Comments on: Saturday September 19, 2020: Let Those Who Have Ears, Hear

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sun, 20 Sep 2020 11:05:25 +0000

Mercy is mercy is mercy. No matter who we are or what we have done, it is God’s to give. Jesus forgave while dying on the cross. We pray for Mary to show us mercy and we helped put her son on that cross.
God have mercy on all of us and help us to show others the mercy and compassion that we receive from you each moment of our lives.

By: George

George — Sun, 20 Sep 2020 08:57:45 +0000

My ears don’t work so well. After years of increasing hearing loss when hearing aids became no longer effective for me, I received a marvelous scientific and medical blessing, a cochlear implant. While this device is far from perfect and does not compare to natural hearing, it allows me to understand most speech in one-on-one conversations in quiet, noise free environments. Currently I struggle with the difficult decision of choosing whether to again, three years later, undergo surgery for a second, bilateral implant. I have come to learn through all of this that hearing is not to be taken for granted and that hearing and understanding are two entirely different thing. Jesus – rabbi, teacher and God – used parables unambiguously to deliver truths and instruct. No relativism. May God bless you, John, and all who write for “A Catholic Moment”, abundantly for assistance and instruction to understand His words and our faith! Thank you, John, for your followup comments and clarification to the story about Elizabeth and Sarah! I needed to hear you say that Elizabeth did make a bad choice and that abortion is murder of an innocent life. Nonetheless, we must show love, mercy and forgiveness to ALL people but hate and avoid sin and wrongdoing.
Let those who have ears, hear the truth and discern the will of God!

By: John Ciribassi

John Ciribassi — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 21:43:20 +0000

Jan
Yes, you are correct about Elizabeth. I actually modeled her from Busy Phillips. The actress who shouted out her joy at aborting her child while her career was getting started. Her character is contrasted with Sarah who gave up her career to raise her child. She died to herself in order for the life within her to grow and grow abundantly. She was the seed that died. She gave up her life to have life to the full eternally. The mercy Sarah received was her entrance through the narrow gate when her time comes. We may not be rewarded in this life for our sacrifices but will be in the next. But, regardless of the decisions made, we should show love and mercy to all. Elizabeth made a bad choice, but she is still a child of God and is due the same love God shows to us. We can only hope that she sees the light of God in us, recognizes her sin, and returns to the Father before the end of her days.

By: Jan

Jan — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 18:34:16 +0000

Well John, thanks for your response. However, in your story, Elizabeth certainly showed no remorse or repentance and I was left feeling she sacrificed her child for her own success. Then you ended with a scripture that whoever loves their life will lose it. There appeared no mercy for her.

By: John Ciribassi

John Ciribassi — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 17:02:10 +0000

I have struggled to not jump in and “reveal” my thoughts on this posting. But a parable is meant to stimulate discussion and it is intended to communicate different messages depending on the one doing the hearing. What I did not want to do is squash those things by jumping in too early. First of all, I would like to affirm that I am solidly pro-life. Abortion is a grievous sin. It is the murder of the pre-born..of innocent life. But I also wanted to show with the story that for many, the decision to terminate a pregnancy does not come easily. For some it is a selfish and indifferent act but for others it is a soul searching and spirit damaging choice. One that many pay the price for, especially the child victim.

But my story was also meant to say how God’s mercy and forgiveness is infinite. That even the most serious of sins, is forgiven by God to the one who comes to the understanding of the nature of that sin and is truly repentant. And if God can forgive the worst of sins, can we not also follow the example He sets for us. Mercy and forgiveness grow out of love. The love we should all have for each other.

Finally, Sarah gave up her dream. Gave up a piece of herself. She died to herself and in the process gave life to Jamie who then shared her fruits with the world. That seed that died when Sarah made the decision to keep her baby grew abundantly in Jamie and beyond. It is what happened to the seed that fell on fertile soil. The single seed died, no longer existed in its original form. But only through this death could growth have occurred.

Let those who have ears, hear.

By: Lynne

Lynne — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 15:55:42 +0000

This story exhibits the gift of discernment that each of us receives through the sacrament of confirmation. The Holy Spirit is always ready to assist and provide the blueprint in making decisions in life. Absence of this or lack of it one applies free wheeling of the intellect all surrounded with inadequacies. It spoke volumes of the importance of the gift of wisdom.

By: Mary Anne

Mary Anne — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 13:48:47 +0000

I also cannot tie up today’s readings with the story. However, we have seen God’s mercy exhibited in both cases. Who are we to judge?

By: Helen

Helen — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 13:42:45 +0000

Elizabeth’s faith was choked by weeds while Sarah’s grew in fertile soil.Hence the decision that each one made.In the end,who was the spiritually richer of the two?
That’s my understanding of John’s reflection.