Author: By the Rev. Richard Feyen, February 19, 2011
Source: http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20110219/ADV06/102190442/Faith-Perspective-Harmony-is-a-worthy-goal
Andrew Lloyd Webber's song "Look With Your Heart" is a song about love that suggests that we would do well to listen to what our hearts say: "The heart always knows," go the lyrics.
The heart knows, feels and gives strong clues to what is right about the world around us. Mr. Webber's song refers to the relationship between two lovers, but I would like to suggest that we heed that advice in every aspect of our lives.
What does our heart tell us about what is right and wrong in the world today?
What does our heart tell us about what is right or wrong in our own community?
What does our heart tell us about what the Spirit of God is telling us even today as we consider issues that face us, and how do we react and interact in every arena of life?
God speaks to us today through the Holy Spirit, through messengers of God with whom we live and encounter, and through the wisdom of the community of which we are all a part. What is God saying about the way we are separating ourselves from one another in such a wide variety of ways?
I believe that Jesus' message and mission on earth was one of bringing people together and to God (reconciliation). If our responsibility is to carry forward that mission and keep that message alive, what are we doing to further that task?
In the simplest of terms, Jesus' message, the law of neighbor love and the Ten Commandments are all about building a better community.
What does our heart really tell us about what we are doing in our individual lives and in the world to build a better community? Whether in politics or in life telling someone they are just wrong demeans and separates. Acceptance, tolerance and belief in loving one another bring people together.
The root definition of the word "sin" is "to separate," to separate is doing something, that divides one person from another or from God. Therefore, if the opposite of separateness is togetherness (reconciliation), then the opposite of "sin" is bringing people together. Our mission as faithful people, then, is to build avenues on which people of all backgrounds can come together. This can be hard. Especially hard after generations of setting ourselves apart or defining our beliefs in terms or how we are different.
If we could only begin to look at all the ways in which we are similar, Christians, Jews and Muslims might honestly find ways toward peace. The great theologian and writer Hans Kung said, "Until there is peace between religions, there can be no peace in the world." When we look about at the strife in the world today, religion is at the heart of nearly all conflicts.
However, if we cannot find common ground among ourselves as Christians, how can we hope to find common ground with others? Thich Nhat Hanh said in his book, "Living Buddha, Living Christ," "Our capacity to make peace with another person and with the world depends very much on our capacity to make peace with ourselves."
Look with your heart and see the possibilities. Hear the words of another song speak as well: "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me." Seek a place of worship that speaks to your heart and seek peace among all people.
Source: http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20110219/ADV06/102190442/Faith-Perspective-Harmony-is-a-worthy-goal
Andrew Lloyd Webber's song "Look With Your Heart" is a song about love that suggests that we would do well to listen to what our hearts say: "The heart always knows," go the lyrics.
The heart knows, feels and gives strong clues to what is right about the world around us. Mr. Webber's song refers to the relationship between two lovers, but I would like to suggest that we heed that advice in every aspect of our lives.
What does our heart tell us about what is right and wrong in the world today?
What does our heart tell us about what is right or wrong in our own community?
What does our heart tell us about what the Spirit of God is telling us even today as we consider issues that face us, and how do we react and interact in every arena of life?
God speaks to us today through the Holy Spirit, through messengers of God with whom we live and encounter, and through the wisdom of the community of which we are all a part. What is God saying about the way we are separating ourselves from one another in such a wide variety of ways?
I believe that Jesus' message and mission on earth was one of bringing people together and to God (reconciliation). If our responsibility is to carry forward that mission and keep that message alive, what are we doing to further that task?
In the simplest of terms, Jesus' message, the law of neighbor love and the Ten Commandments are all about building a better community.
What does our heart really tell us about what we are doing in our individual lives and in the world to build a better community? Whether in politics or in life telling someone they are just wrong demeans and separates. Acceptance, tolerance and belief in loving one another bring people together.
The root definition of the word "sin" is "to separate," to separate is doing something, that divides one person from another or from God. Therefore, if the opposite of separateness is togetherness (reconciliation), then the opposite of "sin" is bringing people together. Our mission as faithful people, then, is to build avenues on which people of all backgrounds can come together. This can be hard. Especially hard after generations of setting ourselves apart or defining our beliefs in terms or how we are different.
If we could only begin to look at all the ways in which we are similar, Christians, Jews and Muslims might honestly find ways toward peace. The great theologian and writer Hans Kung said, "Until there is peace between religions, there can be no peace in the world." When we look about at the strife in the world today, religion is at the heart of nearly all conflicts.
However, if we cannot find common ground among ourselves as Christians, how can we hope to find common ground with others? Thich Nhat Hanh said in his book, "Living Buddha, Living Christ," "Our capacity to make peace with another person and with the world depends very much on our capacity to make peace with ourselves."
Look with your heart and see the possibilities. Hear the words of another song speak as well: "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me." Seek a place of worship that speaks to your heart and seek peace among all people.
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