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Jesus once affirmed that it is not what enters our bodies which defiles
us but that which comes out of our mouths, out of our hearts. Similarly
he speaks today about good fruit from good trees: "A man's words flow
out of what fills his heart". Our world is far more complicated and, in
many ways, far more corrupted than the world in which Jesus lived. If
Jesus were alive today, perhaps He would caution us more strongly about
what goes into our bodies and especially what goes into our souls
through our bodily senses, for what comes into our bodies and our souls can
very easily corrupt us, body and soul. The food and drink we consume,
the air we breathe, the sounds we hear, the things we look at: our
bodies and souls, our whole person, is continually under the influence of
external things. Both Sirach and Jesus remind us that our conversation, our words, are a good indication of what is inside us. Therefore they also reveal what we have taken in through our senses. If we constantly take in defiling rubbish, how can our words and attitudes ever come from a dignified and reverential heart and mind? Lord Jesus, fill our hearts with Your truth so that all our words may be instruments of Your truth. |
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P R A Y I N G W I T H T H E C H U R C H
| INTENTION : |
That children will never again be obliged to participate in
any war, but may be freed from hatred and violence and may live, as
children should, enjoying friendship in their family, school and society.
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The international community is increasingly recognising the
vulnerability of displaced children in refugee camps. They are at particular risk
of being exploited by armed groups. As recruited soldiers children
suffer disproportionately from the general rigours of military life.
Younger children may have deformed backs and shoulders, the result of
carrying loads too heavy for them. Malnutrition, respiratory and skin
infections and other ailments are frequent, as are sexually transmitted
diseases, including AIDS. The use of child soldiers also has repercussion on other children who remain in the conflict area. The risk, is that children will be killed, detained interrogated, or subject to pre-emptive recruitment. We must not close our eyes to the fact that child soldiers are not victims and perpetrators. No matter what the child is guilty of, the main responsibility lies with us, the adults. To stop this abuse, no child under 18 should be recruited for or participate in war. There is simply no excuse, no acceptable argument for arming children. | |
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