Monday 30 April 2012

Modern Warfare

The accused was unapologetic of the 77 deaths he caused by bombing and mass killing on July 22 in Norway; even blaming an ‘inconsiderate’ individual for parking a car on a strategic space that could have caused more people killed in the Parliament Building.
When asked how he learned to make a bomb, he said that he gathered the information from the internet.  In his testimony in court, the 33-year-old said he had read more than 600 internet bomb-making guides. He testified that he played the computer game “Modern Warfare” for 16 months starting in January 2010, primarily to get a feel for how to use rifle sights.

In many homes, children are confined in their bedrooms, playing non-stop video games. Parents tend to prefer their children to spend time in the digital universe rather than go out in the harsh environment of the real world. An expert commenting on the dangers of too much digital gaming in one’s life said that “Most parents today - who spend big bucks on these games to keep their kids busy - don't fully "understand" what's being taught with these video games.”

While psychologists would say that imagination and relaxation develop creativity; we all know that too much of anything can cause imbalanced thinking. Overindulgence brings about a habit, a vice that becomes a leech to one’s physical, emotional and spiritual life.  Patiently the devil takes control over one’s life, as he did with the self-confessed mass murderer in Norway.

Instead of busying in addictive virtual games, we can prevent Satan’s influence by keeping ourselves busy for God and for others. Fill the heart and mind with Godly-thoughts through Bible-reading and prayer. Do good deeds to others especially the least of our brothers and sisters. Render service to the Church and charitable institutions.

When we are filled with the Spirit of God; then the devil will flee. “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He (Jesus) that is in you, that he (the devil) that is in the world (real or virtual)” 1 John 4:4. In the war between good and evil; God is with certainty, the victor.

Monday 23 April 2012

Flowers

“The florist who has regularly decorated our church for so many years has asked to be relieved of her responsibility,” announced the priest, “and we thank her for all her services, as I ask for volunteers who can take over in this voluntary work.”

What happened after that announcement was extraordinary. When the mass ended at Mount Mary’s Church in Titirangi, two women approached one of the parish coordinators. They offered to attend to the task at hand, though they had no experience in floral arrangement, committing to defray the cost of the flowers.

Knowing that there was a shop just a few meters away from the church, the three individuals proceeded to the shop and conferred with the florist. By the time they left the shop, they obtained from the florist an assurance that she would make the flower arrangements and deliver these weekly in the parish, all for free.

The three proceeded back to the church to tell those who had remained about the good news. One parishioner who had been in the church for years, then told them that the florist, a non-Catholic, had undergone personal and business difficulties sometime ago. During that time, a churchgoer went to her shop to order flowers, and other than paying, gifted the florist with an image of the Virgin Mary. From then on, the florist’s business flourished, and she seemed to have been released from the burdens she carried.

God at times sends the most unexpected people to do the tasks for Him. Such was the case of David when he became a fugitive. “So David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam; and when his brothers and all his father’s household heard of it, they went down there to him. Everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him; and he became captain over them. Now there were about four hundred men with him.” (1 Samuel 22:1-2) These four hundred men were mostly rejects of society; yet they formed an army that defeated the tormentors of Israel.

We must therefore be wary of giving judgment on people. We must never have that “holier than thou” attitude. “No man may boast before God.” (1 Corinthians 1:29). For those whom you least expect to render help, may just be the instrument of God’s love.