[Greek] στοιχέω (stoicheō), [Latin] ambulare, [Latin] sequere, [French] marcher, [French] voyager: to walk, to follow, to be stoic, to conform to, to adhere to a standard, to imitate, to behave; Acts 21:24, Rom.4:12, Gal.5:25, Gal.6:16, Php.3:16
March for Life 2024 theme: With every woman, for every child. This picture is from last year’s March of Life 2023
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to be in sequence, to correspond, to be in line with, to come to an agreement, and to assent to.
Xenophon’s Cyropaedia 6.3.34: “You officers of the chariots, one shall take its place in line upon the right flank of the army, the other on the left, and follow the phalanx each in a single file.”
Polybius’ Histories 2: “I will now relate the events which succeed these, touching upon summarily upon each in accordance with my original plan.”
Xenophon’s On the Calvery 5.7: “If the whole of the ground is exposed, you must form the files into rows and wheel, leaving a gap between each row.”
Stoicism: This Hellenistic philosophy was heavily influenced by certain teachings of Socrates. Stoicism gets its name from the heavily fortified stoa (covered walkway or portico) in Athens. It is here where the the followers gathered to learn these teachings. Stoicism is predominately a philosophy of person ethics. Men must accept the moment as it presents itself. Men also must not let himself become overcome by his desires or fears. One must understand the rules of the natural order.
Old Testament: This term, rarely used, means to be straight, to be right, to be acceptable, to succeed, and to prosper. The image of walking with God is quite often associated with a code of conduct and adherence to rule (laws) in accordance with God. This essentially means walking on the right path. This idea becomes later important to the Jews of the Diaspora who sought to maintain their faith in foreign lands.
New Testament: This term essentially means to behave or to imitate. Not surprisingly, this term continues the Old Testament imagery of walking. This sense of walking is conveyed by agreement with someone, in being in step with, and in following someone. Such illustrations include observing the Law (and customs), following Abraham’s path, following the Spirit, conforming to the cross of Jesus, and continuing the same course.
Scripture:
“But also follow the path of faith that our father Abraham walked while still uncircumcised.” Rom.4:12
Abraham walked with God in faith. Abraham was justified by faith. Abraham’s faith involved receipt of the forgiveness of sins. All who believes benefit as he did through faith.
“Take these men and purify yourself with them, and pay their expenses that they may have their heads shaved. In this way everyone will know that there is nothing to the reports they have been given about you but that you yourself live in observance of the law.” Acts 21:24
These actions can indicate observance of the law.
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.” Gal.5:25
This involves walking in faith in accordance with the Spirit.
Quotes:
“Killing babies is an intrinsic evil” Pope Benedict XVI
Conclusion:
Stoic, stoa, ambulance, sequence, voyage, voyager, march
Stoicism declined when Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire. There are some admirable principles of Stoicism: wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance. The modern-day version is the expression: “Embrace the suck”.
The Old Testament develops the important notion of walking with God with a code of conduct and adherence to the law. The Jews were confronted with either keeping their Jewish traditions or with following the new path of Christianity. Yet other groups (God-fearers) followed a hybrid mixture of Jewish and Christian beliefs.
Update: The birth of Christ: the greatest pro-life story ever told!
Pope Francis and his inner circle, rather than walking in faith with Catholic Tradition, seeks to remake Jesus’ Church into a worldly synodal Church (in the image of man). This is how worldly values and sin enters into the Church!
Rather than adhering to God’s laws, the Vatican continues to introduce human traditions and novelties (example: blessing of same sex-couples).
Many Catholics and Christians have walked together in support of the Pro-life movement in this post-Roe era.
Now it is incumbent for all supporters to attempt to change the hearts and minds of others (legislators, leaders, private citizens, etc.) about the evils of abortion.
Secular attitudes emphasizing women’s ‘rights’ (“reproductive freedom”, “this is my body, etc.”) to the exclusion of everything else continue to provide obstacles for personal conversion.
Catholics and Christians are continually deemed as hateful and extreme by many in our culture. Taking this position to its logical conclusion, then one must conclude that God is hateful and extreme.
In the secular media, “pro-life” must be redefined as “anti-abortion.” (The opposition must not be called “pro-life because then they would be called “anti-life”! You will also quite frequently notice “anti-abortion” rather than “pro-life” in newspaper articles. This is a perfect illustration of verbal gymnastics!)
The Republican Party must do a better job in their legislation and reframing of their arguments against abortion!
The Catholic bishops need to continue to be engaged in catechesis about the moral issues of abortion.
The National Archives was forced to pay thousands to Pro-Life students after forcing them to remove their Pro-Life shirts.
The March for Life 2024 event is this Friday Jan.19 this week.
Have a good walk (in faith)