An old Roman proverb stated: 'I am a man, and nothing human is foreign to me.' Thus, the Incarnation of Jesus Christ further demonstrates God's plunge into all things human except sin. Catholicism, after the pattern of the divine Nazarene carpenter, is best experienced with dirty hands. Hands willing to delve into all things human. Hands, led by a compassionate heart, and a faith-reasoned mind, willing to embrace the pauper and push away the prince.
The saint who embraced lepers: http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=2817
Of course we must cleanse our hands of our sin, 'Who has the right to climb the mountain of Yahweh, who the right to stand in his holy place? He whose hands are clean, whose heart is pure, whose soul does not pay homage to worthless things and who never swears to a lie.' Psalm 24:1-6
Our hands are dirtied by our sinfulness, cleansed solely by the Love and the Blood of our Savior. Therefore, rightly, and pleasing to God, we must, faithfully, and humbly, walk with Jesus Christ every step of our lives. But in this walk, like the Nazarene image of human perfection, we must be willing to get our hands dirty in touching lepers, in healing hemorrhaging women, in restoring sight and speech to blind and mute peasants, always willing to flip over the changing tables in the Temple, ready to accept the responsibility of rebuking the Pharisees, even if it means nails in our hands.
A saint who touched heaven in his holy death: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09089a.htm
Catholicism is not a Sunday only endeavor. It is not a mail a check to the poor, then go out and party hard faith! It is not a detached mysticism, shaped and flavored by a Cafeteria pick and choose morality. It is not a social justice crusade which disrespects and separates itself from Catholic teaching concerning life, marriage, sexuality, and human responsibility.
What is a cafeteria catholic? http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-cafeteria-catholic.htm
Catholicism is a sacramental faith! Seven sacraments of grace provide the foundation for Catholics to see the world as God's mission field, where 'repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand' is true and alive in the Eucharistic life carried by disciples willing to get their hands dirty spreading the good news of God's Divine Mercy in Jesus Christ--to the four corners of the world.
The only catch is that hands get dirty, in the sinless way, only in faithfulness to serving human dignity in the Way of Christ (and His Cross) in the teaching of His Church. Obedience can feel like a cross! But the nails which dirty our hands in faithful obedience set us free!
Agree? tranz4mation@comcast.net
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