in religious faith, but the light of understanding is also needed.
Now, in His second advent, the Lord has rejoined what human error put
asunder – namely, the Divine and the Human. He has done this in the new
revelation of His Word, which clearly demonstrates that the Lord Jesus Christ
is the One God of heaven and earth.
In the New Church founded upon that revelation the Lord’s two advents
make one, the second confirming and completing the work begun in the first.
His birth in Bethlehem takes on new depths of meaning in the New Church,
which adds greatly to the joy of its celebration.
(WEO)
‘today’s job is . . . ’
This tagline has become familiar from the brief texts and photos our son sends
to keep the family up to date on his current projects. But that phrase, “today’s
job is,” could also serve as a reminder of the spiritual project we are all working
on throughout our lives: namely, our regeneration.
The world’s troubles are always with us. “In the world you will have
tribulation,” the Lord said. But whatever difficult circumstances or disturbing
news each day brings, our spiritual task for that day is to turn away from evil
and toward good.
Except for our own actions, we have little or no control over the things
that happen in the world; our main work in that regard is how we respond to
them, beginning with how we deal with them in our own mind.
This inner work of learning to respond with humility, patience, charity
and trust in the Lord’s providence is more important than what happens in the
world around us.
Today’s job is to become a little better at doing justly, loving mercy, and
walking humbly with our God.
(WEO)
finding freedom in god’s laws
We reprint an editorial on page 556 that I wrote for a daily newspaper in
Pennsylvania 36 years ago when Pope John Paul II visited Philadelphia. This
reprint is prompted by a return visit by Pope Francis in September this year,
and the similar themes in their visits. Throughout some 30 years of writing
editorials and columns I was always conscious of the special opportunity I
had to bring a New Church perspective to issues without being obvious or
overbearing about it.
I was also pleased how often this perspective was appreciated and reflected
in the response of readers – a humbling reminder that everything good and
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