omekau on Nostr: “A good intention (for example, that of helping one’s neighbor) does not make ...
“A good intention (for example, that of helping one’s neighbor) does not make behavior that is intrinsically disordered, such as lying and calumny, good or just. The end does not justify the means.” - The Morality of Human Acts, CCC 1753
This gripping historical fiction written by a Japanese Catholic tells the story of Portuguese missionaries in 17th century Japan. Following the life of Father Rodrigues, the reader is faced with a multitude of dilemmas ranging from truth, evil, morality, duty, salvation, pride, faith, forgiveness, love, and most importantly the “silence” of God. Silence can be deafening. And yet, love is deeper than silence. In the silence of the night the second Person of the Trinity, God, who is love, entered the world in Bethlehem. We must never believe the devil when he says truth doesn’t matter, that lying can be an act of love, or that God is absent. Rodrigues believed the devil’s falsehoods and ended up no better than Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Christ. Pride is the root of all sin and Rodrigues failed to sacrifice his ego when he was called to do so in a form of spiritual martyrdom. When the devil wants to play us one-on-one in a game of chess, we will lose no matter what. Do we have the courage to knock the board away and cooperate with God’s grace? Christ has already won and as St. Augustine once said “as an artist, God makes use even of the devil”.
“Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
Thanks to my friend for this thought provoking recommendation!
#godstr #biblestr #christianity #catholic #catholicism
This gripping historical fiction written by a Japanese Catholic tells the story of Portuguese missionaries in 17th century Japan. Following the life of Father Rodrigues, the reader is faced with a multitude of dilemmas ranging from truth, evil, morality, duty, salvation, pride, faith, forgiveness, love, and most importantly the “silence” of God. Silence can be deafening. And yet, love is deeper than silence. In the silence of the night the second Person of the Trinity, God, who is love, entered the world in Bethlehem. We must never believe the devil when he says truth doesn’t matter, that lying can be an act of love, or that God is absent. Rodrigues believed the devil’s falsehoods and ended up no better than Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Christ. Pride is the root of all sin and Rodrigues failed to sacrifice his ego when he was called to do so in a form of spiritual martyrdom. When the devil wants to play us one-on-one in a game of chess, we will lose no matter what. Do we have the courage to knock the board away and cooperate with God’s grace? Christ has already won and as St. Augustine once said “as an artist, God makes use even of the devil”.
“Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
Thanks to my friend for this thought provoking recommendation!
#godstr #biblestr #christianity #catholic #catholicism