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The parable illustrates the importance of not only hearing Jesus' words but also of doing His will in one's life. Faith without works is sterile. Enthusiastic and ecstatic, prayerful singing or shouting, 'Lord! Lord!' devoid of concrete actions of obedience to God's will, amounts to a mere mockery of religion. 'Hearing and doing' should be the watchword and touchstone of discipleship. To believe is to do the will of God. For didn't Jesus go to the Cross saying, "Not my will but yours be done?" It is certainly not easy to build a house on rock, for one needs to dig deep and one cannot see the building take shape for a long while. So too, to be quiet in prayer and wait on God's word to be fulfilled requires patience and absolute trust. But the Lord is an "everlasting rock" on whom we can rely totally, without 'fear' as in Isaiah. Making God the centre of our life is what we mean when we pray the 'Our Father'. May His Kingdom rule us and take over our lives to such an extent that we too can say with our every breath: "Not my will Lord, but yours be done in and through me". Lord, I want to do Your will. |
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P R A Y I N G W I T H T H E C H U R C H
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That the celebration of the Jubilee may become the source of a new commitment in men and women of good will to protect and promote human life.
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In the threshold of the year 2001, it is our duty to renew our commitment to safeguarding the dignity of the poor and marginalised and to recognise in a practical way the rights of those who have no rights. This is the spirit of the new millennium which presupposes the following: The basic right to life which is inviolable which involves a positive choice for life. The development of a culture of this kind embraces all the circumstances of life and ensures the promotion of human dignity in every situation. Recent developments in the field of genetic engineering present a profoundly disquieting challenge. In order that scientific research in this area may be at the service of the person, it must be accompanied at every stage by careful ethical reflection, which will bring about adequate legal norms safeguarding the integrity of human life. Life can never be downgraded to the level of a thing. To choose life involves rejecting every form of violence. In every circumstance, the right to life must be promoted and safeguarded with appropriate legal and political guarantees. Let us raise our voices on their behalf. | |
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