Discretion

For John, BLUF:  In this week's Gospel reading Jesus show compasion in Ministering to a person with handicaps.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Gospel, 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here is the Gospel Reading from Saint Mark 7:31-37:

Again Jesus left the district of Tyre
and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee,
into the district of the Decapolis.
And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment
and begged him to lay his hand on him.
He took him off by himself away from the crowd.
He put his finger into the man’s ears
and, spitting, touched his tongue;
then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him,
“Ephphatha!”— that is, “Be opened!” —
And immediately the man’s ears were opened,
his speech impediment was removed,
and he spoke plainly.
He ordered them not to tell anyone.
But the more he ordered them not to,
the more they proclaimed it.
They were exceedingly astonished and they said,
“He has done all things well.
He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

In the Second Reading Saint James tells us (2:1-5) to not make distinctions, but to treat all the same, rich or poor.

In the Gospel Jesus shows us that we can make exceptions.  The man suffering from deafness and a speech impediment is taken off, away from the crowd, where Jesus csn minister to him in private.  I see this as a courtsey to the man.  This is guidance to all of us, in that when we minister we should not do it in a showy way.  Rather, when possible, do it in a private way, to provide some dignity to the person.

Regards  —  Cliff

Our Big Act of Faith

For John, BLUF:  Some weekends the Scripture Readings at Mass are OK, and somoe weeks they hit it out of the park.  This was a hit it out of the park weekend.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here is the Gospel Reading (John 6:60-69):

Many of Jesus' disciples who were listening said
"This saying is hard; who can accept it?"
Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this,
he said to them, "Does this shock you?
What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending
to where he was before?
It is the spirit that gives life,
while the flesh is of no avail.
The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.
But there are some of you who do not believe."
Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe
and the one who would betray him.
And he said,
"For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me
unless it is granted him by my Father."

As a result of this,
many of his disciples returned to their former way of life
and no longer accompanied him.
Jesus then said to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Master, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.
We have come to believe
and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God."

This is my favorite Bible passage.  In the reading the previous week Jesus lays out that His Body and Blood are food and drink for the believer.  Many disciples found this to be hard to accept.  They turned away from Jesus.  Then Jesus turns to the Apostles and asks them where they stand.  Saint Peter answers for the Twelve, and as if thinking, "I don't have a clue" he says

"Master, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.  We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God."

In my mind Saiant Peter is saying:

Boss I don't have a clue, but if you say so.

Saint Peter is speaking out of faith.  The same faith we show when we go forward to receive Communion.

But, it wasn't the only good reading.  There is the first reading, from the Book of Joshua.  Those of us of a certain age might remember the spiritual, Joshua Fought the Battle of Jerico.♠  In this reading the Prophet Joshua makes clear that he stands with God.

"As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

And, the Second Readding, from Saiant Paul's Letter to the Ephesians (Eph 5:21-32 or 5:2a, 25-32) is good advice for Christians.  The reason there are two versions is becsuse this scripture calls for wives to be "be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord".  Some are offended by this wording.  Apparently, folks are not as offended by "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her," which calls for husbands to be willing to die for their wives.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  Joshua is the person in the Bible with no parents:  "Joshua, son of Nun, servant of the LORD" (Joshua 29:1).

Check the Data

For John, BLUF:  The Bureau of Labor Statistics has a difficult job and finds itself always having to update their data,  One would expect the Secretary of Labor to keep up on this.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Biden's commerce secretary ridiculed for saying she's not 'familiar' with damaging jobs report, blames Trump instead

Here is the sub-headline:

Many wondered why the commerce secretary was unaware of the newest jobs report.

From Blaze News, by an unkown reporter, 22 August 2024.

Here is the lede plus five:

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo was mocked and ridiculed over her response to a blistering jobs report on Wednesday.

Raimondo was being interviewed on ABC News from the Democratic National Convention when she was questioned about a revision showing that the number of jobs in the U.S. had been overestimated by nearly a million over the last year. Instead, she accused former President Donald Trump of being a liar.

'We’re in the best of hands.'

“I don’t believe it because I’ve never heard Trump say anything truthful,” responded Raimondo.

"It is from the Bureau of Labor," replied the reporter.

"I'm not familiar with that," Raimondo said.

I have a friend who thinks the problem here is Fedeeral Bureaucrats who can't do the statistics well.  His solution is to fire people.

I expecct those bureaucrats are trying to do the job as best they can.  On the other hand, this response suggests that there might be an advantage to the Voters to fire the Cabinet Secretary.  How can she lead the Department of Labor if she doesn't know what is going on in the Department.  How can she emphathise with the workers if she doesn't understand the water within which they swim.

If the Cabinet Secretary doesn't understand the numbers, what is the chance the President, and the White House understands the numbers?

Regards  —  Cliff

Free Speech

For John, BLUF:  I worry that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz does not understand Free Speech the way the Founding Fathers did and I do.  Maybe he doesn't understand Democracy.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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THEY BELIEVE THAT RIGHTS AREN’T ABSOLUTE,
BUT POWER IS

From Instapundit, by Professor Glenn Harlan Reynolds.

Here is the first social media post in this larger blog post:

Gad Saad
@GadSaad
What we are seeing is precisely why the West was such an anomaly in the history of mankind.  Specifically, the reflex to suppress speech with which the rulers/elite disagree is the default reflex, and we are seeing a return to it.  The West is facing the classic Herculean fork in the road.  Take the easy or hard road in defending free speech.

This post by Professor Saad was in response to this 𝕏 post:

BBC Newsnight
@BBCNewsnight
Aug 9
"[Elon] Musk is trying to pretend freedom of speech as some absolute right.  It's never been an absolute right."  Keir Starmer's biographer Tom Baldwin says there should be more regulation of social media. #Newsnight

This is a fight for the West, for the Anglo-Saxon tradition of free speech and the idea of competing ideas in the search for truth and for a better future.  The problem is, if we squash free speech then we stunt our future.  We end up with hundreds of years of stagnation.

One person laid the issue at the feet of Wokeness:

Robert ₿reedlove
@Breedlove22
Wokeism is a psyop designed to destroy basic definitions to undermine rational discourse and divide people.  When people are unable to use speech to resolve conflicts, then their only alternative is force, and in the domain of force The State is unrivaled.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Trump at the NAMJ

For John, BLUF:  Ms Juliette Ochieng, a retired Air Force Member, writes as a Black Conservative.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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No Pandering

Here is the sub-headline:

Amatuer shrinking the NABJ

From Baldilocks Talks, by Ms Juliette Ochieng, 2 August 2024.

Where the Blogger shifts from talking about her Caucasian Brother-in-Law to talking about Candidate Donald Trump:

He doesn’t treat black people like children - unless they’re his own children - and doesn’t kowtow.  If they’re nice to him, he’s nice to them and the same goes for nastiness.

After watching Donald Trump's interview with the NABJ I thought of this phenomenon.  Most journalists and politicians who are white tip-toe around black people in fear of being labeled as racist.  In contrast, President Trump treats blacks, whites, etc. as individuals.  (I was especially amused when the former president lambasted the interviewers for being on CPT.)

To be honest, I think that a significant segment of black Americans aren’t used to that, especially from white persons in authority. Many are more used to having smoke blown up their backsides, and when that doesn’t happen, they don’t know what to do with that, so they think it’s racism.

Yes, it’s true. Many of us aren’t used to being treated as equals. And I think it’s why many think Mr. Trump is racist but can’t name a racist thing he has said or done.

The last quoted paragraph was interesting to me in that I don't think of Candidate Trump as racist or Anti-semetic.  Yes, some do.  I was impressed that during his interview with the NABJ that President Trump was willinig to engage with the reporters asking questions.  It is my belief that as long as we are talking there is a chance that we are communicaitng and perhaps even learning.

Learning is good.

Regards  —  Cliff

The Assumption

For John, BLUF:  A Holy Day of Obligation for Roman Catholics.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Thursday, August 15, 2024
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

This day celebrates the Assumption of Mary into heaven, body and soul, signifying her purity and her close relationship with God.

Masses at the Immaculate:

• There is a Mass of Anticipation (Vigil Mass) on Wednesday, 14 August, at 5:00 PM.
• The Mass on the Day will be at 9:00 AM.

Regards  —  Cliff

Avoid Anger, Pursue Love

For John, BLUF:  Before Mass this afternoon I was talking to Gail Ann Desmond and she mentioned that she had run into Bill Johnson at Market Basket.  We both agreed that he was a definite add to the City Life Show and had interesting ideas and put them forward in a calm manner, without rancor.  I said it was like our Second Reading for the day.♠  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Second Reading

St Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 4:30 – 5:2

Here is the Reading:

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God: whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Let all bitterness, and anger, and indignation, and clamour, and blasphemy, be put away from you, with all malice.
And be ye kind one to another; merciful, forgiving one another, even as God hath forgiven you in Christ.
Be ye therefore followers of God, as most dear children;
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath delivered himself for us, an oblation and a sacrifice to God for an odour of sweetness.

Sure, it isn't always a piece of cake.  There are folks out there who work to get under our skin.  Responding in kind won't chnge them.  Saint Paul gives us the gouge.  Put away "bitterness, and anger, and indignation" and respond by "forgiving one another".  Not easy, but the best way.

Every morning signals a new day and a chance to put the anger of the previous day behind us and move forward with forgiveness and love.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  I review the Readinngs before Mass in case the Sexton, Richard Sweeney, comes by and tells me the Reader is missing and it is on me.  Better to be prepared.