Sacco on the Illusions of Status

From Praying With Saint Mark's Gospel, published by Magnificat

"The kingdom of heaven in not about status.  Our rank, our titles, our possessions, our popularity will all mean less than nothing in the next life.  Only our openness to love, coupled with our capacity to forgive, will determine our experience of heaven.  In a place of perfect happiness and joy, how can one person be happier or more important than the next?
Suffering will come to us all, but once we have cleansed ourselves of our sins and petty jealousies, we will be able to finally sit with Christ at the heavenly banquet.  And none of us will be concerned about the status of the seating arrangement."

~ Jack Sacco, an award-winning author, whose book Where the Birds Never Sing was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, and his latest novel is The Resurrection Sequence.

Sometimes I am surprised to find I need this reminder myself. :S  Praise be Jesus the Lord loves a contrite heart! :)

Washington on Morality

"(T)he foundation of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality; ...the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained..." George Washington, First Inaugural, April 30 1789

from "Quotes From The Founding Fathers"