Bad and Ugly?

Much like the classic 1966 Spaghetti Western movie, starring Clint Eastwood, “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” we automatically judge people.

We separate them into “us and them,” the “good guys” and the “bad guys.”  Why would we judge people like that? Well, we look at the evidence, and it seems the obvious conclusion.

Every day we read of cold-blooded murder, violence, people causing hurt, pain, death and destruction.

Very often such people get away with it. They don’t get caught and punished. It’s at moments like that we cry to God. “Why?”

It seems the good guys often suffer, while the bad guys often seem to prosper.

“Life’s not fair,” we complain.

“They won’t get away with it for ever,” says the religious person. “God will eventually make sure they pay for it. If not in this life, then in the afterlife.”

So, what exactly will happen in the afterlife?

Many mainstream religions teach eternal punishment, “Hell-Fire”. In the Bible, Jesus teaches “good guys” and “bad guys,”the “sheep” and “goats.” 

The “sheep” go to Heaven, the “goats” go to the eternal Flames. God’s “Final answer.”

Some theological thinking

I must confess, as a lifelong Catholic Christian, retired priest, monk and theologian, I believed all that.

Now I simply can’t believe that God’s like that. At all! 

Why not?

Jesus gave us the “Our Father.” God’s not an almighty tyrant, He’s our infinitely loving Father. The Bible tells us that God always brings home “the lost sheep.” God never abandons the “prodigal son.”

Many theologians now understand that “Hell-Fire” is a metaphor for the often extremely painful cleansing process we undergo after death. Such cleansing is not a “punishment;” rather it’s what we ourselves will want when we finally, and fully, recognise the bad things we’ve done here on earth

If God really is our father, there’s no way He could send His own children to Hell-Fire, understood in the literal, traditional sense.

Would any loving human father, with even an ounce of love in his heart, send his own child to an eternity of relentless suffering? Even to say it sounds crazy.

Can any father stop loving his own child? Think about it.

A father’s awesome love

The child does wrong. The father’s automatic response would surely be “I don’t care what he’s done, he’s my child, and I still love him.”

So, does that mean the father’s indifferent to his child’s evil? Not at all. No doubt he would want to make up for the evil done, in every way possible.

But, and this is the point, that doesn’t mean he would want unending suffering for his own child.

Surely an infinitely wise God must have a way of sorting things out; a way that doesn’t demand infinite suffering as a punishment!

Even in traditional, hard-line Catholic terms, we have a way out of this dilemma. Even in fallible human law, we say that the punishment should fit the crime. Surely the sinner could stay in Purgatory, long enough to be cleansed, and ready for Heaven?

Is not an infinitely loving Father God also wise enough to find a way to bring us all to love, reconciliation, justice and peace?

Some suggestions for our love

Where does all this leave us, in this world full of suffering and pain?

First, don’t add to the pain. Do good, as much as you can. Just love, give, serve, and accept everyone as brothers and sisters.

Let’s leave any judgement to God, our Loving Father, confident that He alone can make all things right in the end. The lost sheep goes home, the prodigal son eventually gets to the banquet.

Peace and love to you and yours.

Gerry McCann

@themerry_monk

If you found this post helpful, then please feel free to share it.

This question has traditionally divided some Christians. Some see God as doing it all. All you need is Faith. Just believe and ask. “Ask and you shall receive. . .”

Others say that “God helps those who help themselves.” James warns us that “faith without good works is dead.” This week’s quote suggests that God’s guidance happens only with our willing co-operation and collaboration.

So, where does that leave us? Who’s right? Is it Faith alone? Or Faith expressed in Good Works?

Let’s take an example. Your mother has a heart attack, and is seriously ill. “Please God, don’t let her die! Not now! Not yet!” We plead with God, over and over again. The whole family is in tears. 

That’s a brilliant response, exactly what we should do as Christians. But, is that all? Just sit and wait for God to get on with it? Perhaps not.

But if not, then where does that leave us? What else is needed? If prayer’s not enough, then what? In our example, we would immediately call the emergency ambulance. I’m sure there’s not a single religious person in the world who wouldn’t also call the ambulance.

What’s that saying? To me, the answer is quite clear: God expects us to co-operate and collaborate with Him. Do everything humanly possible. God’s given us brains, intelligence, creativity; and He fully expects us to use them, lovingly and wisely. 

God rejoices in those He has called into the medical profession, those who dedicate their life to serving the sick and dying. Would anyone dare suggest that they are acting against God, denying faith, leaving God out of the picture?

Experience teaches us clearly the ordinary way for healing to happen. We are called by God to apply everything we know that helps to cure people. Of course, miracles do happen. However, they tend to be extraordinary Divine interventions, where God steps in and heals the sick person.

Both are needed. “FAITH” in God, and the “GOOD WORKS” of the medical profession. There’s no need to become stuck in an “either/or” conundrum. We don’t have to choose between two competing remedies. Both are needed.

I once heard it expressed this way: “Believe, as if everything depended on God; and work, as if everything depended on you.”

So, let’s sum it all up: 

Yes, of course God will “guide your footsteps”, but don’t just stand there!

Gerry McCann

@themerry_monk

What’s your own healing experience ? Perhaps you’d care to leave a comment below. Thank you.

We saw, in Quote of the week 7, that one way to deal with someone’s aggression towards you  is to be a peacemaker. Let’s see a small family example:

Wife: “Stop shouting. I’ve had enough arguing and having a go at each other. I can’t stand it any more. Let’s stop fighting and just move on.”

Husband: “Yeah, you’re right. Does it really matter who’s right and who’s wrong? Let’s just get on with our life.”

What do you think?  Good idea, isn’t it?  They’ve focused on a positive outcome that they both want and appreciate. Peace has been restored.

However, that’s maybe as far as it goes. It’s a shallow peace. No-one’s actually admitted to being in the wrong, and neither feels the need for forgiveness. Forgiveness is not even mentioned.

Why forgiveness still helps

So, why might they need the further step of forgiveness? After all,  peace is restored. The fight’s over. Why not just leave well alone . . . and “move on?”

One reason might be that such a shallow peace alone is not enough. Why? Because the problem is that the solution is only half-baked. True, it’s better than nothing. But what’s left undone could still fester on, and come up again later.

After all, nothing’s really been resolved. The reason for the fight has been avoided: deliberately left hanging. It’s not gone away!

The whole thing could blow up again, the next time they have a disagreement. They’re tempted to think back to the previous occasion.

They latch on to the fact that the other person never actually admitted being in the wrong. They still blame the other person. They probably still felt deep inside that the pain hasn’t really gone away. The wound was never healed.

Forgiveness: a deeper peace

Forgiveness takes peacemaking to a whole new level. Forgiveness creates a profound inner peace of mind.

Forgiveness heals deep down. It restores a deeper, more authentic peace. It makes friends of enemies. It destroys the “blame game.” Husband and wife smile, kiss and make up, they feel good inside at a much deeper level.

As they say, “To err is human, to forgive is Divine.”

Gerry McCann

@themerry_monk

P.S  Feel free to share this Quote with a friend.

I turned 80 recently. My wife and had I spent weeks, trying to decide where to go, and what exciting things to do, in order to celebrate and enjoy yet another memorable milestone in my life.

In the end I decided on a simple, peaceful and profoundly moving experience. Looking at trees.

Visiting the grounds of an ancient Castle situated a short drive away from our home in Kent, UK.  We sat on an old wooden bench for quite a while, gazing up at the panorama of old trees all around us, filling our field of vision. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping gloriously. A tiny robin darted in and out, all around us and sat by my feet, almost like a messenger of peace.

Slowly ambling around, taking in the trees, the flowers, the formal gardens, the fields, the ancient stone walls.  Feeding our minds, bodies and spirits with the joy of just doing nothing.

Taking time out to just enjoy life. Feeling gratitude for nature in all her beauty, being grateful for just being alive.  We even treated ourselves to a rare ice-cream.

I was reminded of an old poem that has always been a favourite of mine, written in 1911 by W.H.Davies, the Welsh poet.

I often meditate on his opening lines “What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare?”

In our mad, frenetic modern world, full of haste, violence and stress, perhaps too few of us stop and meditate on the awesome beauty and wonder of nature all around us. For me personally, especially as a retired Christian Monk, I see heaven, I see God in every blade of grass, each perfect leaf of a tree.

Countless people suffer stressed-out lives. I have also known the sting of stress. Opening our eyes and ears to the beauty of nature all around us, helps us to slow down, take notice of the present moment and gain a little perspective. Trees radiate peace, not manic rush and stress.

Learn from the trees to pause and meditate. Ask yourself the poet’s question “What is this life?”

May I wish you lots of love and peace in your life?

Gerry McCann

@themerry_monk

P.S.   I’d love to learn how you find peace; please share your comments with the rest of us.

P.P.S  Feel free to share this Quote with a friend.

In this podcast we meditate on our Christian attitude and acceptance of sinners. In this we follow the command of Jesus.

Our Bible text for this meditation is  (Mat. 9:13)

“I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have come to call not the righteous but Sinners.” 

Peace and blessings to you and your loved-ones.

Rev. Gerry McCann

The Merry Monk

In this podcast we look at how much we need to move on after a fall out with a loved on or friend. Reconciliation is beautiful, one of the greatest human experiences we can have.

Thanks for listening. Peace, blessings and harmony to you and your loved-ones

Let’s all continue to help make our world a better place.

Gerry McCann

The Merry Monk

In this podcast we meditate on the question of Divine Healing. The Bible tells us God wants to heal us, yet often our experience is different. We discover what God really wants above all.

Our Bible text for this meditation is  (Mat. 9:6)

“He then said to the paralytic, stand up, take your bed, and go to your home.” 

Peace and blessings to you and your loved-ones.

Rev. Gerry McCann

The Merry Monk