[This post was originally published as a page on April 6, 2021, and is now re-posted properly].
6 APRIL
So some do not like the symbolism of the Cross of Jesus in the Good Friday liturgy, a liturgy which incidentally had undergone considerable revision as a result of the recent interfaith dialogues.
The “some” do not appreciate the Cross as a model for the lives of Christians as the Crucified One called upon any who follow Him to deny themselves, “take up their own cross, and follow Him”.
Indeed, the primary significance of the Crucifixion among its many meanings is that of self-denial.
It is not about ‘WWJD’, but of What Did Jesus Do? But for this culture, self-denial is not a primary issue, and Good Friday is no longer an obligatory observance as it was 60 years ago. In many countries it remains a national holiday. It never was in the United States. We just regarded it as the thing to do.
For two world wars, a lengthy economic Depression, and the Korean conflict taught us culturally that self-denial was something of an assumption. Not everyone lived it. But then many did.
Because they chose that symbolism of the ultimate Self-denial, and lived it to the full.
Thankfully, many still do.
TAXATION WITHOUT CONTROL??
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen wants cooperation with other nations to establish a global corporate tax. Included in her proposal is a restriction to prevent corporations from moving to other countries to escape taxation that they regard as oppressive in their own countries.
She has yet to say how this tax is to be collected and distributed?
And by whom?
EQUALITY ACT? THINK TWICE, AND THEN SOME…
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, speaks out against the misnamed “Equality Act” passed by the House of Representatives and sent to the Senate. The link to this excellent summary is here: https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2021/03/74791/
The article of March 16 entitled, “Stand Against Unjust Discrimination: Oppose the Equality Act” correctly notes that, “The Equality Act takes us in a different direction. While the name sounds appealing—who is not in favor of equality?—the Equality Act is actually deeply intolerant. It forces a highly contested understanding of human nature on all people, and it goes out of its way to target people of faith.”
This unjust legislation goes far beyond a complete repudiation of the “Religious Freedom Restoration Act” of 1993. It in effect nullifies the First Amendment protections of freedom of expression in addition to that of religious belief.
Orwellian control,,, And believe that under the oppression created by this law, “You will have the right to remain silent”.Or else!
A RELINQUISHED CONTROL!
FYI, today is “New Beer’s Eve”! For at 12:01, then President Roosevelt famously declared on the heels of the repeal of Prohibition, “I think it would be a good time for a beer!”
For National Beer Day is at hand! Enjoy!