Br. Peter Trinko ![]() It is not difficult to see that we live in a wounded world. Broken families, civil unrest, anxiety, wars, social injustice... the list could go on and on. We are made for the unconditional love of God, and yet what we see and face each day seems so far from it, leaving us all badly wounded. While wounds can be just (discipline for a mistake), imaginary (insinuating an offense that didn’t occur), or disproportionate (one exaggerates the level of offense), many wounds are in fact ‘real’, meaning they are an act of injustice. If left untreated, these wounds, like a thorn in one’s body, will cause one to become infected with the disease of resentment. We all desire to heal from these wounds, but how can we do so?
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Deacon Peter Nguyen, IVE ![]() In the days before the coming of Christ, the common view held by the Jews concerning the Messiah was that of a social and political savior, someone who would liberate them from their temporal woes and oppressions. He was to fulfill their utopian aspirations of being free from the Romans and live comfortable lives in fame and prosperity. As a result, many Jews settled for the false gods of other nations where it seemed more appealing in fulfilling their hopes. Like the Jews, we may find ourselves seeking an alternative plan of salvation in another “kingdom.” Over the past few months, our society has been troubled by so many different causes such as illness, economic struggles, unnecessary violence and destruction, political tension, etc., and needless to say how these have contributed to our struggles within our hearts as well. For some, it may seem that a solution needs to be applied primarily at the social level. But the answer is much deeper and, sadly, often downplayed Br. Miguel Castro Life seems to be full of hope. A hope which has as its object desired states of life we want to possess: the perfect job, the perfect income, the perfect lifestyle... the perfect life. History has never seen such a time, in which man can do so much, reach new heights, yet reality paints another picture. Why then is our reality so far removed from the expected state of humanity?
Br. Peter Trinko We often find ourselves in situations where we are forced to make a choice or judgement on a situation or event. For example, last year during a competition at the seminary, I found myself as one of three judges trying to determine the winner of an art competition. We had three fantastic entries, a painting of Divine Mercy, a painting of St. John Paul II by the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and a sketch of St. Maximilian Kolbe on a train going to the mission in Japan. Each of the entries had their own strengths and weaknesses, and we struggled to determine a winner.
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