The Necessity of Unity

In addition to the threats discussed in previous posts, there is another type of violence that is subtle and looks friendly while it is in fact a threat to humanity. This threat is related to advances in information technology which will reduce the human workforce in the current generation and their children.

The advent of robots (computer machines) that can mimic and replace human workers is already here. Highly artificial intelligence products are already being marketed such as the car that drives itself, robots in manufacturing establishments, voice-recognition technology that receives your order and responds verbally in your language. Google, Amazon, Apple, and many other giant companies (based in the silicon valley in the U.S.) have already made advances in such technology.

An interesting discussion is found on The Agenda in an interview earlier this year with Andrew McAfee, economics Professor at MIT. You may wish to see it here:    

http://ww3.tvo.org/video/168810/andrew-mcafee-machines-are-coming

As an economist, McAfee co-authored a book “Race Against The Machine..” which exposes the misdistribution of capital and rising poverty everywhere as a result of an excessive neo-Capitalism.

Together with the above consumerist trend, materialist philosophies are behind most studies in universities and schools that aggressively deny the spiritual/religious needs of mankind and reduce man to matter and the mind to brain.

Based on the above frame, I ask Christian families to help their children learn the new technologies for their jobs and (more to the point) to come to Church and abide by her teaching.   You can refer to the Second Vatican Council, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. They are available here:

http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/index.htm

http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

I may be dreaming about achieving unity but we must always have hope. 

Let us remember that this month is dedicated to Mary Mother of God. Here is a hymn in remembrance of her devotion to Christ her Son:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRDIggpHL-w&feature=fvst

More on Unity

The One who unites us all is Jesus Christ. You may wish to listen to the heavenly hymn by Johann Sebastian Bach “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6OgZCCoXWc

It is not by accident that today two celebrations coincide:

1. Mother’s Day in Canada.
2. The Solemn Feast of Our Lady of Fatima in the Roman Catholic Church.

The first celebration reminds us of the development of the human person from conception in the womb. In relation to this, the National March for Life in Ottawa this past Thursday was the most successful one in 15 years in spite of continuing political opposition by feminists. Read the report in the Catholic Register here:

http://www.catholicregister.org/news/canada/item/14471-march-for-life-draws-nearly-20000-people-to-parliament-hill-w/-video

More to the point about Pro-Life, a number of fellow Knights of Columbus shared a video with me that showed Yale University’s Associate Professor Alexander Tsiaras explain a recent discovery using his 3-D scanning technology, an achievement in accurately measuring the development of cells. It is amazing that this research was intended for Deep Space projects funded by NASA, yet computer technology united space research with research in artificial intelligence and in biology. The result of this advanced work supports the notion that the human person develops from the moment of conception in the womb. The presentation you may wish to see shows that the fetus has a complex biological structure that develops in the womb.  See the presentation here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=fKyljukBE70

The fact that the Internet technology allows us to share new information and development points also to the direction of more collaboration thus possibly leading to deeper unity in the human race.

The second celebration is about the 1917 Fatima apparition of the most beloved saint and most compassionate mother the Blessed Virgin Mary.   

Mary’s work in the past century and the 21^st century signals the importance she gives to unity of Christians, and also to her motherly care for her children both Christians and Muslims. According to the late Archbishop Fulton Sheen, the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in a town called Fatima, named after the daughter of Islam’s founder, is significant.  I had lectured about it in May 2011. You may wish to read the lecture on my blog here:

http://www.todayquestions.blogspot.ca/2011/05/may-13-marys-intercession-in-fatima.html

In 2008, we dedicated one lecture to showing the ministry of Myrna Al-Akhras Nazzour of Soufanieh in Damascus regarding her call for Christian unity based on what she experienced as the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to her. A devout Christian mother, Myrna was invited to talk in many churches including Jesus the King Church and her talks attracted thousands of faithful Christians due to the miraculous oil that dripped from her hands at many times which I saw with my own eyes. See the post http://todayquestions.blogspot.ca/2008/06/phenomenon-of-soufanieh.html

While Catholics are awaiting the Vatican’s authentication of the Soufanieh’s claims I also posted a video titled “Miracle of Damascus” on the blog here http://todayquestions.blogspot.com

The Blessed Virgin Mary is still at work for the collaboration of Christians and Muslims in the many initiatives by great minds such as the late French priest R. Caspar whose work behind the declarations of Vatican II is indisputable and whose contribution includes 88 books and is referred to in the Melkite Catholic publication Al-Macarra of June 2010.

Today is a blessed day; for here we celebrate life not only as a biological reality but also as a spiritual reality. Mother Mary continues to appeal to her children for peace and unity.  A mother carries life and love to her children. Her maternal affections for her children make her their first teacher. Her role is central to the life of her husband and family as my wife’s role is central to mine.  Her role is central to society as she bears and delivers the new generation of men and women. Her love unifies individuals into her family and, together with other mothers, she begets children to collaborate in developing the greater civilization of this planet.

May the Lord bless all mothers.