to his past than just the murder of 4 women and a 12-year old girl. The photos indicate that he was a preying monster, because of the types of photos and the large number of them during that particular time period, 1965-1980. At least 10 detectives are carefully and continuously checking his past, and DNA is going to be a very important factor. DNA matches did not exist until after 1980.

Using Malachai Martin’s book, Hostage to the Devil, as an accurate source of information and evidence, there are plenty of signs that demonic activity and possibly demonic possession is strongly involved in Alcala’s past activities. His activities of sex and murder and the conditions of the bodies over a long period of time give evidence of that. His motives and method were pure evil over a long period of time before getting caught are definite indicators. Satan’s way of gaining entrance and taking over a person’s life last a long time for a willing subject like Alcala was, and evil sex in the form of rape plus painful and tortuous murder are definitely Satanic types of activities. There have been and still are evil entities among us masquerading as human beings.

R. B.
3-27-10

In His Remembrance, By Roger Behra

SHORT COMMUNICATION 160

In His Remembrance

By

Roger Behra

For Christians the Lenten period has just ended. It was the time of reflection on one’s life. It was the time of prayer, fasting, reconciliation, and penance for behaving badly. The last week of lent was the most noteworthy, because it focused on the passion, crucifixion, and death of Jesus, our Savior, which insured man’s eternal salvation.

The sacred passion and death our Savior endured for us is the sign of His great love for us. It is the greatest act of love ever performed, and the remembrance is recognized through the Stations of the Cross and especially during Lent in the Catholic Church.

The Stations of the Cross consist of the following:

1. Jesus is Condemned to Death after He was turned over by Judas, although he was innocent. The scouraging and crowning of thorns was extremely brutal, but He trusted in His Heavenly Father to rescue Him from the wicked.

2. Jesus Carries His Cross that has all the sins of mankind down through the ages stamped on it. The heavy cross caused a great shoulder wound on the way to Calvary.

3. Jesus Falls the First Time under the heavy cross, and no one helped Him up as He struggled to continue.

4. Jesus Meets His Mother as she grieved to see her Son suffering and struggling so much under the heavy cross.

5. Simon the Cyrenean Hepls Jesus, but he did so unwillingly and missed a great opportunity to receive great love from Jesus in return.

6. Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus when she left the crowd to comfort Jesus as He suffered and struggled along the way to Calvary. Jesus left the imprint of His sacred features on her veil to say thank you.

7. Jesus Falls a Second Time as the cross became heavier as Jesus weakened.

8. Jesus Consoles the Women of Jerusalem and tells them not to weep for Him but to weep for sinners and that many sins will be forgiven.

9. Jesus Falls a Third Time as His frail body gave way and failing strength took over.

10. Jesus is Stripped of His Garments and is humiliated before everyone watching.

11. Jesus is Nailed to the Cross in such a way that He was unable to move during the extreme pain and anguish of the nailing. Jesus felt His heavenly Father had forsaken Him.

12. Jesus Dies on the Cross, and at the moment of His death everyone present knew Jesus was whom He said He was as the sky opened, the lightning flashed, the thunder was very loud, and the rain pelted down with fury and great force.

13. Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross and given to His very grieving and deeply sorrowful Mother who followed her Son to Calvary and witnessed everything.

14. Jesus is Laid in the Tomb and put to rest and the world was given The Shroud of Turin to prove His Crucifixion.

If you meditate frequently on the 14 stations, you will receive abundant graces and blessings for your family, and at the hour of your death.

The resurrection of Jesus on the third day was a glorious event. His appearance to the Apostles later proved there is eternal life, and someday we will be with God, our deceased loved ones, and friends. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

R. B.

Personal Values Cont, By Roger Behra

SHORT COMMUNICATION 159

Personal Values Cont

By

Roger Behra

All living persons have character. Some persons have outstanding character, while some persons have very poor or evil character, and there is a whole range of character in between. Some persons have a character change in one direction or another. It is a good idea to have a character check every so often in order to change negative character to positive character or upgrade fair character to very good or outstanding character. Character can be a person’s greatest asset or a very big liability.

Character is made up of the qualities that make a person different. It narrows down to ethical behavior. It is made up of the core values and the moral compass a person follows: moral or immoral; honest or dishonest; religious or irreligious. The degree and strength of firmness of the principles and values being practiced is very important. A person with a high degree of strength and firmness of desirable moral values with a moral compass pointed in the right direction without exception has an outstanding character.

Character is very personal, but it is evident for all to see and analyze. It definitely counts culturally, also. So many people in our modern world who are very famous and well known have ruined their careers and legacies because of bad character. Politicians, teachers, famous professional athletes, catholic priests, and people in charge of considerable money to mention a few have ruined their frequently made known on a daily basis.

It is not easy to have outstanding or good character development, because everyone is surrounded by so many temptations and people who have less than good character and who are acceptable in everyday life. It takes a great deal of carefulness in the choice of companions, activities, and with a great amount of God´s graces, helps, and direction. It is everyone’s responsibility to ask God for His help and direction. Ask and you will receive.

The pursuit of excellence never hurts, especially the pursuit of excellent character, regardless of the obstacles that must be faced. The mind, eyes, and heart have to always be focused on how to please God and fit in personally and culturally on a high degree. We must always be focused on the bottom line in life, and that is on what kind of eternity we shall have: a very happy one with God, deceased loved ones, and friends. Good personal values equal good character equal a happy eternity; and these do not happen automatically.

R. B.
3-20-10

Hell Does Exist, By Roger Behra

SHORT COMMUNICATION 158

Hell Does Exist

By

Roger Behra

During the Lenten Period the emphasis is on reconciliation, penance, the Lord´s way of life is best for us, and, finally, His passion, crucifixion, and death on the cross. It is a major time period in people's lives in many parts of the world, and Easter Sunday is a joyous day of celebration in honor of Jesus's victory over evil and death and the insurance of our salvation. His resurrection tells us that there is no death, only a transition from earthly life to eternal life. The transition includes two kinds of eternal life. One kind is happy and the other kind is not, and both are verified through near-death experiences.

There are many books available in libraries and book stores to read on near-death experiences. As the experiences are revealed in some books, the impression is given that all the experiences are happy ones full of Light, love, and deceased loved ones and friends. On very few occasions in some books is the unhappy one revealed, and those unhappy ones are, indeed, very fearful near-death experiences. They are indication enough that Hell does exist as a real place where damned souls go and stay forever.
Before his sudden and untimely death, Malachai Martin, who was an exorcist extraordinaire over a 30year period, revealed on CD's and in his book, Hostage to the Devil, the reality of Hell. During exorcisms he tells that on some rare and very special occasions damned souls speak through the possessed person being exorcised. Special pacts are made between the Devil and the damned souls to speak. Those are very, very unnerving and frightful experiences full of pure and intense hate and fearsome malice.
One revelation of Malachai's told of a woman during her NDE that she was being dragged down into darkness by both feet into a dark pit inhabited by three-legged demons. The struggle was so real and intense. Luckily her resuscitation saved her, and her live was greatly transformed to a much more Christian and helpful existence. She was headed into a dark pit full of damned souls that were in unbelievable pain, suffering, and flames.

All near-death experiences are unusual and lasting experiences in people's lives. Millions of people have had them down through the ages, but only the happy ones are talked about. The current research and scientific studies are focusing on the unpleasant near-death experiences.

In another Hellish NDE situation a woman did not pass through a tunnel and to the Light. Instead, she quickly drifted downward into darkness and saw a horrific site. It was a dark pit. It was full of flames. She saw luminous souls rising and falling in the flames while the souls were sobbing, crying, and screaming in pain and the sense of loss that was to be eternally lasting. Resuscitation also saved her from the same fate. She transformed her life and became dedicated to others to do the same.

So many people die unexpectedly from accidents or illness, and they are not prepared to meet God and a happy eternity unless a good Christian life was being lived. With that in mind it is better to be safe than sorry. Always live a good Christian life. It is a much happier life also and leads to a happy eternity. It is a win-win situation, and you will be so glad for all eternity-forever.

R. B.

Two Great Gifts, By Roger Behra

SHORT COMMUNICATION 157

Two Great Gifts

By

Roger Behra

Millions of people as they daily live their lives do not realize how great two gifts were given to them are in their lives. They do not have the faintest idea. As a result their lives are full of problems and heartbreaking situations. And many people die suddenly and otherwise not knowing they squandered the two great gifts.

The two great gifts came directly from God. The first of the two is really the greatest one, and that is the gift of a happy eternal salvation if it is properly earned. That did not always exist. It only became a reality through the very painful passion, crucifixion, and death of Jesus on the cross. A happy eternal salvation in the afterlife with our all loving Crator and deceased loved ones and friends should be realized as God’s greatest gift to all mankind. It is impossible to comprehend how many people throw that gift away through a life of evil and total disregard and lack of love for God. They die suddenly outside of God´s friendship through unrepeated sin or as atheists and agnostics.

The second of the two great gifts from God is FREE WILL. Everyone has that gift. It is a most precious gift, indeed. It is a gift we have complete control over. It is a gift if used properly insures an eternal life full of everlasting happiness and God’s unbelievable love with our deceased loved ones friends. The alternative is an eternal life full of darkness, unbelievable suffering, the pain of loss, forever, if free will is misused during earthly life. Hell is real.

The best way to insure and gain God’s greatest gift, happy eternal life, is to take the time inventory one’s life. That starts with accepting God, learning about Him and how to please Him, and then getting into His friendships through repentance of sins, which results in His forgiveness. Following that, we must use God´s second great gift of free will to stay in His graces and friendship by changing the mode of life to one pleasing to God. That involves always loving God and our neighbor, using intelligence and talents and abilities in a productive, wholesome, and fruitful manner pleasing to God. Adding daily prayer is also a must activity for God’s great help and abundant graces. Remember, if you ask, you will receive. If you do not ask, you will receive nothing, and the road to travel will be impossible to travel in the right direction. God gave us the two great gifts. One is there waiting for us. The other one we must use constantly and properly. It is our FREE WILL.

R. B.
3-13-10

Dopeheads Galore, By Roger Behra

SHORT COMMUNICATION 156

Dopeheads Galore

By

Roger Behra

During 2009 the results of study was published that revealed a large number of high school students throughout America were involved in the dangerous and illegal activity of sexting. That is separate and growing problem, which has been added to a long pre-existing set of problems: drinking and drug use.
In early March of 2010 another survey was published that revealed drug use and alcohol beverage drinking has noticeably increased high school students in grades 9 through 12. Just when school systems feel inundated with self-inflicted problems, they have to contend with a nice increase in dopehead problems.

The survey reveals that alcohol, marijuana, and ECASTASY still are the popular use choices of the dopeheads, and the rise in use is quite noticeably. Alcohol use increased 11 percent, and 39 percent of high scool students are involved. About 5.8 million teens drink alcohol. Pot use increased 6 percent, and 25 percent of teens smoke pot. Only 6 percent of teens use ECSTASY. A high percentage of teens agreed that being high feels very good, so no decline or avoidance of these drugs is in the future. What is in the future is the turn to hard drugs.

America’s schools presently are a very sad representation of much better days gone by the wayside. The schools are a representation of America in other respects also. America has greatly deteriorated since the mid-1960’s also. Classes that overcrowded, discipline problems, absenteeism, over-burdened teachers, and poor administrators make up the school environments. When 50 percent of high school graduate something is radically wrong. But all is not lost.

Many thanks to God for all the morally good and successfully educated teens in the making. There are some very great teens out there who suffer through all the dysfunctional school environments and various school problems. They prevent the teen group and the American schools from being a total loss. America needs them more than ever. They are the cultural jewels of America’s future. Many prayers should be offered for their unfaltering efforts and continued success. And many thanks go to them also!

R. B.
3-12-10

Inexperience Personified, By Roger Behra

SHORT COMMUNICATION 155

Inexperience Personified

By

Roger Behra

Hello? President Obama, are you there? If you want something, you must try listening to not be disconnected, which sums up your essence as America’s leader. So much of your efforts during your first year as president have been considered misadventures.

All those who are following his misadventures have new ones to add to the growing list. Along with his fumbling of the situation in Iran, there is considerable fumbling of affairs in America. And America’s culture is going to pay a very stiff price, indeed, because Obama is not listening to those who elected him.

The most scary internal misadventure of Obama is this. It is truly frightening how his implementations have caused the national debt to rise to dangerous levels in a short period of time. It’s going to take two decades to recuperate, if the government spending is drastically cut. Hi is pouring money into a deep recession, and it has not helped in the necessary areas. On top of that his congress in planning to bring more money to Washington through higher taxes. It is total insanity.

The stimulus bill enacted by congress did nothing to improve the economy or help create jobs. It cost more than the war in Iraq and greatly increased the national debt; it could very well cause high interest rates, a great decline in the standard of living in America, and much lower wages. The price to be paid because of the inexperience and ineptness in Washington is going to be very steep. Along with the huge national debt, congress is trying to enact a change in health insurance that the American people do not want and will not work. The American populous is very disturbed at the trillion dollar stimulus that created no jobs.

The only redeeming factor in this Washington debacle is the fact that 2010 is an election year. That is going to be the big chance to stop and reserve the present situation. If a reversal does not take place, American’s are going to up close be looking over a very steep cliff. The economic crash will certainly be deafening throughout the country, and the grip around Obama’s neck and congress will be firmly tightened. Very big changes will result, indeed, in November, 2010.

R. B.
3-9-10

Some Remarkable Conclusions, By Roger Behra

SHORT COMMUNICATION 154

Some Remarkable Conclusions

By

Roger Behra

Around the middle of February every year the Lenten Season becomes a reality for millions of Christians throughout the world, and the leads to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, our Savior. Aside from the resurrection on Easter Sunday, which was the separate and superior event, Lent brings to mind there other very important events, and Christians should contemplate them at the end of the Lenten Season. Those three unusual and memorable events are: Veronica’s veil, the exact moment Jesus died on the cross, and the Holy Shroud. All three events make a very strong and serious statement about who was really crucified on the cross so many centuries ago.

The first contemplation starts with Veronica’s veil. She was one of the witnesses in the crowd who was watching Jesus labor and struggle and suffers under the big and heavy cross He was carrying to Calvary for His crucifixion. Her emotions took over, and she left the crowd and wiped the battered face of Jesus. As she did that memorable kindness, Jesus left the imprint of his face on her veil. That was a small but remarkable event, and it can even be considered a miracle. The next two events are bigger and much more miraculous, indeed.

When Jesus took his last breath on the cross and His spirit was given up to His heavenly Father, suddenly, in the blink of and eye, the sky became dark. The lightening lashes were huge and close to the ground. The thunder was frightening and ear-splitting, and the rain was thick, fierce, and pelting everyone. Everyone was caught by complete surprise. That was a very noteworthy event and had a very real and important message to impart. The message was: Jesus just died. The Man who just died was just the person He said He was: Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God made Man, who was born to live and die in order for man to be saved from His sinfulness. Many believers were made on the spot.

The third event, aside from the crucifixion, became the Holy Shroud of Turin, and scientific study, research, and results prove the following:
1. The Holy Shroud is not a forgery and it cannot be duplicated by anyone’s work.
2. It is considered a miracle and God’s way of lastingly telling man something.
3. The person buried in the Shroud suffered a great head injury, broken nose, torturous scourging, an agonizing crown of thorns, a shoulder wound, and a acute and agonizing death on a cross. The man crucified died a cruel, agonizing death.
All of this correlates exactly with the death of Jesus.

A scientific breakthrough happened in 1898. Keep the Holy Shroud was centuries old prior to 1898. There was no such process as photography when the Holy Shroud came into existence. In 1898 a photographer took about a picture of the Holy Shroud. In the darkroom when the photographer developed the plate, he was astounded to see instead of a negative of the Holy Shroud, he saw a positive image of Christ’s lifeless body. The Shroud is a negative, and, therefore, eliminates a forgery or an artist’s rendition of lit. All of the historical and scientific record plus what is recorded in the Bible’s New Testament solves the mystery of the Holy Shroud. It allows only one answer. The Holy Shroud is a living and lasting miracle and memory of: JESUS OF NAZARETH.

R. B.
3-7-10

Para la Clase de Bioética: El Abuso de Confianza, Por Angel R. Cepeda Dovala

Para la Clase de Bioética: El Abuso de Confianza

El fin, ¿Justifica los medios?

Por

Angel R. Cepeda Dovala

Es muy frecuente que en instituciones públicas y privadas, se den situaciones de “Abuso de Confianza”; tomemos el caso, de Instituciones de Educación Superior (IES), donde algunos personas “Funcionarios”, menoscaben y denigren espiritual y materialmente, a otras personas, por intereses mezquinos del dinero, de apropiarse de lo que no es suyo, repartir lo que no es suyo, con la carencia real de dirigir el buen desempeño de una función determinada en alguna institución.

En estos hechos negativos indicados en el párrafo anterior: los fines ¿Justifican los medios?, la RESPUESTA ES: ¡NO!, ES DECIR, LOS FINES NO JUSTIFICAN LOS MEDIOS. ¿Por qué? Porque el resultado es un engaño a los demás, que atenta a la Dignidad de la Persona Humana y al Bien Común de las (IES). ¿Y el Código de Ética de su Institución? ¿Dónde quedo?

Nuevamente, reflexionando sobre el fin y los medios, surge la interrogante: El fin ¿Justifica los medios? Veamos que nos dice uno de los grandes pensadores, llamado el Doctor Angélico: Santo Tomás de Aquino, del cual llevan el nombre de ese Santo muchas Instituciones de Educación Superior en la Unión Americana (USA) y en otros países: “No se puede justificar una acción mala por el hecho que la intención sea buena” [1]. El buen accionar de las personas de un acto moralmente bueno supone a la vez la bondad del objeto, del fin y por supuesto de las circunstancias. [2]

Luego entonces surge una interrogante: ¿Qué será más fácil Ud. corregir o aceptar la corrección?, si en su empresa se presenta una persona que atenta contra la Confianza (Abuso de Confianza), Usted ¿Le dará como premio, que siga en su puesto, para mejorar el Proyecto o Programa Institucional Universitario?, o ¿Pondrá una nueva persona que no dañe a la Institución?

Una persona que no acepta correcciones es una persona que no sabe corregir a los demás, pues la ceguera de su egoísmo y autosuficiencia, no le permiten ver más allá de su nariz y de sus intereses propios, ¡Que soberbia de energúmenos y energúmenas! ¿No cree Ud.?

Desde luego en las instituciones serias, un “Abuso de Confianza”, se corrige cambiando al “Funcionario”, por anteponer sus principios personales en menoscabo de los Nobles Principios, Criterios y Valores Institucionales, plasmados en la Ley Orgánica Universitaria o en los Códigos de Ética de las IES. [3]

PAZ Y BIEN

ARCD

Notas

[1] Cf. Santo Tomás de Aquino: Sa dec. Praec. 6.

[2] Cf. Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica N°1750 al 1761.

[3] Cf. Código de Ética de su institución, y desarrolle sus dos Competencias de aprendizaje de Bioética: Análisis y Síntesis, y Concluya, con cuál Valor ético-moral se corrige, con apego al Derecho, el delito: “Abuzo de Confianza”. ¿Quién debe hacer la corrección?

Autosuficiencia: un antivalor ligado a la soberbia, Por Angel R. Cepeda Dovala

Autosuficiencia: un antivalor ligado a la soberbia

Por

Angel R. Cepeda Dovala

Aunque la vida no es un problema de conceptos, suele suceder que a veces se emplean palabras sin conocer su significado, como es la autosuficiencia, sinónimo de jactancia, petulancia y orgullo.

Un Diccionario da el significado de autosuficiencia como sigue: 1.f. Estado o condición del que se basta a sí mismo: autosuficiencia para satisfacer las propias necesidades. 2. Suficiencia, presunción o engreimiento: su autosuficiencia ante los demás resulta ridícula. También dice el Diccionario, acerca de la palabra autosuficiente: 1.adj. Que se basta a sí mismo: es autosuficiente y no necesita ayuda. 2. Que actúa con suficiencia, presunción o engreimiento: me molesta su comportamiento autosuficiente, orgulloso y soberbio. [1]

Por lo regular, las personas que se galardonan a ellas mismas de ser autosuficientes, suelen ser las más ridículas, y visten por lo general, de manera también ridícula y estrambótica (estrafalaria), para llamar la atención de los demás, son personas que recurren a todo tipo de artimañas para dañar la buena fama y el prestigio de los demás, no soportan la probidad, pues su interés es el suyo mismo sin importar el interés general de los demás. Por ello, debemos tener mucho cuidado con la subcultura de la autosuficiencia. [2]

PAZ Y BIEN

ARCD

Notas

[1] Cf. Diccionario de la lengua española © 2005 Espasa-Calpe.

[2] Cf. Subcultura de la autosuficiencia del escrito: ¿Sabemos Escuchar los Mensajes de Cuaresma y Pascua?, en:

http://topicosculturales.blogspot.com/2010/04/sabemos-escuchar-los-mensajes-de.html

¿Por qué no sabemos Escuchar?, Por Angel R. Cepeda Dovala

¿Por qué no sabemos Escuchar?

Por

Angel R. Cepeda Dovala

Posiblemente Ud. haya escuchado un diálogo de juventud como el siguiente: Me dijiste que eras mi amiga, ¡Y no es un reproche! ¿Eh?, pero cada vez que estoy platicando contigo no me miras a la cara, trato de decirte lo que llevo en mi corazón y en mi mente, pero me interrumpes para cambiar de tema, está bien que no debo tomarme muy en serio esa eseidad de mi mismo, sobretodo en este mes de la amistad y del amor, te decía me interrumpes y luego, luego, me dices lo que tú piensas sin haberte dicho nada aún. ¿No le ha pasado esto con sus hijos?, ¿O con sus padres?, ¿Con su pareja?, o ¿En su trabajo?

¿Por qué pasan estas situaciones?

PORQUE NO SABEMOS ESCUCHAR, y sí uno no sabe escuchar ¿Cómo queremos que nos escuchen? ENTONCES SINO SABEMOS ESCUCHAR, ES QUE NO TENEMOS, la Voluntad para desarrollar realmente las distintas capacidades valorativas del sentido común: Atención, Respeto, Paciencia, Dominio de sí mismo (Autocontrol), Concentración, Probidad con Alegría y Entusiasmo, y desde luego Tolerancia y Comprensión. [1]

Ni siquiera sabemos perdonarnos a sí mismos ¿Cómo vamos a perdonar a los demás?, ¿Perdón, estaba distraído? ¿Qué decías?, o muy sutilmente no se está atento a lo que se dice y muy despistado comenta, ¿Me puede repetir lo que dijo? y ni siquiera empleamos las tres palabras de Cortesía y que no son mágicas: ¡POR FAVOR!, y a veces ni siquiera damos las ¡GRACIAS!, gracias por tus valiosos comentarios ¿Por qué no somos agradecidos con nuestros semejantes o con Dios?

Nuevamente: ¿Qué Pasa?

Qué las personas que no saben escuchar, a veces son intemperantes, o bien son personas irritantes, que no salen de su autosuficiencia, orgullo y egoísmo, de su YO, YO; posiblemente alguien con ingenio invento un juego para niños del yoyo, pero un niño se reencuentra consigo mismo, es la mismidad, es su esencia infantil de ser el mismo, entonces los adultos por qué no escuchamos las palabras de Jesús, de ser como los niños, para tratar de agradar a Jesús y a Dios, tal como lo menciona el Evangelio de San Mateo: ”Yo os aseguro: si no cambiáis y os hacéis como los niños, no entrareis en el Reino de los Cielos” (Cf. Mt 18, 3), y San Pablo nos advierte, a las personas de una fe madura: “Hermanos, no seáis niños en juicio. Sed niños en malicia, pero hombres maduros en juicio” (Cf. 1 Cor 14, 20). [2]

PAZ Y BIEN

ARCD

Notas

[1] Cf. Escuchar es un Arte; en:

http://topicosculturales.blogspot.com/2010/03/escuchar-es-un-arte-por-angel-r-cepeda.html

[2] Cf. Citas de San Mateo (Mt 18, 3) y San Pablo (1 Cor 14, 20) en la Biblia de Jerusalén y compare como se escriben estas dos citas bíblicas, en la Biblia Vulgata Latina y en la Biblia Latinoamericana, o en la Biblia que Ud., lee y medita.

¿Sabemos Escuchar los Mensajes de Cuaresma y Pascua?, Por Angel R. Cepeda Dovala

¿Sabemos Escuchar los Mensajes de Cuaresma y Pascua?

Por

Angel R. Cepeda Dovala

Posiblemente muchas personas hayan pasado por la siguiente situación: la triste realidad que resulta no escuchar o no ser escuchado, entre amigos, entre amigas, entre amigos y amigas, entre esposos, entre profesores y alumnos, entre Párrocos y feligreses, en relación a la Palabra de Dios, por mencionar algunos escenarios de la comunicación verbal o escrita en las relaciones humanas.

Entonces surge la siguiente interrogante: ¿Por qué no valoraremos el escuchar a la persona que nos está hablando? Porque estamos distraídos y pensando en otra situación en ese momento, o porque no me interesa el dialogo con esa persona ¿No le ha pasado a Ud. esta situación?

Por ejemplo, la subcultura de la autosuficiencia, suele manifestarse en algunas frases ya muy trilladas, y antes de que termine una persona de hablar, decimos: “eso ya lo sabía”, “no necesito que me lo digas”; ¡enfatizando aún más!, todavía no termina de hablar una persona, y la otra, la apresura, e interrumpe y le dice: ¿Luego?, ¿Y eso qué?, ¡Y a mí que mi importa!

Bueno pasando del mundo profano y con el afán de trascender al Mundo Celestial Sagrado, mediante lo Consagrado a Dios, viene la siguiente frase con una interrogante: Recuerda Ud. ¿Qué nos mencionó el Papa Benedicto XVI, en sus grandes mensajes de Cuaresma y Pascua?

Algunos podrán decir: Ya estamos en tiempos de Pascua de Resurrección, otros dirán, pues por ahí está escrito en distintos medios de comunicación; otros u otras personas pertenecientes a la subcultura de la autosuficiencia, que les gusta ver como a los fariseos hipócritas la paja en el ojo ajeno y no ven la viga que tienen en el suyo (Cf. Mt 7,3; Mt 7, 4; Mt 7,5; Lc 6,41, Lc 6,42), que al sentir dañados sus intereses contrarios a la Cultura de la Vida, hacen escándalo contra el Santo Padre y contra la Iglesia Católica; pero, recordemos tres de los pensamientos del Papa Benedicto XVI, que dio al Mundo, para corregir fraternalmente al prójimo (Cf. Lv 19,17, Mt 18, 15, y 1 Co 4,14):

1. "Polvo, sí, pero amado, plasmado por su amor, animado por su soplo vital, capaz de reconocer su voz y de responderle; libre y, por este motivo, capaz también de desobedecerle, cediendo a la tentación del orgullo y la autosuficiencia". [1]

2. “Por lo tanto, para entrar en la justicia es necesario salir de esa ilusión de autosuficiencia, del profundo estado de cerrazón, que es el origen de nuestra injusticia. En otras palabras, es necesario un “éxodo” más profundo que el que Dios obró con Moisés, una liberación del corazón, que la palabra de la Ley, por sí sola, no tiene el poder de realizar. ¿Existe, pues, esperanza de justicia para el hombre?” [2]

3. “La Pascua es la verdadera salvación de la humanidad” [3]

El Evangelio nos ha revelado el cumplimiento de las figuras antiguas: Jesucristo, con su muerte y resurrección, ha liberado al hombre de aquella esclavitud radical que es el pecado, abriéndole el camino hacia la verdadera Tierra prometida, el Reino de Dios, Reino universal de justicia, de amor y de paz. (Cf. Mensaje de Pascua del Papa Benedicto XVI)

PAZ Y BIEN

ARCD

Notas

[1] Cf. Papa Benedicto XVI inaugura la Cuaresma: somos “polvo, sí, pero amado”; en: http://www.zenit.org/article-34328?l=spanish

[2] Cf. Mensaje del Santo Padre Benedicto XVI para la Cuaresma 2010, en:

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/lent/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20091030_lent-2010_sp.html

[3] Cf. Mensaje de Pascua de Benedicto XVI; en:

http://www.zenit.org/article-34905?l=spanish

¡Feliz Pascua de Resurrección!

¡Él Señor Jesús resucito, Aleluya!, ¡Feliz Pascua de Resurrección!, les desea Tópicos Culturales.

PAZ Y BIEN

ARCD Editor

Culmina Cuaresma con el Triduo Pascual, Por Angel R. Cepeda Dovala

Culmina Cuaresma con el Triduo Pascual

Por

Angel R. Cepeda Dovala

La Cuaresma culmina en el Triduo Pascual [1]; y en la Misa Crismal el Santo Papa Benedicto XVI, pidió a los cristianos ser “Personas de Paz”, una paz que nace de la “lucha por la justicia”, hablo también, del simbolismo sacramental del aceite en la fe cristiana, que simboliza la unción del Espíritu Santo, y que habla de paz y, al mismo tiempo, de lucha y de misericordia; y del El ramo de olivo y, por extensión, el aceite, es signo de paz en la Escritura. [2] Algunas de las frases pronunciadas por el Papa Benedicto XVI, en el Vía Crucis en el Coliseo el Viernes Santo: [3]

"El Viernes Santo es el día de la esperanza más grande, la madurada en la cruz", explicó el Papa, en el momento en el que el calendario registraba los cinco años de la muerte de Juan Pablo II, fallecido a las 21:37 del 2 de abril de 2005.

"Entregando su existencia, donada a las manos del Padre, Él sabe que su muerte se convierte en fuente de vida"

"Nuestros fracasos, nuestras desilusiones, nuestras amarguras que parecen marcar el derrumbe de todo, son iluminados por la esperanza"

"El acto de amor de la cruz confirmado por el Padre y la luz fulgurante de la resurrección, lo envuelve y lo transforma todo"

"De la traición puede nacer la amistad, de la renegación el perdón, del odio el amor"

El Obispo de Roma concluye con la Oración:

"Concédenos, Señor, llevar con amor nuestra cruz, nuestras cruces cotidianas, con la certeza de que éstas están iluminadas con el fulgor de tu Pascua".

Con el debido respeto, simpatía y alegría: ¡Feliz Pascua de Resurrección en Cristo Jesús!, para el Santo Papa Benedicto XVI, y al personal que labora con él en la Cátedra de San Pedro, así como a todos los lectores de Tópicos Culturales.

PAZ Y BIEN

ARCD

Notas

[1] Cf. Mensaje del Santo Padre Benedicto XVI para la Cuaresma 2010. « La justicia de Dios se ha manifestado por la fe en Jesucristo » (cf. Rm 3,21-22); en:

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/lent/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20091030_lent-2010_sp.html

 

También, Cf. En Tópicos Culturales:

 

Calendario Litúrgico: Cuaresma y Pascua de Resurrección de Cristo Jesús; en: http://topicosculturales.blogspot.com/2010/02/calendario-liturgico-cuaresma-y-pascua.html;

 

Allí, Allá, Acullá y la Cuaresma; en:

http://topicosculturales.blogspot.com/2010/02/alli-alla-aculla-y-la-cuaresma-por.html

 

¡Feliz Día de la Amistad y del Amor!: Bienaventuranzas y Cuaresma; en:

http://topicosculturales.blogspot.com/2010/02/feliz-dia-de-la-amistad-y-del-amor.html

[2] Cf. Ver documento completo: Misa Crismal: El Papa pide a los cristianos ser “personas de paz”;“Debemos oponernos a la violencia y fiarnos del poder del amor”; en:

http://www.zenit.org/article-34879?l=spanish

[3] Cf. La Esperanza Cristiana en el Vía Crucis del Coliseo con el Papa; “Su muerte se convierte en fuente de vida”, explica en el Viernes Santo; en: http://www.zenit.org/article-34898?l=spanish; y en Tópicos Culturales: He is Risen!, Family & Woman; en:

http://topicosculturales.blogspot.com/2010/03/he-is-risen-family-woman-by-angel.html