RELIGION AND ART

You may be wise, but if you cheat someone, you are acting like a fool. If you take a bribe, you ruin your character. The end of anything is better than its beginning. Patience is better than pride. Ecc. 7:7-8

Do not challenge a person who has influence, you may fall into his power. Do not quarrel with someone rich, he may bribe people to turn against you. Gold has destroyed many people and corrupted kings. Don't argue with someone who talks too much, you just be adding fire. Don't make fun of someone who has bad manners, he may insult your ancestors. Don't criticize someone if he/she is already turning away from sin. Remember that we are all guilty. Never think less of someone, because he is old, some of us are growing old too. Don't be happy over the death of anyone, remember that all of us must die.  Sir.8:1-7

A wise ruler will educate his people, and his government will be orderly. All the officials and all the citizens will be like their ruler. An uneducated king will ruin his people, but a government will grow strong if the rulers are wise.  The Lord sees to the government of the world and brings the right person to power at the right time. The success of that person is in the Lord's hands.  The Lord is the source of the honour given to any official. Sir. 10:1-5

Keep a close watch on yourself, my son, in everything you do, and discipline yourself in all your conduct. Do to no one what you yourself dislike. Give to the hungry some of your bread, and to the naked some of your clothing. Whatever you have left over, give away as alms. At all times bless the Lord God, and ask him to make all your paths straight and to grant success to all your endeavours and plans. Tobit 4:14b-15a, 16 ab, 19 Prayer of the Church P.P.

This is what I will do in the last days, God says: I will pour out my Spirit on everyone. Your sons and daughters will proclaim my message; your young men will see visions, and your old men will have dreams. Yes, even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will proclaim my message. I will perform miracles in the sky above, and wonders on the earth below. Acts 2:17-19

We all know that people can be so fascinated by evil that they cannot recognize what is good even when they are looking right at it. Innocent people can be so corrupted with desire that they can think of nothing but they want. Wis. 4:12 Today's Liturgical Readings

Lord, fill our hearts with your love as morning fills the sky.  By living your law may we have peace in this life and endless joy in the life to come.  Pauline Prayer of the Church PSALM 51 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your merciful love; according to your great compassion, blot out my transgressions, O wash me completely from my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin........

The Lords keeps close watch over the whole world, to give strength to those whose hearts are loyal to him. 2 Chronicle 16:9 For Those Who Think Lord for those who think they can succeed without you. Can one ever think that he/she exist for himself without the aid of God? Father you are ever present whenever we call, even when we do not. Father you are with us always. We make our plans, they come through, We do not struggle for your favour, yet you grant us your favours. Father do we appreciate you, and thank you for your providence? Father do we say thank you for your love, guidance, protection and mercy? Father can we say thank you for your watchful eyes over us? For all your goodness and love, Father most times we think they are achieved through our efforts, and ingenuity.

If you do no wrong, no wrong will ever come to you. Do not plow the ground to plant seeds of injustice; you may reap a bigger harvest than you expect. Readings for today

Hail Mary full of grace the Lord is with thee. Luke 1:26-43 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee named Nazareth.  He had a message for a young woman promised in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was a descendant of King David. Her name was Mary........ As we honour Mary the mother of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ in the month of October.  May she intercede for us. Songs dedicated to Mary: Hail Thou Star of Ocean As the Dewy Shades of even Fading Still As

Fools say to themselves there is no God. There is no God' They are all corrupt, and they have done terrible things.... Psalm 53 You have to fight to get what is yours.  It is not going to come to you naturally.  God is the guiding force we need to commune with Him for guidance.

LORD, You have examined me and you know me. You know everything I do, from far away you understand all my thoughts. You see me, whether I am working or resting; you know all my actions. Even before I speak, you already know what I want to say. You are all around me on every side; you protect me with your power. Your knowledge of me is too deep; it is beyond my understanding......  Psalm 139: Psaume 23

"LORD, if I argued my case with you, you would prove to be right. Yet I must question you about matters of justice. Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why do dishonest people succeed? You plant them, they take root; they grow and bear fruit. They always speak well of you, yet they do not really care about you. But, LORD, you know me; you see what I do, and how I love you. Jer. 12:1-3 Mass readings for the day Saint Francis of Assisi