Let us therefore strive by faith to be possessed of that clothing, that when we resume the body, there be nothing wanting which may glorify our flesh in that day. For every one, so far as he has been thought worthy by faith to be made partaker of the Holy Spirit, in the same proportion shall his body also be glorified in that day. For that which the soul has treasured up within, in this present life, shall then be made manifest outwardly in the body.
For as the trees that have got over the winter do, by an invisible power, put forth from within, and shoot out leaves, flowers, and fruits as their clothing; and in like manner, as the flowers of the grass come out of the bosom of the earth and the earth is covered and clothed, so, in the day of the resurrection, and through the power of the a Sun of Righteousness, there shooteth out from within the glory of the Holy Spirit, covering the bodies of the saints, which glory they had before, within hidden in their souls. For whatever [the soul] has at present, the same comes forth at that time outwardly in the body.
Therefore ought every one of us to strive, and be diligent in all virtue, and to believe and to seek it of the Lord; that the inward man may be made partaker of that glory in this present life, and have that holiness of the Spirit, that we may have at the resurrection wherewith to cover our naked bodies, and refresh us to all eternity in the kingdom of heaven. For Christ will come down from heaven and raise to life all the kindred of Adam that have slept from the beginning of the world and he shall separate them all into two divisions; and them that have his own mark, that is, the seal of the Spirit, he shall place on his right hand. And then shall the bodies of these shall be surrounded with a divine glory from their good works, and themselves shall be full of the glory of the Spirit which they had in their souls in this present life. So that, being thus glorified in the divine light and snatched away to “meet the Lord in the air, we”, as it is written, “shall ever be with the Lord”, reigning with him, world without end. Amen. — Homily 4, para 7-9: There is a wide difference between Christians and the men of this world.
Now if the sight of even an earthly king is desired by all men (except those persons that are spiritual, who look upon all his glory as nothing through their having experientially known another heavenly glory); if, I say, the men of this world are so desirous to behold an earthly king, with his splendour and glory, how much more are those upon whom that dew of the Spirit of life has dropped, and wounded their hearts with love for Christ, bound fast to that beauty and unspeakable glory, and the inconceivable riches of the true and eternal King; with desire and long-suffering after whom they are captivated, turning wholly to him, to obtain those unspeakable good things, which through the Spirit they actually behold already; and for whose sake they esteem all the glories, honours, and riches of earthly kings as nothing?
For they are wounded with the divine beauty; their desire is towards the heavenly King; and placing him only before their eyes in the abundance of their affection, they, for his sake, disengage themselves from all love of the world, and draw back from every earthly clog, that so they may be able ever to retain in their hearts that only desire. And they that are Christians in truth and power, rejoice at their departure out of the flesh, because they have “that house which is not made with hands.” And therefore, if the house of the body be destroyed, they are in no fear; for they have the heavenly “house of the Spirit” and that “glory which is incorruptible.” — Homily 4, para 5-6: There is a wide difference between Christians and the men of this world.
From EUBusiness: Sarkozy opens French job market to mythical Polish plumber
(WARSAW) – President Nicolas Sarkozy said Wednesday France’s job market would soon be opened to workers from Poland and seven other EU states, quashing fears of “Polish plumbers” stealing French jobs.
“The time has come today for France to remove the last restrictions on the free movement of Polish workers and the other states that joined the EU in 2004,” Sarkozy said, addressing a joint session of the upper and lower houses of the Polish parliament.
“The spectacular development of the Polish economy is the best response to the myth we referred to as the ‘Polish plumber’ … I’ve come to tell you ‘you are our friends and you are welcome’,” he said.
France’s move to open wide its doors to eastern workers will come July 1, on the first day of its six-month presidency of the European Union and covers workers from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia, as well as Poland.
…
“The decision is based on the reality of the job market: Polish plumbers never went to France.”
Having opted for a five-year transition period, France originally planned to open its labour market to the eight 2004 EU entrants in May 2009, unlike Britain, Ireland and Sweden which opted for complete access upon expansion in May 2004…
Of course the Polish plumber was a myth just like the mythical Hispanic worker that is stealing all the jobs in the U.S. This mythological figure was used in France’s political fight over the E.U. Constitution:
The —Polish plumber——”a symbol of cheap labor—”became a catchphrase in France’s —No— camp during its referendum on the E.U. constitution.
See the reference in Fear of the Polish Plumber.
Of course Poland’s tourist industry squeezed a lot of lemonade from the lemons France threw at it. In the famous Polish Plumber ad, Poland invited the French to come and see. From MSNBC: France’s new media star? The Polish plumber
PARIS – Live in France? Got leaky pipes? The Polish plumber —” muscled, square jawed and downright handsome —” won’t be there to help.
But with his wrench at the ready, the man who came to symbolize cheap labor in France traveled to Paris on Tuesday to prove he is harmless —” and to welcome the French to Poland.
It’s all part of an ad campaign that aims to lure tourists to Poland by spoofing French fears about a mythical Polish plumber who would move to France and steal jobs…
As the EUBusiness story states – which is the more correct version of reality – Polish plumbers never went to France. In other words our fear of immigrant labor is nothing more than a politically expedient “hot button” issue with little if any basis in reality. We should learn a lesson from the French government. When we come to our senses about the reality of immigration we will see that we all benefit, and that immigrants add value to our country.
Beyond the issue of immigration, members of the E.U. are quickly finding out that you need to sustain your economy if you want that off-price immigrant labor working for you. Poles who had immigrated are now returning to Poland. The economy in Poland is booming. See this from the TimesOnline: Tide turns as Poles end great migration
A wave of immigration that helped to fuel Britain’s early 21st century boom is over, as the Polish plumber and thousands like him go home.
The Times has established that, for the first time since they began arriving en masse four years ago, more UK-based Poles are returning to their homeland than are entering Britain.
Statistics show that only 38,680 Poles signed up to the Government’s register of migrant workers in the third quarter of 2007, a slump of 18 per cent from the previous year. Polish officials say that Poles leaving the country outnumber thoses coming in.
Hard statistics on the number of Poles leaving Britain do not exist. There are no embarkation controls on EU members so they are are not counted out. But Polish officials, British employment agencies and the Polish media all believe that the tide of immigration has turned. Since Poland joined the EU in 2004, 274,065 Poles have signed up for work permits. They make up 66 per cent of all applications from Eastern European countries.
But a combination of tightening economic conditions in this country, a comparatively weak pound and an unprecendented surge in the Polish economy has made it unattractive for Poles to remain…
Fair warning – the immigration wave addeth to the economy, the reversal of such taketh away from the economy.
From Lionsgate Home Entertainment: “Anthony Warrior of God“, a film based on the life of the most famous saint St. Anthony of Padua, is now available.
Co-written and directed by Antonello Belluco, “Anthony Warrior of God” is an inspiring tale of historical and doctrinal resonance that doesn’t preach, but instead invites the audience to go on a journey of reflection and contemplation regardless of their theological convictions. The film stars Jordi Mollá (Blow, Elizabeth: The Golden Age), Matt Patresi, Damir Todorovic (The Nativity Story), Giovanni Capalbo (The Passion of the Christ), Arnoldo Foí (II Caimano) and Paolo De Vita (Excellent Cadavers) and depicts the story of the remarkable man whose deeply rooted faith enabled him to challenge society in support of his people.
St. Anthony began life as a young nobleman who enjoyed all the sumptuous pleasures and privileges of that medieval Europe could offer. Yet he was compelled by a mysterious inner voice to gaze upon the unspeakable misery, disease and cruelty around him. Overcome with boundless compassion, he entered a monastery, dedicating his fine mind and fragile body to defending the poor and oppressed against injustice. This revolutionary saint dared to challenge the highest spheres of society, the government and even the Church, if they were guilty of exploiting the common people.
His story continues to this day with the many accounts of those who have been transformed by “the most famous saint in the world”, St. Anthony of Padua.
I plan to purchase the film.
From the Courier Mail: Catholic monk’s sex guide
A CELIBATE Polish monk has established a website [Akt małżeński]
The site is being heavily trafficked because of this article. I wouldn’t try visiting for a few days. And for those with prurient interests – it’s all in Polish so good luck… offering a guide to good sex for married couples, dubbed the ‘Catholic Kama Sutra’.Father Ksawery Knotz’s site gives graphic lovemaking hints and describes sex as a deeply spiritual act in which the couple can experience God.
“In Catholic teaching, the conjugal act is presented as a meeting that occurs not only between a husband and a wife who love each other, but also between the married couple and God,” he said.
The Franciscan monk, who runs the site with the help of a panel of married couples, is also the author of a book titled The Marriage Act: A Chance to Meet God in Your Marriage Partner.
He said on his website sex should be seen by couples as a gift from God…
This sort of fits with one of the current trends in some churches that offer sex courses and advice in order to attract people to the church. It is an interesting marketing phenomenon (see an MSNBC article about Joe Beam for instance). One of our local evangelical churches, a member of the Lifechurch network offers courses like this.
The problem with many of these is that they are perspective based. I would think that Father Knotz’s advice follows Roman Catholic teaching on the subject, which is highly regulated, so much so that people miss the core message, and focus rather on guilt for missing the regulatory mark. Minister Joe Beam’s activities appear to reach down to the level of pandering as part of marketing. How does a Christian make sense of it all?
I personally think that any message in regard to sexuality and the Christian life has to flow from the basic tenants of the Christian life. This discussion cannot be boiled down to rules with do’s and don’ts because rules are formulaic and process oriented – they are not relational. Christianity is relational and is all about community, including the family as community.
Frankly, I like that way Christianity Today covers the issue in Christian Sex Rules by Melissa and Louis McBurney, M.D. This makes sense because their message meets the standard of Christian practice. Faithfulness to essential truths, freedom in non-essentials. Sexual practice is not the core issue or problem in people’s lives (excepting the few who have physical or mental issues which inhibit them), it is rather focusing on how every aspect of married life goes to fulfilling the humanness of the couple, their mutual giving, their ability to sacrifice beyond themselves, and their ability to meet God in every aspect of their life.
how much more did the grace of God
and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ
overflow for the many.—¨
Frankly, I struggled with this homily. So much in today’s first reading is negative. Everyone is hating Jeremiah. He doesn’t have a good word for anyone in Israel. All those around him want to either turn him of kill him. It’s an ode to ends justify the means. Please, let’s do anything we can do to stop him, to quiet him, to shut him down. Jeremiah doesn’t have a friend left in the world; all he has is God.
All those who were my friends
are on the watch for any misstep of mine.—¨
‘Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail,—¨
and take our vengeance on him.’—¨
The psalmist too, he is outcast, apart from his people, insulted and rejected, even by his children, because he is faithful to God.
For your sake I bear insult,
and shame covers my face.
I have become an outcast to my brothers,—¨
a stranger to my children
With words like those I could launch into a preachy homily all about how faithfulness to God, in the face of every bad thing, is more important than home, family, friends, and reputation. I could tell you that God demands that we sacrifice everything and come to Him empty so He can fill us with every good thing.
I could do that, but I want to tell you about an amazing thing. In the face of all the bad Jeremiah and the psalmist faced they erupted into praise. Jeremiah says:—¨
Sing to the LORD,
praise the LORD,—¨
for he has rescued the life of the poor
The psalmist exclaims:
—See, you lowly ones, and be glad;
you who seek God, may your hearts revive!—¨
…—¨
Let the heavens and the earth praise him,—¨
the seas and whatever moves in them!”—¨
Brothers and sisters,
Jeremiah and the psalmist knew that God is the God of constant hope. He is the God of fulfillment. He is God who keeps His promises and cares for us.
I began by quoting from St. Paul:
how much more did the grace of God
and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ
overflow for the many.—¨
Praise be God because we have the grace of God. Our Holy Church and this parish are encompassed with God’s total love and commitment. His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, dwells with us. His Spirit enlightens, motivates, and strengthens us. He has drawn us together, a people of many opinions, many life stories, and many backgrounds in a testament to His wisdom. We are here for a reason. We are here because we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ, and because we wish to take the fruit of that faith and turn it into the good works, into caring and loving relationships with each other, all of which will bring people to Christ.
Jesus gave us complete assurance when He said:
—Fear no one.
Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed,—¨
nor secret that will not be known.—¨
What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light;—¨
what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.—
I also began by saying that I struggled with this homily. It was a struggle because it is often difficult to see the hope God offers. It is difficult until God’s grace opens our eyes to Jesus’ assurance.
It is assurance and a call to hope. What we have — faith — cannot be destroyed. Certainly, like Jeremiah and the psalmist, we will face difficulty. We will feel abandonment, loneliness, the anger of others, disparagement. Then something miraculous will occur. We will erupt into praise because we know Jesus’ promise to us. We know that He will acknowledge [us] before [His] heavenly Father.
St. Paul told the Romans that the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ overflows for the many. He told them that because it is true – and it is true today. We have God’s grace, the very same grace Paul spoke about, and we will never be emptied or apart from God because of it. We will never see things in the same way, or speak in the same way again – because of faith, because of grace, because of the constant hope of God Who folds us into His arms, His care, and His protection. Let us praise Him. Alleluia! Amen.
For in this do true Christians differ from the whole race of mankind besides: they have their heart and mind constantly taken up with the thoughts of heaven; and, through the presence and participation of the Holy Spirit, do behold, as in a glass, the good things which are eternal, being born of God from above, and thought worthy to become the children of God in truth and power; and being arrived, through many conflicts and labours, to a settled and fixed state, to an exemption from trouble, to perfect rest, are never sifted more by unsettled and vain thoughts. Herein are they greater and better than the world. Their mind and the desire of their soul are in the peace of Christ, and the love of the Spirit; and they have passed from death to life. Wherefore the alteration peculiar to Christians does not consist in any outward fashions, but in the renovation of the mind, and the peace of the thoughts, and the love of the Lord, even the heavenly love. Herein Christians differ from all men besides. The Lord has given them truly to believe on him, and to be worthy of those spiritual good things. For the glory, and the beauty, and the heavenly riches of Christians are inexpressible, and purchased only with labour, and pains, and trials, and many conflicts. But the whole is owing to the grace of God. — Homily 4, para 4: There is a wide difference between Christians and the men of this world.
The world of Christians, and their way of life, and their mind, and discourse, and practice, is one thing; and that of the men of this world, another. And the difference between them is very wide. For the children of this world are tossed to and fro by unsettled seasonings, by earthly desires, and a variety of gross imaginations, whereby Satan is continually sifting the whole sinful race of men.
For the word that was spoken to Cain by his Maker, “You shall go mourning and trembling, and be tossed about upon the earth”, is a type and image of all sinners, as to their inward state. For thus is the race of Adam tossed about with the incessant suggestions of fear and dread, and every kind of disturbance, the prince of this world tossing to and fro the soul that is not born of God; and variously disturbing the thoughts of mankind, as corn that is continually shifted about in a sieve; and shaking and ensnaring them all in worldly deceits, and the lusts of the flesh, with fears and troubles.
As from one Adam the whole race of mankind was spread over the earth, so one taint in the affections was derived down into the sinful stock of men; and the prince of malice is sufficiently able to shift them all in restless, and gross, and vain, and troublesome reflections. For as one and the same wind is enough to stir, and shake all plants and seeds whatever, so the prince of wickedness, as an hidden and blustering wind, tosseth to and fro all the race of men upon earth, and, carrying them about with unsettled thoughts, enticing them with the lusts of the world, fills every soul with ignorance, blindness, and oblivion, if it is not born from above. — Homily 4, para 1-3: There is a wide difference between Christians and the men of this world.
As in a dark and cloudy night a boisterous wind blows, and searches and shakes every plant and seed, so man also, when he is fallen under the power of the devil, and is in the midst of the night and darkness, is ruffled, and shocked, and tossed about by the dreadful wind of sin that blows. It moreover searches his whole nature, his soul, his thoughts, and mind. And all the members of his body share in the commotion; and nothing is left free from it; neither is there the least part, either of soul or body, but what suffers from the sin that dwells in us. There is also the day of light, and the divine wind of the Holy Spirit, that breathes upon souls, and refreshes them that are in the light; and pierces through the whole substance of the soul and its thoughts; and withal gently fans and refreshes all the members of the body with divine and inexpressible rest.
The Lord has also put on them the raiment of the kingdom of light, surpassing all description — the garments of faith, of hope, of love, of joy, of peace, of goodness, of kindness — and all the other robes of light and life; the divine, living robes of that rest which is unspeakable: that as God himself is love, and joy, and peace, and kindness, and goodness, so may the new man be through grace.
And as the kingdom of darkness and sin are hid in the souls of sinners, until the day of the resurrection, at which time their very bodies also shall be covered over with the darkness which lies now hid in the soul, thus also does the kingdom of light now enlighten and reign in the souls of the saints; but is hid from the eyes of men ’til the day of the resurrection; at which time the body itself shall be covered and glorified by the light of the Lord, that the body may reign together with the soul; which even now is actually refreshed and enlightened with the light eternal, Glory be to his mercies and tender compassion, for that he has pity on his servants, and enlighteneth and delivers them out of the kingdom of darkness, and vouchsafes his own light to them, and his own kingdom: to whom be glory and power, for ages! Amen. — Homily 2, para. 4-6, That God alone is able to deliver us out of the bondage of the wicked ruler.