We need frames of references in order to navigate our daily lives.
Every situation requires a response or an action on our part, and we
choose the one that corresponds to our upbringing, education, and
other influences, like media and friends, which determines
what we think, what we believe, what we deem right and wrong.
For example in the political field; who is the good guy and who is
the bad ones on the world scene is pretty much decided by the news,
where a narrative is presented, very rarely objective.
This is striking when you look at other news channels which gives
a different angle and leaves us with a different interpretation of an
event or a person.
President Trump is a good example of what I'm talking about.
The hate and venom that I hear from people regarding him, is
a perfect illustration of how people are allowing their minds to be
controlled by others and by the media, because this is neither based on
personal experience nor a wide field of knowledge of the world of
politics. Nevertheless, the feelings and energy are strong and real,
so that begs the question; maybe it is like this with everything?
Maybe we are being manipulated all the time?
The Bible says that the devil is the deceiver of the whole world and
he works to mislead humanity through lies and misdirection.
The Bible also warns us to be awake and vigilant, at all times.
And warns us against false prophets who comes in sheep's clothing.
The terrible result of clericalism; where the Church's faithful kept
quiet about abuse done to children by priests, due to them being told
that the priest was an untouchable, and everything he said and did
was from God and not to be questioned, they had to be "obedient
and good", thus the the abuse was allowed to continue.
Satan has a multitude of ways to attack us; another one by watering
down the Word of God; replacing the Divine unchanging Law of God,
which is Absolute: set in stone, with the worldly take and attitude.
Abortion is the obvious case, (though shall not kill is an absolute),
yet recently our dear Holy Father Pope Leo XIV said to journalists
that "abortion is a very complex matter", for this is indeed what the
world says.
But we are not of the world (John 15:19) and we must not conform
to the ways of the world (Romans 12:2)
Because the issue of abortion is without any complexity whatsoever.
It is a black and white issue with no nuances.
Again, due to the assumption that everything the Pope says is true,
that he is infallible every time he speaks, people are lead astray.
It is only when the Pope makes an ex cathedra ( "from the Chair")
pronouncement, which are extremely rare occasions, that this applies.
His own personal reflections are just that; his own opinions, being
pope does not mean that he is incapable of making mistakes.
When the parish priest said to me that: "sometimes abortion is
necessary to save the mother's life",
he conformed to the world and it's lies, because obstetricians and
gynecologists did come out in droves before the abortion referendum
to say clearly and unambiguously that this was not true. It had
always been the case of ectopic pregnancies that the embryo or
fetus would have to be removed to save the mother's life, but this is not
abortion. (The devil always tries to spread confusion)
The priest was calling on us to oppose euthanasia, failing to realize
that as long as abortion is allowed, there is no logical reason to oppose
euthanasia.
Revelation 12:9 :
"The great dragon was hurled down - that ancient serpent called the devil,
or satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth and
his angels with him"
In our general confession at Mass we confess that we have sinned in our
thoughts, in our words, in what we have done and what we have failed to
do.
The basis of following Christ is keeping a vigilant eye on ourselves and
our own base tendencies.
Simultaneously it increases our awareness of the world of lies we are
living in.
Keeping in mind that many liars have been lying their entire lives,
they have lost awareness of themselves lying as they have no frame of
moral reference, they are dangerous people.
In regard to Artificial Intelligence that so many people are concerned
about; it is the next level of wiping out the line between true and false,
reality or pure manipulation.
In order to know the truth, we have to always stick with The Truth and
keep on the narrow road of The Way, which leads to Life: Jesus Christ:
True God and True Man.
