Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Sirach,
Chapter 19, Verse 18-20
18 Fear
of the Lord is the beginning of acceptance; and wisdom from him obtains love. 19
Knowledge of the Lord’s commandments is
life-giving instruction; those who do what pleases him will harvest the fruit
of the tree of immortality. 20 All wisdom is fear of the LORD; and in all wisdom, the
observance of the Law.
Being calm under
pressure or threat is the ultimate way we can show trust in God. Here are some
more verses to ponder on calming down:[1]
Be
angry but do not sin; do not let the sun set on your anger, and do not leave room for the devil. (Ep.
4:26-27)
For God
did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and
self-control. (2Tm. 1:7)
He hushed the storm to silence; the waves of the sea were stilled.
They rejoiced that the sea grew calm, that God brought them to the harbor
they longed for. (Ps. 107:29-30)
He got into a boat and
his disciples followed him. Suddenly a violent storm came
up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep.
They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” He said to
them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked
the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. The men were
amazed and said, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea
obey?” (Mt. 8:23-27)
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
IV. OFFENSES AGAINST THE DIGNITY OF
MARRIAGE
Other
offenses against the dignity of marriage
2387 The predicament of a man who, desiring to convert to the Gospel, is
obliged to repudiate one or more wives with whom he has shared years of
conjugal life, is understandable. However polygamy is not in accord with
the moral law." [Conjugal] communion is radically contradicted by
polygamy; this, in fact, directly negates the plan of God which was revealed
from the beginning, because it is contrary to the equal personal dignity of men
and women who in matrimony give themselves with a love that is total and
therefore unique and exclusive."180 The Christian who has previously lived
in polygamy has a grave duty in justice to honor the obligations contracted in
regard to his former wives and his children.
2388 Incest designates intimate relations between relatives or in-laws
within a degree that prohibits marriage between them. St. Paul stigmatizes
this especially grave offense: "It is actually reported that there is
immorality among you for a man is living with his father's wife. In the name of
the Lord Jesus you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the
flesh." Incest corrupts family relationships and marks a regression toward
animality.
2389 Connected to incest is any sexual abuse perpetrated by adults on
children or adolescents entrusted to their care. The offense is compounded
by the scandalous harm done to the physical and moral integrity of the young,
who will remain scarred by it all their lives; and the violation of responsibility
for their upbringing.
2390 In a so-called free union, a man and a woman refuse to give juridical
and public form to a liaison involving sexual intimacy. The expression
"free union" is fallacious: what can "union" mean when the
partners make no commitment to one another, each exhibiting a lack of trust in
the other, in himself, or in the future? The expression covers a number of
different situations: concubinage, rejection of marriage as such, or inability
to make long-term commitments. All these situations offend against the dignity
of marriage; they destroy the very idea of the family; they weaken the sense of
fidelity. They are contrary to the moral law. The sexual act must take place
exclusively within marriage. Outside of marriage it always constitutes a grave
sin and excludes one from sacramental communion.
2391 Some today claim a "right to a trial marriage" where there is
an intention of getting married later. However firm the purpose of those
who engage in premature sexual relations may be, "the fact is that such
liaisons can scarcely ensure mutual sincerity and fidelity in a relationship
between a man and a woman, nor, especially, can they protect it from inconstancy
of desires or whim." Carnal union is morally legitimate only when a definitive
community of life between a man and woman has been established. Human love does
not tolerate "trial marriages." It demands a total and definitive gift
of persons to one another.
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