Friday, November 27, 2020

Goodness

The world is filled with trouble and always has been.  Watching the news is depressing. It could make you believe the old Protestant teachings - that man is by nature sinful and unclean - utterly depraved.

The great miracle is that there is more goodness than bad in the world and what is more amazing is that at the heart of every person - no matter who they are and what they have done - lives a capacity to change and progress and become like God.

It is in the book of Moses chapter 6 where this is made clear.

Moses 6: 54
The sins of the parents cannot be answered upon the heads of the children for they are whole from the foundation of the world.

It then goes on to explain in verses 55-57
... Even so when they begin to grow up, send conceived it in their hearts and they taste the bitter that they may know to price the good.
And it is given unto them to know good from evil: wherefore they are agents unto themselves, and I have given unto you another law and commandment. Wherefore teach it on to your children, that all men, everywhere, must repent..."

We MUST believe in the innate goodness of humans - their divine nature.  We MUST believe in the goodness that is possible. We must join hands with God in helping all his children to "return home", which means they become like God, realizing their full potential.  That happens when we finally understand God's plan for His children: Who am I?  Where did I come from?  What is the purpose of my life?  Where am I going?

Knowing the Gospel truths helps us to fulfill our potential because we "remember" who we are.

Those of us blessed to know that about ourselves have the privilege of sharing that with the world.  I have always loved the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi.  It inspires me to bring God's peace into the world.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace on earth.
Lord, let me thy servant be.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is offence, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine master
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love

For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Saint Francis of Assisi 1182 - 1226

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.