tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post2131526900148979825..comments2024-03-17T22:48:00.427+08:00Comments on Reflections and Ruminations: Why the Church cannot but buck the trend as far as sexual moral norms are concerned.Fr Luke Fonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03079016104331055895noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-73715265744698135162015-06-14T19:17:17.541+08:002015-06-14T19:17:17.541+08:00Why the Church cannot but buck the trend as far as...Why the Church cannot but buck the trend as far as sexual moral norms are concerned.<br /><br />Whilst reading about some of the great early church fathers today, I chanced upon Gregory of Nyssa - who wrote, “Sick, our nature demanded to be healed; fallen, to be raised up; dead, to rise again. We had lost the possession of the good; it was necessary for it to be given back to us. Closed in darkness, it was necessary to bring us the light; captives, we awaited a Saviour; prisoners, help; slaves, a liberator. Are these things minor or insignificant? Did they not move God to descend to human nature and visit it, since humanity was in so miserable and unhappy a state?” He was referring to the need for the coming of the Redeemer, the Christ.<br /><br />But, if we stop to reflect, isn’t all that he said applicable to our world today as well – where the natural order of things are brought into disarray and Divine Law is pilloried to appease the ego of a vocal attention-seeking minority who may feel that the world has short-changed them? While not all our LGBT brothers and sisters fall into this category, it has to be realized that the social and cultural fabric of society could be torn to shreds if there is no mutual respect, trust and love to safeguard what has been nurtured throughout the centuries especially that of the sanctity of marriage and family. Perhaps that is one reason why- “the Church cannot but buck the trend as far as sexual moral norms are concerned” for Christ has given her custody of this beautiful world of ours when He returned to the Father. Seen in this light, the Church seems to be the last bastion of hope for humanity.<br /><br />God bless u, Fr<br /><br />tessa<br />Tessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04211998984286520369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-71915555258654559652015-06-11T15:25:28.629+08:002015-06-11T15:25:28.629+08:00Dearest Fr. Luke,
When reflecting on your post, ...Dearest Fr. Luke, <br /><br />When reflecting on your post, thinking along the lines of our culture of self-entitlement as root cause to the right to relativism & morality shift, when I came across another reflection from Fr. Robert Barron, which shudders me.<br /><br />http://www.wordonfire.org/resources/article/bruce-jenner-the-shadow-council-and-st-irenaeus/4785/<br /><br />In a nutshell, Fr. Barron's article talks about the heresy of ancient Gnosticism resurfacing (again). That the spirit which is holy is trapped in the body which is unholy, and Fr. Barron, cleverly link up a “typology” of this heresy resurfacing against the case of our LBGTs brothers and sisters who sought to “free” their true self trapped in their bodies…. Deeply provoking ... We are coming back to this ancient heresy all over again... its sinister subtlety only makes one shudders … The battles the Church is up against, and how discerning and on guard we must always be. (Like our immune system to recognize mutant germ ... ;} )<br /><br />Echoing Pope Francis, we do not have the right to judge them (LBGTs), as the heavy cross they are carrying is from God. God never make mistakes. God trust them so much to prevail, (none to be lost) in the tough battle they are called into.<br /><br />Personally, I have some very good friends, who are struggling with this cross, and I dare say, they are some of the most beautiful people (in every sense), kind and gentle souls who genuinely love the people around them, despite not sharing our faith.<br /><br />In my younger (pre-loving God) days, knowing them to be such wonderful people who deserve “happiness”, I may well have been one in the queue giving vote in support of gay marriage. So, understanding the misplaced kind intentions, I do not think we should appraise Ireland too harshly. It all boils down to our efforts in RE-EVANGELISATION & united prayers as a whole universal church. <br /><br />The Natural Law written by God in our heart and bodies cannot be denied, even by non-believers, all will hear the TRUTH. We must pray for them to be given faith to believe and for ourselves, that we will not be weary, making ourselves available to God, discerning the many manners in evangelizing we are called to. And may God use our sacrifice for our good and the good of ALL HIS HOLY CHURCH. (Amen). <br /><br />Thank You Fr Luke.<br />Praying for you always.<br />LauraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-9092942263259458422015-06-10T11:23:19.502+08:002015-06-10T11:23:19.502+08:00God Bless You Father Luke for this post!God Bless You Father Luke for this post!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-47895937550971110692015-06-09T08:20:01.915+08:002015-06-09T08:20:01.915+08:00Hi Fr. Luke. I am deeply saddened, although not th...Hi Fr. Luke. I am deeply saddened, although not that surprised, with what has happened in Ireland. But in reality: only 60% of the electorate actually came forward to vote. So actually only about 36% of the Irish people gave their ‘yes’ to (ugh!) same-sex ‘marriage’ after all. <br /><br />One wonders if it would have made any difference at all if the other forty percent had turned up as well. Maybe not; for it’s far easier to ‘go with the flow’ than to swim against the current. And it is a strong current indeed. <br /><br />It is becoming increasingly difficult today not to be seen as ‘completely bonkers’ by those (in society) whose views and opinions reflect the so-called ‘progressive’ worldview of things. The courage that you write about is to hold firm to Christ and all that the Catholic church teaches in spite of everything that is happening around us –no matter how ridiculous it might seem to others. God bless you.<br />Robbie Jnoreply@blogger.com