Just before I typed this article, I saw one of those on-line surveys, the topic being prayer. The result stated that 41% of those responding say they don’t pray at all. That’s a LOT of people, if it’s true. Can there be a correlation between this and all these “mass shootings” that seem to occur more often than ever? Or the violent juvenile crimes that are becoming more prevalent? Or the rampant drug abuse and overdoses? Or the strange ideas some folks have about their bodies and what to do with them? Or the increase in suicides? Let’s face it, when we turn away from God and try to abandon Him, things go south pretty quickly. The Sermon on the Mount from which recent Sunday Gospels are taken gives us, as one priest calls it, the recipe for staying with God and remaining in His love. These gospel readings give us direct commands on how to live life and how to treat each other. Each gospel reading builds on the one before it. I encourage all of us to take out our family bibles at home and read the entire Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s gospel. Read slowly and pray along!
