麻豆约拍

Good morning.

On this day in 1729 the political theorist and philosopher Edmund Burke was born in Dublin.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing", has often been attributed to him, though I must admit it appears nowhere in the body of his written work. However in his book, "Thoughts on the causes of the present discontents. Volume 1" he writes:

"When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle".

He adds, "Duty demands and requires that what is right should be made known."

It may be almost 3 centuries since Burke penned these words but the challenge to each of us is still fresh. In the midst of our discontented world we need reminding of the positives and of a sense of our duty.

Barely two weeks into 2015 I have already heard enough gloomy predictions from the legions of correspondents and pundits predicting the markets, political outcomes, and international affairs. Time to take a lesson from Burke and the belief that underpinned his thinking.

A strong sense of duty and doing what is right pervades many of St Paul's letters in the New Testament. Writing to the Philippians he says, "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable鈥攊f anything is excellent or praiseworthy鈥攖hink about such things"

Lord God,

Instil in our hearts a sense of duty,

Focus our thoughts on what is right and true.

Give us courage to make it known.

Amen