12 February.   SEE:  Bruce continued telling the story of King Solomon. “Having considered wealth and prosperity balanced with God’s expectations, what happens when these are not met?  In King Solomon’s case it was his wives who turned him away from his God, by having him build temples and make sacrifices for their foreign gods.  Does that kind of love give life?  How common is such a situation today where people begin to love and worship “idols,” or foreign gods in different forms?   Today’s idols are possessions, habits that can become addictive. TV, sex, even work, sport or social media, can become obsessions that turn us away from our God and one another. Will God turn away and punish us, as he did to the Israelites from that time, 700 years before Christ, possibly even until today? Do we see our misfortunes or the disasters around climate change as a punishment from God? “

JUDGE, reflect and share.  Scripture:  The Lord was angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord.  God said, “since this has been your mind and you have not kept my covenant I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant.” 1 Kings 11:4-13.    Pope Francis:   The rich and the poor have equal dignity, for the Lord is the maker of them all. He himself made both small and great and he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good. This has practical consequences.  If we make something our own, it is only to administer it for the good of all. If we do not, we burden our consciences with the weight of having denied the existence of others.   LS94-95. Pope Leo:  Love for the Lord is one with love for the poor.  Jesus said, “just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.”  This is no human kindness but a revelation: contact with those who are lowly and powerless is a fundamental way of encountering the Lord of history in the poor, where he continues to speak to us.   DT 5

ACT AND PRAY. Decide on possible appropriate action.   Conclude with prayer.In preparation for Lent in this Year of St Francis which is just around the corner. Order MARFAM’s LENTEN BOOKLET with the life of St Francis LOVE IS HIS LAW, LOVE IS HIS WAY. Cost R30. Order From [email protected] or +27 825521275