Y la Palabra era Dios: Meditación del Papa Benedicto XVI

Y la Palabra era Dios: Meditación del Papa Benedicto XVI

Por

Angel R. Cepeda Dovala

En el evangelio de San Juan 1, 1-18, en este día sabatino en horario matutino, de las 7:00 A. M. fue leída la lectura bíblica con una gran reflexión de Fr. Federico Hernández Carrillo, en el Templo de San Francisco, en Saltillo Coahuila de Zaragoza, México, que me hizo recordar, las palabras de Meditación del Papa Benedicto XVI, de enero 3, de 2010, quien menciono en la Hora del Angelus:

Este texto afirma que Dios no sólo es el creador del universo —aspecto común también a otras religiones— sino que es Padre, que "nos eligió antes de crear el mundo (...) predestinándonos a ser sus hijos adoptivos" (Ef 1, 4-5) y que por esto llegó hasta el punto inconcebible de hacerse hombre: "El Verbo se hizo carne y acampó entre nosotros" (Jn 1, 14). El misterio de la Encarnación de la Palabra de Dios fue preparado en el Antiguo Testamento, especialmente donde la Sabiduría divina se identifica con la Ley de Moisés. En efecto, la misma Sabiduría afirma: "El creador del universo me hizo plantar mi tienda, y me dijo: "Pon tu tienda en Jacob, entra en la heredad de Israel" (Si 24, 8). En Jesucristo, la Ley de Dios se ha hecho testimonio vivo, escrita en el corazón de un hombre en el que, por la acción del Espíritu Santo, reside corporalmente toda la plenitud de la divinidad (cf. Col 2, 9).

Queridos amigos, esta es la verdadera razón de la esperanza de la humanidad: la historia tiene un sentido, porque en ella "habita" la Sabiduría de Dios. Sin embargo, el designio divino no se cumple automáticamente, porque es un proyecto de amor, y el amor genera libertad y pide libertad. Ciertamente, el reino de Dios viene, más aún, ya está presente en la historia y, gracias a la venida de Cristo, ya ha vencido a la fuerza negativa del maligno.

Cada vez que el Señor quiere dar un paso adelante, junto con nosotros, hacia la "tierra prometida", llama primero a nuestro corazón; espera, por decirlo así, nuestro "sí", tanto en las pequeñas decisiones como en las grandes. (Benedicto XVI, Ángelus, domingo 3 de enero de 2010)

El 2011 se va y viene el 2012, tratemos de escuchar al Señor en su llamado a nuestro corazón y no lo hagamos esperar con nuestro “si”, tanto en las pequeñas decisiones como en las grandes, como dijo el Papa Benedicto XVI.

PAZ Y BIEN

ARCD

Another Perfect Example, By Roger Behra

SHORT COMMUNICATIONS 286

Another Perfect Example

By

Roger Behra

Nothing exposes counterculture people more than their group behavior. Frequently it corps up in their wrongheaded and degenerative thinking. Frequently the result of their very faulty thinking and actions is the direct sign that they cannot get in through thick skulls that just because something can be done does not mean that is should be done. You are about to read another example of that. It is not only faulty thinking and action, it is a mockery of a very accepted norm and proper social behavior.

For a very long period of time in America’s high schools the correct and very accepted procedure is to have a high school senior boy be chosen homecoming king. Then the chosen homecoming king would choose a girl to be the homecoming queen. It has always worked out well until recently in San Diego, California, where, the apple cart was overturned.

It took place at Patick Hennry High School, where the unthinkable and culturally unacceptable took place. Senior Rebeca Arellano, who is lesbian, was elected homecoming king, and she in turn named her girlfriend as her homecoming queen. It was a total breach of tradition and acceptance, and it did not go unnoticed.

As the dust was settling from the horrendous event, matters were made worse when San Diego Unified School District Superintendent, Bill Kowba, praised the school for choosing the lesbian couple. Well, that did not go unnoticed, either.

The two scandals events caused the school to receive a great deal of hate mail and hateful telephone calls. That was also very sad. The replies should have been strong but not hateful. Right minded people with proper core values could not sit idly by and ignore the great transgression. It is comforting to know that there are a large number of people who realize that morality counts and that just because something can be done it should not be done. Yes, it is so comforting, indeed, May God’s blessings upon them be quick and abundant.

R. B.

11-12-11

A Monumental Scandal, By Roger Behra

SHORT COMMUNICATIONS 285


A Monumental Scandal

By

Roger Behra


A prestigious and famous university in America is glaringly in the spotlight of a horrendous scandal of great magnitude and concern. Penn State University is being raked over the coals because of a very serious sexual abuse situation that has been covered up, because it involved an assistant coach and other important university officials, for many years. The sexual abuse situation involved the assistant coach who was seen in the act of sodomy with a 10-year-old boy in a locker room shower on the university campus. As the details unfolded, it became know that several people became knowledgeable of the crime and failed to take and firm moral action. Instead, a cover-up was in effect for thirteen years. Everything began unfolding when the assistant coach was indicated and charged of sexually abusing a total of eight boys.

The wrong doing in the campus locker room shower was discovered by a graduate student, who did not notify the police after he failed to stop the criminal action. Instead, the graduate student notified only his father who told his son to leave the campus. The father and son did tell the university football coach, however, and the football coach did tell the proper officials, but he did not follow up when no official action was taken. The police were never notified. The whole sordid situation came to light after the assistant coach was in custody of the police on other charges of sexual abuse of young boys.

As a result of the cover-up becoming common knowledge, activities at Penn State University are in turmoil. Several careers are over and done with: the head football coach; the university Vice-President; the Athletic Director; the football Offensive Coordinator and assistant coach are all gone. And nobody knows how the three remaining football games are going to be affected, and how the numerous lawsuits are going to turn out during the coming years.

The whole episode of Penn State University should be firm in people’s minds. So much moral obligations were not exercised in the scandal. Only one person exercised weak moral action: the graduate student. Has he not notified someone (his father), there is the real possibility that the sexual abuse of the 10-year-old boy and the resulting cover-up would never have come to light. What was also very extremely bad was the fact the assistant coach was sodomized the boy in the shower was allowed to continue to be part of campus life over the years as he sexually abused seven other boys. The whole situation at Penn State University was a monumental travesty that has led to a monumental scandal that the university may never recover form. At least justice is presently taking place as the bankrupt morality is being exposed and the wide and far fallout is being contended with as the long and dark future unfolds at Penn State University.

R. B.
11-11-11

America’s Many Generations, By Roger Behra

SHORT COMMUNICATIONS 284

America’s Many Generations

By

Roger Behra


The makeup of America’s culture has been classified as groups of people, and the groups start with the year 1901 which is considered the beginning of modern time in America. The groups are called generations, and there are five of them: The Dedicated, Greatest, Counterculture, Me, and Lost. As each generation formed, the American culture began the downhill roll to the low level of today. It began in year 1965.

The Dedicated Generation-the young men and women who started the new century in the New World called America. They were raised very well and had great core values. They were dedicated to the continued orderly, productive, and spiritual growth of America as the new century got under way, and they reised their children to continue those values.

The Greatest Generation- the young men and women offspring of the men and women who started the new century in 1901. They were made up of the millions of Americans who fought and died during World War 2 and helped to keep the home front functioning and producing for the war effort. All their efforts are considered the greatest in American History.

The Counterculture Generation-they are also known as the hippies. This generation was opposed to the standards of traditional society. They changed their thinking in 1965 when Washington got America involved in the war in Vietnam. Their new philosophy of life was to throw out the old and bring in the new. It did just that and ruined America’s culture to what goes on today: no spiritual values; no core social values; make up your own rules as you go along; if it feels good, do it. It became the formula for the cultural deterioration of modern times.

Me Generation-as the counterculture generation lived their philosophy, they decided to add more to it-me, me, and more me. They decided that were the most important above all else and that the world revolved around them only. You can tell in today’s American culture that addition has been working very well.

Lost Generation-this is the latest generation. They are the ones that the future of America relies on. Only 49% of them have a high school diploma. And much less then that percentage has a college degree. And now, 2011, they can’t use their education because the economy is on weak legs and gasping for a healthful and sustaining breath. College grads have to move back in with their parents in order to avoid becoming homeless. They and those with no diploma feel lost now.

Now, after forty-six year of ignoring God and the spiritual, of horrendous increases in immorality, of living by one’s own rules, the worm has finally turned against the counterculture seniors, their children, and grandchildren. Millions cannot retire and the offspring are the lost generation in a hopelessly bad economy. All was avoidable. All started in 1965 with the counterculture people. The bitter pills of prevailing justice are very hard to swallow now in 2011.

R. B.

Another Cultural Dilemma, By Roger Behra

SHORT COMMUNICATIONS 283

Another Cultural Dilemma

By

Roger Behra


America’s culture keeps taking one hit after another. This time it is happening in Orange County, California, and it is very serious in nature: Increased Police Misconduct. It has got the natives very nervous.

When Kelly Thomas was born in 1974 to Ron Thomas and his wife, Kelly was the lovable apple of their eyes. There was no doubt. Thirty-seven years later, on July 10, 2011, Kelly Thomas was savagely beaten on a street at the hands of six Fullerton, California policemen that caused his death. It was a very brutal beating of a man who was not resenting, in broad daylight, witnessed by several people, and recorded on tape. It does not look favorable at all for the Fullerton policemen as the publicity has been extensive nationwide. It has put the spotlight on police behavior in general and specifically in Fullerton and throughout Orange County, California. Citizens trust and expect police not to be above the law for any reason.

Police on duty have been seen to wander slowly across several lanes of traffic without using their turn signal. They have been seen with no flashing lights to casually turn left up over the curb and grassy meridian to head in another direction as they make a 180° turn. They’ve recently been on trial in Orange County for asking for and receiving sex from women instead of getting a ticket. They’ve been charged with driving DUI while on duty and DUI driving off duty that damaged several cars. They watch pornography on their vehicle computers. Police have been on trial and convicted of following a waitress to her car and raping her. They park their patrol cars in handicapped parking places and other no parking places. These are not simply isolated cases. And how about all the cases that do not ends for public consumption?

The great lack of respect in general for policemen stems from the know facts the police put themselves above the law; that rules are made for others and not for them. And then there is the fact police chiefs cover up many misbehavior events. All of this has become very frequent, and it has caused a certain cultural dilemma.

Meanwhile, Kelly Thomas is sex-feet underground-forever. Kelly’s family is heartbroken. They want justice for the senseless killing of their son. All the indications are that justice will prevail. But don’t count on it in our modern culture. The careers of six Fullerton policemen, their police chief, and the Fullerton Mayor are on the block and under heavy scrutiny. But the worm always seems to turn in favor of the police, especially when careers are on the line.

R. B.
10-21-11

Now We Know, By Roger Behra

SHORT COMMUNICATIONS 282

Now We Know

By

Roger Behra


A recent Coast To Coast radio program on 9-25-11 hosted by George Knapp gave millions of listeners some very factual and interesting information a topic explained in a new book by the famous author, Dr. Raymond Moody, M. D. The title of his new book is, “Glimpses of Eternity”.

The American Dictionary defines glimps as “a quick look or review of something or someone”. A glimpse can last for several seconds. Most glimpses last only a couple seconds.

In his new book Moody reveals to readers factual, interesting, and enlightening information about loved ones sharing in the spiritual events happening to the dying person. Truly, Moody breaks new ground in matters of the dying.

To a great it has been written in several books that the dying persons are visited by deceased family members who have been dead for many years and have never been seen in real life by the dying. Most of the time the visiting spirit is someone who was part of their earthly life. That is the hard fact. The visiting spirits help and ease the transition from earthly life to eternal life.

The new fact revealed end expanded in “Glimpses of Eternity” is that those at bedside of the dying person also share in the visitation of the eternal visiting spirit. Those at the bedside also share in glimpses of eternal life itself. It is absolutely captivating. In some cases the spirit visitations are shocking to the bedside visitors, because the eternal spirits include ex-husbands, ex-wives, old girlfriends and boyfriends, and mistresses.

Science is very quick to pass off parting visions as hallucinations, lack of oxygen, or medication. However, since the visiting relative who shares the vision or “glimpse of eternity” is not under any of these conditions, plus the fact that relatives at the bedside share in unknown information that is transferred by the eternal spirit that is verified later as true, cancels out scientific interpretation. Dr. Moody’s book explains all of this.

We must remember that Dr. Moody has considerable training in science as a physician, psychiatrist, and as a college professor for several years before embarking on a full time medical career. Truly, he is not easily misled. During his medical career he has interviewed thousands of patients and people throughout America and foreign countries and has authored three books. His books are very interesting and fascinating. Pull up a chair and spend time reading about the bottom line of all human existence: What happens during the dying process? Who is involved? Where do we go from here? What can we expect? The revelation of personal experiences told to us answers these questions, indeed.

R. B.
10-16-11

Feliz Navidad y Venturoso Nuevo Año 2012!

Feliz Navidad y Venturoso Nuevo Año 2012!


Tópicos Culturales les desea PAZ y BIEN en esta Navidad y un Venturoso Año Nuevo 2012!


ARCD

A Prayer to St. Jude at Christmas

A Prayer to St. Jude at Christmas


The night of the birth of Christy was silent, holy, and calm. The blessed Mother Mary trusted in our God of mercy and love to deliver her son in safety. St. Jude, I turn to you as I seek the calm and hope of the first Christmas. As our Patron of Hope and our intercessor, please carry my prayers to our Savior. Amen.


PAZ Y BIEN EN ESTA NAVIDAD!

ARCD

November 6, 2012 By Roger Behra

SHORT COMMUNICATIONS 281

November 6, 2012

By

Roger Behra

A large number of modern Americans are ignorant of the fact that America was founded on strong religious and conservative cultural principles. It is sad to note that just the opposite is is happening today in America. Those two philosophies have been totally ignored in modern America.

There is no excuse for a culture to wander away from proven and reliable religious and conservative principles. They are the glue that keeps a culture moral, honest, and dignified. When the counterculture movement threw all that away and brought in the new, it was a great mistake that severely harmed America’s once very great culture. Now, the culture reeks of immorality, dishonesty, horrendous murders, lack of general respect for human dignity, and appears to be dysfunctional socially and politically.

The straying away from conservative principles started out of necessity by the U. S. Government during the Great Depression. As time passed, it has morphed into today’s government controlled, super liberal, irreligious cultural monster with plenty of from President B. Obama during the past three years. And soon, down the road, November 6, 2012, lurks the point of no return.

During the 1930’s, economic conditions forced the U. S. Government to be much less conservative, and when WW2 entered the situation, the government continued to be less conservative. Less conservative was under control until in ballooned way out of control under the Johnson and Carter administrations for twenty years. Now, after three years of the Obama administrations, America is way out of economic control and on the edge of a steep cliff toward economic disaster in the politicians in Washington cannot get it together to avoid it. The socialistic minded, super liberal, inexperience, wrong thinking, and bad decision making Barrac Obama has not helped at all. He is absolutely the wrong president at a very crucial time in America history. If he is elected again on 11-6-2012, he will take America around the bend to socialism and the point of no return. Obama and his super liberal administration will jump at the chance to do so. It’s the way they think.

The most important nagging question as of 8-15-11 is whether B. Obama is going to be electable again on 11-6-2012. At the moment only 37% of Americans approve of his performance so far. He is carrying so much negative baggage. American seem to be waking up among those who voted for him in 2008. They see him taking America around the point of no return with his very flawed foregin policy, his indecision and bad decisions on crucial domestic situations, as well as his super liberal philosophy. And just as important, Americans do not want democracy exchanged for socialism. All of this makes up the point of no return that is just around the corner. It seems that 11-6-2012 is going to be the most important date in modern American history. There is no doubt about it!

R. B.
8-21-11

Feliz Año Nuevo Litúrgico 2011! y una Meditación del Papa Benedicto XVI sobre la Espera

Feliz Año Nuevo Litúrgico 2011! y una Meditación del Papa Benedicto XVI sobre la Espera

Por

Angel R. Cepeda Dovala


No es tarde para decir: Feliz Año Nuevo Litúrgico 2011!, que dio inicio con el Adviento en Noviembre 30 y termina en Diciembre 24. El turno es el Evangelio de Marcos, y las lecturas bíblicas correspondientes en un nuevo Ciclo, [1]. El Adviento tiene un esquema para su comprensión. [2].

En Noviembre 28, 2010, el Papa Benedicto XVI hizo una Meditación sobre la Espera, que es muy importante recordar en este tiempo de Aviento:

La espera, el esperar es una dimensión que atraviesa toda nuestra existencia personal, familiar y social. La espera está presente en mil situaciones, desde las más pequeñas y banales hasta las más importantes, que nos implican totalmente y en lo profundo. Pensemos, entre estas, en la espera de un hijo por parte de dos esposos; a la de un pariente o de un amigo que viene a visitarnos de lejos; pensemos, para un joven, en la espera del éxito en un examen decisivo, o de una entrevista de trabajo; en las relaciones afectivas, en la espera del encuentro con la persona amada, de la respuesta a una carta, o de la acogida de un perdón... Se podría decir que el hombre está vivo mientras espera, mientras en su corazón está viva la esperanza. Y al hombre se le reconoce por sus esperas: nuestra “estatura” moral y espiritual se puede medir por lo que esperamos, por aquello en lo que esperamos. Cada uno de nosotros, por tanto, especialmente en este Tiempo que nos prepara a la Navidad, puede preguntarse: yo, ¿qué espero? ¿A qué, en este momento de mi vida, está dirigido mi corazón? Y esta misma pregunta se puede plantear a nivel de familia, de comunidad, de nación. ¿Qué es lo que esperamos, juntos?» (Cf. Benedicto XVI, 28 de noviembre de 2010).

En este tiempo de Adviento que es la preparación y conversión, desde los tiempos bíblicos, Mateo recuerda algo: “Vino Juan Bautista que ni comía ni bebía y dijeron es un endemoniado, vino el hijo del hombre que si come y bebe y dicen: ahí tienen a un comilón y a un borracho (Cf. Mt 11, 18-19). Lucas dice “Oh gentes de la ciudad: si supieran que es lo que les va a traer la paz que necesitan” (Cf. Lc 19, 42), saben ustedes en cuantas ocasiones Marcos cita en su evangelio el Reino de Dios y por qué?

PAZ Y BIEN

ARCD

Notas

[1] Cf. Adviento = Venida, Llegada. ¡Feliz Año Nuevo Litúrgico!, en:
http://topicosculturales.blogspot.com/2007/12/adviento-venida-llegada-feliz-ao-nuevo.html

[2] Cf. Adviento y un Esquema para su Comprensión, en:
http://topicosculturales.blogspot.com/2007/12/adviento-y-un-esquema-para-su.html