Spiritual Life Situational ethics

Lord, who may dwell in Your sanctuary? Who may live on Your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart. (Psalm 15:1-2)

"I cannot believe they are not going to honor my bonus agreement," said the executive who was about to take another position in a new city. Her understanding of her present work agreement called for a bonus at the end of the year. Management saw the situation differently. "It's not right. I am entitled to that bonus," she complained. It was time to leave. The company had given her a laptop to use. However, when she left, she decided that because the company was not going to pay her the bonus she was entitled to, she would simply keep the laptop as compensation due her. "And they would never miss it," she reasoned. She was now in the employment of the new company. As each day passed, she grew uneasier about her decision. She could not get it off her mind. Finally, she concluded that the Holy Spirit was telling her this decision was wrong and that she needed to call her former dusty and long-forgotten Bible, opened it and started to pray. After praying for discernment and forgiveness, I opened the Bible and my eyes fell on these verses, “But, seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33) So I started seeking His Kingdom by reading and studying His Words, by going back to church and serving Him with all my heart. One Saturday morning I attended the Women’s Society of Christian Service Prayer rally where women were so happy sharing their personal testimony on the power of God in their lives. After listening and being inspired by what I heard, I stood up to acknowledge the speakers, but what came out of my lips, was a profound confession. “I am a sinner and I’ve fallen short in the glory of God.” Then came a strange feeling within me, a very warm sensation engulfed my whole being. Then and there, I felt that God has touched me and made me whole. My life was transformed and since then, I claimed the words of Micah: “What does the Lord expect of you, to love mercy, to do justice and to walk humbly with God.” God opened new doors for me.

Danny Hernaez

From Whom All Blessings

boss to confess her action. She called him and confessed what she had done and why she had done it. Her boss accepted her confession and forgave her. Strangely enough, he allowed her to keep the laptop computer. Truth never changes. It is absolute. When we make decisions based on other actions that are taken, we move into making decisions based on the situation, not truth and righteousness. The executive may indeed have been wronged, but she had to address the wrong in the appropriate way. Trying to compensate for the wrong by doing something that violates another scriptural principle is called situational ethics. If the employer had never wronged the executive, do you think she would have felt justified in taking the computer? Probably

We are now on the third Sunday of Lent and in three weeks we will be entering Holy Week which is the immediate preparation for the celebration of the Easter Triduum, during which we will be renewing the baptismal promises. On the first Sunday we have been assured that despite the strong and constant temptations that the enemy faces the faithful in this world, we are confident that we can prevail over him, because Jesus has conquered him. Last Sunday was further strengthened by faith that this Jesus is truly divine and followed him faithfully is the sure way to share his glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit in a communion that is eternal.

God allowed me to be elected to various positions in the church and to one of the highest position in an international women’s organization, that of World Secretary of the World Federation of Methodist Women (1991-96). I traveled to East Asia, South Pacific, South America, North America and Europe, speaking before women’s groups. When I think of the many wonderful experiences I’ve had, I am reminded of what a friend shared with me from, Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I’ll answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” I called to Him and He answered me, and showed me great and mighty things I never knew.

There has been a season in my life when I was wounded and crucified, but I clung to the Lord in prayer. I’ve uttered to my detractors, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do” Figuratively speaking, I carried my cross. I was whip-lashed by a cruel pen and would have given up, but the message of the Resurrection – Hope and New Life were my constant source of inspiration. Hallelujah, Christ has risen. Christ has risen, indeed. Happy Easter!

Today's reading from the Gospel allows us to realize that "the question that Jesus puts to the Samaritan woman: 'Give me a drink' (Jn 4:7), which is presented to us in the liturgy of the Third Sunday; expresses God's passion for every man and woman, and desires to awaken in our hearts the desire for the gift of a "fountain of water within, springing up unto eternal life" (Jn 4:14.): this is the gift of the Holy Spirit, who transforms Christians into "true worshipers", capable of praying to the fattest "in spirit and in truth" (Jn. 4: 23). Only this water can quench our thirst for goodness, truth and beauty! Only this water, given to us by the Son, can water the deserts of the restless and unsatisfied soul, until it 'finds rest in God,' according to the famous words of St. Augustine."

Jesus' dialogue with the Samaritan woman is a discussion that revolves around a relationship between the teacher and a person who seeks the truth about life and what leads to eternal life. We see how Jesus penetrates the heart of this Samaritan woman who tries to exchange with Jesus in matters that are deep but in reality for the intention of hiding the truth behind the personality characterized by ignorance and sin. However, we see a patient Master leading this woman to know herself and later an acknowledgment of the true nature of Jesus himself. This is one of the very important fulfillment we must come to have during this Lenten season: the acceptance of our total sinfulness and the constancy of God's love for us and mercy for those who come closest to him during their lives. not. When you isolate the two situations, you see that one action was taken in response to the other action. Have you had any experiences in which you have used situational ethics? The Lord desires His people to have a higher standard, even at the cost of being wronged. Ask the Lord to reveal any business practices that may indicate situational ethics. You might be surprised what will happen when you do the right thing.

Let Jesus guide us to himself during this season by opening ourselves to him, accepting our own sinfulness and receiving his presence and forgiveness. Let us sincerely acknowledge our sinfulness and truly turn away from sin in a grave act of repentance so that we can truly become and become His followers and partakers of the glory that promises Easter to all who believe and trust in His goodness and faithfulness.

The disciples thought they suffered their greatest defeat when Jesus died on the cross. However, this defeat became the greatest victory on earth. Christ's death gave liberty. Forgiveness came to all men. New life came forth - new strength for the disciples. Resurrection and new life came as a result of a "defeat."

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