Wolves And Doves

Wolves are lording it over the world today. There are the ravenous wolves, extremists and terrorists who prey on the weak and the defenseless while sowing fear and terror. There are other wolves no less insatiable in their greed who portray themselves as men of honor and integrity. Yet, they have harmed more people that terrorists who outrightly kill others.

Look at what is happening in Greece which is in danger of defaulting on her loans. And the financial markets are in panic. Common and ordinary people are condemned to lives of austerity and hardships just to make sure that their country’s creditors and the banks are paid their last penny. Never mind that it would cause untold misery for millions.

In contrast, the same bankers and financial people do not seem to be as worried with what is happening in China. Because of the plunge in its stock markets, China has lost 15 Greeces in market cap in the past three weeks. These same honorable men, who claim to love freedom and democracy, know that China will eventually use an iron hand to try to bring back order into their now totally intractable stock markets.

Meanwhile, in his current trip to Latin America, the Pope continues to proclaim the good news and champions the cause of the poor and underprivileged calling for society to provide them with “land, lodgings and labor.” He has declared many times that the trickle-down economics does not work, because of the honorable men who control the flow from the spigot. Shrewd as a serpent yet simple as a dove, Pope Francis calls on all men of goodwill to work for the change of these unjust structures. He demands reform of an intolerable global economic system. These changes will have to be the work of not just individuals countries but of all countries and other social institutions in the world working in dialogue and harmony; while minding and caring for the earth and her resources.

The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
~ Psalm 37

Jesus said to his Apostles:
“Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves;
so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.
But beware of men,
for they will hand you over to courts
and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake
as a witness before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over,
do not worry about how you are to speak
or what you are to say.
You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak
but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Brother will hand over brother to death,
and the father his child;
children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved.
When they persecute you in one town, flee to another.
Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel
before the Son of Man comes.”
Matthew 10:16-23