Posted on 05/02/2014 2:51:18 PM PDT by NYer
.- In his daily homily on May 2, Pope Francis said that he wept over recent news of Christians allegedly being crucified, reflecting that there are still many martyrs in today’s world.
“I cried when I saw reports on the news of Christians crucified in a certain country, that is not Christian,” the Pope said, according to Vatican Radio, during morning Mass in the chapel of his residence.
In recent weeks, media groups have circulated images that appear to be individuals bound to wooden crosses, allegedly in Syria. The identity and religious faith of the persons pictured have not been confirmed, nor has it been confirmed whether they were actually killed from crucifixion. Some appear to have been shot in the head and then attached to a cross.
In his homily, Pope Francis first commented on Christ’s love for people. This is seen in the Gospel passage of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, he said, where Jesus “speaks, preaches, loves, accompanies, travels on the path with people, meek and humble.”
Jesus is aware of the needs of the people, and he serves them, the pontiff said. The authority with which he speaks is “the power of love.”
The Pope contrasted this with the jealousy of the religious authorities in Christ’s time, caught up in “cold, hard legality.”
“They couldn’t stand the fact that people followed Jesus! They couldn’t stand it!” he said. “They were jealous.”
“This is a really bad attitude to have,” he explained, pointing out that the father of envy is the devil, and it was through his envy and jealousy that evil entered the world.
In fact, the pontiff asserted, the religious authorities “knew who Jesus was,” and they were the same people who later “paid the guard to say that the disciples had stolen Christ’s body!”
“They had paid to silence the truth. People can be really evil sometimes!” Pope Francis said, suggesting that this evilness is why the people would not follow them.
Such evil does not accept Christ’s meekness and love, he said. Rather, it turns to hate.
Turning to the daily reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the Pope noted that the religious leaders were asked by a “wise man,” Gamaliel, to free the arrested apostles.
Instead, however, “with their political maneuvering, with their ecclesiastical maneuvers to continue to dominate the people ... they called the apostles and had them flogged and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus. Then they freed them.”
This injustice is still the case today, he lamented: “there are these people who kill and persecute, in the name of God.”
However, we can draw encouragement from the “joy of witness,” illustrated by the Christian martyrs, Pope Francis said, noting that “today there are still so many” martyrs in the world.
“Just think that in some countries, you can go to jail for just carrying a Gospel. You may not wear a crucifix or you will be fined.”
“But the heart rejoices,” he underscored, reflecting on “the joy of so many of our brothers and sisters who have felt this joy in history, this joy that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Christ’s name.”
Could you imagine the uproar in the mainstream media that we would see if a member of a politically favored class of people was crucified for who or what they are? There would be front page headlines for weeks. But because members of a politically favored class (Muslims) are doing it to members of a non-politically favored class (Christians), it is not newsworthy at all according to the media. In many instances, Christians are being crucified by jihadists that are actually being assisted and funded by the governments of the United States and Saudi Arabia. Yes, our tax dollars are being used to help arm and supply radical jihadists that are beheading and crucifying Christians. And yet none of the big media organizations considers this to be news.
Why Is The Media Silent About The Crucifixion Of Christians By Radical Jihadists?
Because the Jihadists are the media's Best Friends Forever.
I think there are people out there, that what they wish they could do is kill at will. These people admire murderous dictators, they admire the Islamic murderers. They wish they had the nerve to do the same and lived in a society that would let them get away with it.
That is not what the Left sees in the Jihadists. They see a persecuted minority which shares their hatred of the West.
Maybe. “Shares their hatred of the West,” definitely, but why do they hate “the West”? Because the West has a social organization other than, “Who can, may.” Communism does not. Islam does not. Gun-toting anarchy, as in Somalia or Mexico, does not.
For the same reason a spoiled child hates his parents.
And the current occupant of the oval office cried when he heard that his bosom buddies were hurt when they attacked the Christians.
And children hate their parents because the parents prevent them from eliminating every obstacle to their acting on the whim of the moment.
Its not hard to imagine Gays being nailed to the cross in some fanatic Muslim states—maybe even women who disobey their Master-husbands. Wait til children are nailed to the cross in large numbers. Maybe the Pope will call for a Crusade? Someone—anyone-—needs to stop this. Putin? Sarkozy? LePen? Ted Cruz? Camrone? Merkle? Anyone speak up for Middle East Christians?
Nope. Western Christians delude themselves about Islam, reaching out in friendship, and the secularists hate Christians.
Islam is persecuting and martyring Christians on a scale not seen since the days of Nero, yet the west remains silent.
First They Came for the Jews
First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.
Pastor Martin Niemöller
Community and individuality are not opposites. People cannot survive on their own. When the odds are stacked against you, you must rally with the oppressed and hated.
When a growing oppressive regime is taking hold, you must act, otherwise you will soon face your enemy alone and hopeless.
Strength of community is a strength as much as individualism, as long you are willing to face weaknesses in your own community. Ignoring slacking values will mean that you will be rallied against by those you oppress.
Niemöller affirms we must rally against unhealthy organized regimes. We must also stay vigilant with those that appear to be good natured, as all organisation attracts corruption. Niemöller also warns us that if it is you who are corrupt, then you will face a stronger combined force of foe!
Vexen Crabtree
Posted this earlier today ...
An Islamic militant group, Boko Haram, which means “Western education is a sin,” has been linked with over 1500 deaths since the start of the year. They have reportedly bombed churches and mosques, kidnapped women and children and assassinated politicians and leaders.
Agreed. It is not a Christian country, it is a Muslim country.
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