Bullying is being blamed for the death of Asher Brown, a Texas thirteen year old, who committed suicide on September 23. I am not sure that bullying is strong enough a word. I am dumbfounded as to how people can relentlessly ridicule and harass another person. Day after day, showing up at school just to make another person's life miserable. Terrible enough to push this young man to take his own life. Satan was at work on both sides of this issue. Even more startling was a comment left by an apparent adult about this tragedy. Instead of mourning the loss and focusing on lifting the grieving family up in prayer, this person identified only as ModerateChuck said, "Another point that stands out is: how could a 13 year old get access to a pistol without his parents noticing? In my house, weapons are strictly controlled and locked." If you have read my blog before, you know of my passion for the Epistle of James. In this instance, St. James words have unfortunately come true. James 3:5-9 says, "In the same way the tongue is a small member and yet has great pretensions. Consider how small a fire can set a huge forest ablaze. The tongue is also a fire. It exists among our members as a world of malice, defiling the whole body and setting the entire course of our lives on fire, itself set on fire by Gehenna. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings who are made in the likeness of God." Yes it was the tongues of others that caused Asher Brown so much pain that he chose to take his life. His tormentors used the same tongue that God has given them to praise Him and used it to curse Asher. Before we as adults think this stops at a certain age, pick up any newspaper or glance at any number of web blogs and look at the evil and vicious things we say about each other. Our loss of civility has unleashed the fire of Gehenna. People do not think twice about spreading gossip or lies about others. I have seen people smile in glee when bad things befall their supposed friends. I am praying for Asher Brown and his family. I am also praying for his tormentors that they realize their error and seek the Lord's forgiveness. Finally, I am praying for all Christians that we have the courage to make a stand when confronted with a situation like this. Have the courage of God to stand up and stop this vile activity.
Born during the turbulent era of the French Revolution, Saint Jeanne Jugan rose above hardship and a lack of formal schooling to become a profound vessel of Christ’s mercy. After losing her father at a young age and working through her youth as a kitchen maid and nurse, her life radically changed one freezing night when she encountered a blind, paralyzed elderly woman with nowhere to go. Jeanne carried the woman back to her own home, placed her in her own bed, and began a lifelong mission of radical hospitality. This act of profound love blossomed into the Little Sisters of the Poor , a thriving community dedicated to sheltering and honoring the destitute elderly. Despite later facing heavy trials—including being unjustly sidelined and stripped of her leadership by a controlling chaplain—Jeanne accepted her obscurity and exile with a joyful spirit, resting her complete trust in God's hidden providence until her death in 1879. In our daily lives, Saint Jeanne Jugan invites us to lo...
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