The Presentation of Question 27 Chapter 12 : 3/3

 How does In God's Love 
written by Janet Hurlow
relate to 
the Catholic Faith ?

  Chapter 12 We Live a Live of Wisdom or Foolishness   
                        (continued ) 3/3

            Part 3 Things the Wise Exclude, Avoid or do not do  
                      Section 1 The Wise Exclude Satan from their Lives

566          The wise cast out evil and the evil one from their lives.  The messengers are very clear: “On the Earth, cast out evil.”(88)  We really do not want what the evil one has to offer.  The messengers explain, “Come, cast out this evil one.  In him is death, abandonment and darkness.  In him is falsehood and agony.  Man does not desire these things, and, in seeking them out, he sings a foolish song.”(89)   The wise confront the evil one with faith in God.  The messengers write, “Someone hates you, and his spirit will deceive you and tell you lies.  His heart is cold and cruel.  Speak, small ones.  Say to this spirit, ‘God is real, and you know He is real.’ Tell this evil spirit, ‘God is all you desire.’”(90)   “Cast out the bad signs and symbols, signs of death.”(91)

567           Not only do the wise cast out the evil one and reject him, but they reject his tools.  The Catechism states that all forms of divination, magic or sorcery are to be rejected.(92)  The messengers concur: “Put no trust in sorcery, black arts, witchcraft and magic.”(93)

                      Section 2 The Wise Avoid Satan

568           The wise apply the basic principle of morality to do good and avoid evil.  The messengers state, “People of Earth, when you do good and avoid evil, this is wise.”(94)   To avoid evil means, among other things, to fear and flee from Satan.  The messengers warn, “In this, understand: fear evil ways, but have no fear of God.”(95)  The messengers also write, “Only fear evil and flee from Satan and his adversaries.  Fear the displeasing of God.”(96)

569           We are to get rid of the evil one in our lives.  We are to rid ourselves of evil desires and rudeness.  The messengers write, “Such blessed rest is sent in spirits who are virtuous.  Cast out evil desires.  Wise are you to do so.”(97)   They also write, “Cast out such rude spirits.  Seek kindness in all your undertakings.”(98)

570           The wise avoid the temptations of Satan.  The messengers mention three specific temptations.  First, “In this time, be very cautious of places of Satan.  Do not take part in his pleasures.”(99)   The messengers did not elaborate on the details of the places of Satan.  Second, “Be careful of things seen on this television that make the small children inspired in such craft and super strength.  All this leads to a very sad craving.”(100)   I find it interesting that with all the unholy stuff on television, their only mention of television focuses on the evil of creating a desire for super power.  This is the opposite of the desire to be humble like our God.  “Craft” may be referring superpower craft or to witchcraft, sorcery, black arts and magic which are mentioned a few lines earlier in the passage.   Third, “Such things as promise great wealth and power are Satan’s games, and he is such a deceiver and the father of lies.  Put no trust in such schemes.”(101)   Not only power and wealth, but the promises of power and wealth are evil if we put our trust in them and not in God.

                      Section 3 The Wise Avoid Valuing Wealth

571           All of the sins against God and neighbor, such as stealing, cheating, killing, coveting, and crimes committed for wealth, have their root in the mistaken notion that wealth has value.  Yet as Catholics obedient to Christ and His Church, we are to get rid of our riches.  We are to toss them away.  According to the Catechism, “Jesus enjoins his disciples to prefer him to everything and everyone, and bids them "renounce all that [they have]" for his sake and that of the Gospel. <334> Shortly before his passion he gave them the example of the poor widow of Jerusalem who, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on.<335> The precept of detachment from riches is obligatory for entrance into the Kingdom of heaven.”(102)

572           With Christ and His Church the messengers agree, for they write, “Cast out all your jewels and treasures of Earth.  All your fine rings and precious diamonds and pearls, throw them all away, for they are metal and glass, stones and silk.”(103)   They also write that at some point in the future all the treasures are gone and all the effort and violence that has occurred for their possession amount to nothing: “Earth treasures are gone; such things as people of Earth cheated and died for in vain.”(104)   Regardless of when this point in the future comes, when we die, it comes for all of us.  As a popular saying goes, “you can’t take it with you.”

573           It is not that things, including wealth, in and of themselves are evil, it is that we mistakenly place value and importance on them rather than God.  We should put our trust in God, not in riches.  As the Catechism put it, “The Lord grieves over the rich, because they find their consolation in the abundance of goods.<340> ‘Let the proud seek and love earthly kingdoms, but blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.’<341> Abandonment to the providence of the Father in heaven frees us from anxiety about tomorrow. <342> Trust in God is a preparation for the blessedness of the poor. They shall see God.”(105)   Simply put the authors of In God’s Love write, “Cast your silver away and trust in God.”(106)

574           Wisdom is not in wealth, but is in God.  "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."(107)   In a beautiful summary and quote from Cardinal Newman, the Catechism states, “The beatitude we are promised confronts us with decisive moral choices. It invites us to purify our hearts of bad instincts and to seek the love of God above all else. It teaches us that true happiness is not found in riches or well-being, in human fame or power, or in any human achievement - however beneficial it may be - such as science, technology, and art, or indeed in any creature, but in God alone, the source of every good and of all love: ‘All bow down before wealth. Wealth is that to which the multitude of men pay an instinctive homage. They measure happiness by wealth; and by wealth they measure respectability.... It is a homage resulting from a profound faith ... that with wealth he may do all things. Wealth is one idol of the day’ <24>”(108)   The messengers would probably shake the Cardinal’s hand with agreement as they write, “O proud people who are above the poor, put your hands in your purses and toss it in the streets.  This is of no use.  Cry, O people who buy and spend.  There is only one God, and, soon, you shall see.  Wisdom is not in the money purse nor in fine cloth and rich laces.  Wisdom is not in a well set table nor luxuries nor the clashing of metal.  Wisdom is in God and His treasures mankind is yet to see.”(109)

575           Riches do not make us clean, for only the Holy Spirit can do that.  The messengers write, “Silver, in spirits, was not true wealth, and fine cloth did not make the spirit clean.  Neither did these things protect or save.  Those who sought the Holy Spirit and called on Him in suffering and temptation, they held true treasures.  Those who clothed the spirit with love and virtue were finely dressed and clean of body and spirit.”(110)

576           Wealth will not mean anything on our judgment day.  As the messengers write, “The hour is near when every person on the Earth must stand in God’s presence.  What will be worthwhile on that day?  Will it be wealth?  Will it be possessions or power?  Speak, sons of man.  What do you call worthwhile?  Here is where your treasure counts.  Here is your worth found.  It is not in Earthly possessions that you shall receive.  Count the treasures of your heart.”(111)   What is valuable is trust in the Lord, rest in the Lord’s wisdom for one’s security and wisdom, rest in the spirits of virtue and love to be clean and pleasing in the Lord’s sight.  None of these things come from wealth.  Wealth has no value.  We should toss it away.

                      Section 4 Things that the Wise do not do

577           The wise do not stay away from God.  Fear of the Lord can mean several things.  It can mean realizing that displeasing God is a bad thing.  This is the beginning of wisdom.  Fear of the Lord can mean an awareness of God the almighty, recognizing the fact that God is so much more than we are and is to be respected, worshiped and adored.  This is at the root of the first commandment.  One can also be afraid to approach God in prayer because of His awesomeness, and this is what the messengers mean when they say, “The Father is so gentle.  His voice is sweet and kind.  Father so kind, Spirit so gentle, Son so sacred, in your song is Earth’s hope.  Children of Earth, come close.  Do not fear God’s spirit.”(112)   They further clarify that we are to “Sing a love song to this sacred heart.  Here is His very Spirit.  Take it and see such comfort as you have never known.  Such things are sent to those of Earth who reach out and reach and put no limits on such reaching.  The thing that stops this reaching is fear.  Cast out fear.  In God, there is nothing to fear.  Never turn away from God.  In turning away is all fear seen.”(113) 

578           The wise do not wait to follow God.  This is what my mom meant when she said “the path to hell is paved with good intentions.”(114)   In the Gospels, Jesus constantly warns His followers to be watchful, to be ready, for they never know the hour that the Father will call.(115)   The messengers echo Jesus’ warning that the wise heed: “You do not know when God calls.  Be careful, lest you are called and you are not ready.  Many have waited until God called.  Yes, some came in.  Yes, many come in.  And many were too late.  Do not wait.”(116)

579           The wise are not prideful.  The messengers boldly announce that “Pride has no room in this chosen race of Earth children.  Cast her out.”(117)  Sometimes this pride can keep us from accepting gifts for they write, “Some people are great givers but are too proud to take….Those who do not take a gift from the giver present the language that they are better than the giver.”(118)   The messengers write that sometimes the gifts that God has for us are rejected or thrown away because of pride, and that is rejecting the friendship of God and the gift of eternal life with Him.(119)  
 
580           The wise are not bitter. The messengers write, “Remember, it is more blessed to bless then to curse.  Give up your bitterness.  Ask God to take it away, lest you be caught unaware with a bitter heart.”(120)
 
581           The wise are not violent.  The messengers warn, “Lift not the hand nor raise the voice in your distress.  Real is such courage.”(121) 

           Part 4 Characteristics of the Foolish

582           What are the characteristics of the foolish?  Without interruption, this is what the messengers write about the foolish in what I call, “The Tragedy of Fools.”

583           “Who on Earth is blind?  Those who do not understand who they are, those are the blind people on the Earth.  Those who do not obey God’s precepts are considered blind.”(122)   “God wishes to give and give of Himself.  So foolish are those who cannot see.”(123)   “How are you so wise?  Some are so sightless.  They see nothing.  God takes those who see with clean spirits.”(124)   “Earth is a strange place.  Such courage and wisdom are in some, while others do not see.  Earth people who should understand are so foolish.  Come, put away your foolish ways.  Put on the cloak of wisdom which is in God’s Spirit….Such sadness waits for those who are foolish.”(125)

584           “God calls all.  Many do not seek His love.”(126)   “Very foolish are you who do not seek God’s love.”(127)   “Why are such small ones so foolish who do not take what they want?  God’s love is free and beautiful.  O sons of man, God is kind, gentle and blessed.  In His Spirit, mercy reaches out to those who ask for it.  This is wisdom.  Small ones are given her while men of Earth who are learned are foolish.”(128)

585           “O blessed ones, bad is this craving for pleasure.  In men who are seeking such things to please the body and not the spirit, this is foolish.”(129)   “Earth is a strange place.  While they wait, her children look for happiness in such unusual places.”(130)   “O very foolish man who accepted a small portion for a minute when, in God’s Spirit, you could have had such riches forever.  Why were you so foolish in Earth’s toil?  Such misery you were in, and you chose this sorrow and death forever.”(131)   “Some are …  so soiled and foolish,”(132)  (and) “much mischief is seen in his heart.”(133)   “Bitter are the songs of the wicked.”(134)

586           “Those who do not sing with God’s Spirit sing the saddest song of all.  It was a song that was most beautiful.  It is a song of a sweet, pure spirit that sang of God’s love long ago; one who began to bless the Earth with the most lovely singing.  Then the song began to change, and the singer became soiled and bitter.  The spirits of God began to sing of a spirit who had lost its beauty.  They sang of a lost soul whom they had loved and trusted long ago.  The song was so sad, it made the tears flow.”(135)  

           Part 5  Summary

587           As in the previous chapters, a vast number of the theological and moral statements are the same as the Catholic Church and even expressed in the same manner.  God makes the heart clean and pardons many sins of those who love, for each gesture of love reaches God’s heart.  The saints of God are the wise ones who desire to do good and avoid evil.  The wise seek wisdom, understanding, instruction, humility, the Holy Spirit, God, and God’s mercy.  The wise are honest, clean of heart, full of faith, innocent as a small child with pleasant secrets, peaceful, joyful, gentle, humble, simple, poor, courageous, and virtuous.  The wise pray and study the Bible, for it is the greatest book and it teaches people how to live.  The wise call upon God when tempted, love others, smile, tell the truth, have common sense, live each day as if it is the last, help the poor and mingle with them and become the poor, for wealth has no value.  The wise bless people and have self-control, especially over their speech.  The wise work, for work is our blessing.  The wise accept their cross, take up their cross for Christ, and are willing to die for Christ.  The wise avoid or cast out the evil one and flee him.  They cast out signs of death, evil desires, rudeness, treasures, pride, violence and bitterness. The wise do not do sorcery, witchcraft, or magic.  The wise do not wait to follow God, and they fear displeasing Him.  The wise do not fear to approach God.  Those who go to heaven are wise, for they are clean of heart, courageous, peaceful and persecuted.

588           The foolish are blind for they do not seek God’s love.  The foolish are sinful, full of mischief in their heart, crave pleasure, and are bitter.  The foolish may be learned, but they are fools, for they reject eternal riches for what quickly passes.  It is very sad that some of the foolish were wise when they were younger and have become a lost soul as they have grown older, but not wiser.

589           One could perhaps argue that some of the above could go in this next list or vice versa.  The following are theological and moral statements that agree with the Tradition of the Catholic Church, but things are expressed differently, or perhaps taken a little further than we have traveled with our doctrine.  Good desires lead to good actions.  God is the author of pure thoughts and those with purity of heart see more clearly.  The spirit of virtue unlocks God’s  bounty.  The spirit of wisdom enjoys the poor and humble.  We are to take up our cross for the cross is our channel to heaven.  We are to avoid having children watch TV that makes them want superpowers.  The promises of power and wealth are Satan’s games.  While some things maybe phrased differently, I do not see where any of this Chapter contradicts the Catholic faith.

  The next section in Part Two   Chapter 13  We Pray   1/4