How Great Thou Art: interfaith reflections: Precept and Practice


	"How Great Thou Art" Reflections and Readings Precept and Practice [ Learning and Practice - UCS ] [ Precept and Practice - LCC ]


	Learning and Practice United Communities of Spirit When a truth is learned, it must be practiced. Indeed, knowledge that is not put into practice is not truly learned; it soon fades away like a mirage. The person who claims to be wise and devout, but who never acts on his wisdom, is engaging in Hypocrisy. Conversely, as the concluding story of Mary and Martha shows, action without learning is also foolish. In the East, people are taught the virtue of being reserved and taciturn in order that they might not display knowledge that they have not yet mastered in practice. It is far better first to act on an idea in private and see to its result than to announce it to others while it is yet untested and unmastered. This reserve is especially apt in the case of religious and moral teaching, whose practice is not easy. Only a teacher who has first mastered and embodied his teaching is worthy of respect. Interfaith passages at: origin.org/ucs/ws/theme114.cfm


	Precept & Practice - St. Raphael & Trinity 23 From a Liberal Catholic source with permission Today we celebrate the feast of St. Raphael, the Healing angel whom we invoke during healing services. His name means "God's Remedy." St. Gabriel is mentioned in the Bible 23 times all throughout the book of Tobit, (Tobias). Traditionally he is considered to be the Patron Saint of the Blind, Guardian Angels, Lovers, Nurses, Physicians, and Travellers. In the book of Tobit, he first appears disguised in human form as the travelling companion of the younger Tobias, calling himself "Azarias the son of the great Ananias". The story of the adventurous journey during which the protective influence of the angel is shown in many ways including the binding "in the desert of upper Egypt" of the demon who had previously slain seven husbands of Sara, daughter of Raguel, is picturesquely related in Tobit 5-11, which you may like to read for yourselves during the week. Also today we have as intent Precept & Practice. Precepts are defined to be rules of conduct, or moral instructions by which many of us claim to be Christians. Our practice may often fall short of our precepts; our habitual actions or customs do not always measure up to what is required by our precepts. We have to be "doers" of the Word, not just "hearers"! Our failings can be considered to be a weakness, and we need to invoke the Holy Archangel Raphael to strengthen us and heal us that we may align our practice with our precepts. It is by living up to our beliefs and endeavouring to serve God by serving His creation, including each other, that we Practice the precepts taught by Christ, and gain in full measure the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Remember the teaching of St. Paul in his writing to the Ephesians, which we recall each time Mass is celebrated: You are fellow citizens with the saints and with the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you are also built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Eph. 2 :vv. 19-22. In the Qur’an too we read: You are the best community that has been raised up for mankind. You enjoin right conduct and forbid indecency; and you believe in God. May St. Raphael assist you as you journey through life, and may you have full confidence in the fact that one day we will be come one with the Divine energy we term GOD.