Spiritual Quote of the Day (First Letter of St. Peter, on the Need to ‘Rid Yourselves of All Malice’)

“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”—1 Peter 2: 1-3 (New International Version)

In the past week, the man currently occupying the highest office in our land participated in a marathon Bible reading session. This was rather surprising news to those of us not previously aware that he read much from the Good Book, or indeed from any book.

The other eye-opener happened to be the verses he read, from the seventh chapter of 2 Chronicles: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Oh, I know why he read this passage. It’s that word “heal.” He regards himself as a doctor ministering to the nation, you see!

Well, when I was in a bank yesterday morning, my teller wore a sweater with a number referring to this epistle from St. Peter. I was going to cite it, until I saw the first couple of verses from the chapter, which I felt might be infinitely more instructive for our President.

The image accompanying this post is from a painting of the apostle by Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640).

Spiritual Quote of the Day (G. K. Chesterton, on Herod and the Holy Innocents)

“We all know the story of how Herod, alarmed at some rumor of a mysterious rival, remembered the wild gesture of the capricious despots of Asia and ordered a massacre of suspects of the new generation of the populace [Matthew 2:16-18]. Everyone knows the story; but not everyone has perhaps noted its place in the story of the strange religions of men. Not everybody has seen the significance even of its very contrast with the Corinthian columns and Roman pavement of that conquered and superficially civilized world. Only, as the purpose in his dark spirit began to show and shine in the eyes of the Admen, a seer might perhaps have seen something like a great gray ghost that looked over his shoulder; have seen behind him filling the dome of night and hovering for the last time over history that vast and fearful face that was Moloch of the Carthaginians; awaiting his last tribute from a ruler of the races of Shem. The demons also, in that first festival of Christmas, feasted after their own fashion. ….Herod had his place, therefore, in the miracle play of Bethlehem because he is the menace to the Church Militant and shows it from the first as under persecution and fighting for its life. For those who think this a discord, it is a discord that sounds simultaneously with the Christmas bells.” — English man of letters G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936), The Everlasting Man (1925)

The image accompanying this post, The Massacre of the Innocents, was created in 1610 by the Flemish artist and diplomat Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640).

Spiritual Quote of the Day (First Letter of St. Peter, on Christians’ Obligations to Each Other)

“Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” —1 Peter 4: 8-10

The image accompanying this post is from a painting of the apostle by Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640).

Spiritual Quote of the Day (Frederica Mathewes-Green, on ‘God as Suffering Parent’)

“Maybe this crazy thing happened: God came down in a suit of skin and bones, and walked and talked, and offended people, and finally they tortured him to death. And by that death he destroyed death; he rescued us and gave life everlasting and every other good thing. Into this universe crammed with pain we say that God came down, because he loves us with the kind of love that we can only understand by thinking of how a parent loves.” —Religious author and commentator Frederica Mathewes-Green, “God as Suffering Parent,” Beliefnet, December 22, 1999, reprinted in The Best Christian Writing 2000, series editor: John Wilson (2000)

The image accompanying this post, The Crucified Christ, was created in 1610-1611 by Flemish artist and diplomat Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640).

Spiritual Quote of the Day (First Letter of St. Peter, on Anxiety)

“Cast all your anxieties on Him, for He cares about you.”—1 Peter 5:7 (Revised Standard Version)

The image accompanying this post is from a painting of the apostle by Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640).

Spiritual Quote of the Day (St. Peter, on How ‘God Shows No Partiality’)

“Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”—Acts 10:34-35 (Revised Standard Version)

(The image accompanying this post is from a painting of the apostle by Peter Paul Rubens.)

Spiritual Quote of the Day (St. Ignatius of Loyola, Consoling an Overwhelmed Widow)

“I can well believe…because of the many enemies and difficulties you meet with in God's service where you are, and also because of the enemy of human nature and his incessant temptations, you are feeling overwhelmed. For the love of God our lord, try to keep going forward.,,, For the love of our Lord let us make every effort in him, since we owe him so much.  For we tire of receiving his gifts much sooner than he tires of giving."—Jesuit founder St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), to Inez Pascual, Dec. 6, 1524 (his earliest extant letter), in Ignatius of Loyola: The Spiritual Exercises and Selected Works, edited by George E. Ganss, S.J. (1991)

The image accompanying this post is a painting of the great saint by the Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640). The painting is owned by the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, Calif.

TV Quote of the Day (‘Cheers,’ As Sam Shows His Progress in Art Hum)

Sam Malone (played by Ted Danson): “Um, I'm sorry, Diane. One more art question here.”

Diane Chambers (played by Shelley Long): “What is it, Sam?”

Sam: “Uh, all right. Excuse me.”

[Sam places an art book in front of Diane]

Sam: “OK, now this Rubens guy. Is this the same guy that invented that sandwich?”

Diane: “No, no, I don't think so.”

Sam: “Well, OK, I was just wondering. Boy, ‘cause I tell you, the women in his paintings look like they really tuck away the groceries.”—Cheers, Season 3, Episode 19, “Behind Every Great Man,” original air date Feb. 21, 1985, teleplay by Ken Levine and David Isaacs, directed by James Burrows