A Society in Darkness 

   “And the judgement is this: the light has come into the world, but people preferred darkness to light because their deeds were evil.  (John 3: 19) 

   I have often used this blog to vent my frustrations with our government.  The reality is that the government, and those who are elected to run it, are simply a reflection of the society that votes them into office. 

   Since it is society that selects the government it is only natural that those in government want to satisfy as many of the people as they can, hence bowing to the whims of society.  If a majority of voters want it, a government of political careerists will find a way to provide it.  Reelection is their goal, not the good of the nation.

   Society is the illness and society must be the cure.  As the number of people in this country who claim no religious affiliation grows, it becomes less and less likely that the government will change.  People are inclined to desire what they want, and they will elect a government that will give it to them.

   Successfully converting a corrupt society to one of faith is difficult and may well be impossible.  Rather, corrupt society will persecute the faithful and do all they can to silence them.  A government elected by a corrupt society will acquiesce and even support such efforts.  As Christians we must ask ourselves how we can promote change in a corrupt and evil society.

   Perhaps we can’t change society.  Maybe we will go the route of destruction as so many evil societies have.  But we can try.  We can live our faith in all aspects of our lives.  We can refuse to be silenced, professing our love of God by our example.  We can have the courage and faith to rebuke an evil society and maybe, just maybe, begin to change it.

 

 Peace of Soul 

   “The secret of peace of soul is to combine detachment from evil with attachment to God.” (Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen) 

   We all seek peace of soul.  Even those who don’t know God seek this peace though they may not associate it with God.  But true peace comes only from God, so without Him the search for peace is futile.

   We cannot find peace of soul simply by turning from evil though we must do so if we want that peace.  We must also turn to God and fill the emptiness left by the rejection of evil with love of God.  Our soul will be filled with the turmoil of evil or with the peace of God for it cannot be empty.

   The peace we find when we fill our soul with God is a peace beyond anything this world can offer.  It’s a peace in times of trial, help in times of sorrow and pain, and a comfort in all things.  Try as we may, we will never find this peace except in God.

   “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give it to you.” (John 14: 27).  Satan and the world offer many things that may mimic peace, but they are a pale imitation of the peace Christ offers.  Money, fame, and all the lures of the world are lies that will disappoint.

   Only in God, only by rejecting evil and filling our heart with His love will we ever know the joy and peace of soul promised by our Lord.

 

 Worship God 

   “You have a duty to worship God, not because He will be imperfect and unhappy if you do not, but because you will be imperfect and unhappy. (Archbishop Fulton Sheen). 

   We have a responsibility to worship our Creator.  If God had not chosen to bring us into existence we would not exist and if He were to cease to desire that we exist we would no longer exist.

   By worshipping God we are not giving Him anything He needs, He needs nothing.  In no way can we add to or detract from Him, He is complete in every conceivable  way.  However if we fail to honor and worship Him we will never know the joy, happiness, and peace that God brings to those who worship and trust Him.

   When we choose to accept God into our lives and worship and serve Him we gain so many blessings.  We will see the small miracles that occur everyday that those who do not know God never recognize as miracles.  Our lives will be filled with an unending love that only the Father can bestow upon us.

   Even in the worst of times those who worship God have a strong and loving hand to help them through.  God reaches out to us and offers comfort and peace regardless of the nastiness and evil of the world about us.

   Those who worship God will come to understand that we are in exiles in this world.  Just as the Israelites were not an home during their exile in Babylon we are never at home in a world where evil seems to be the dominating force.  And as the Israelites rejoiced when they were released from 70 years of exile we will rejoice when we are released from the exile of our mortal life.

   Worshipping God is not a burden and not a chore.  It is the best part of life, an opportunity to know the Lord in this life and join Him in His holy kingdom in the next.

Sunday Obligation 

   “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.” (Ex 20:8) 

   I think many people have forgotten that to fail to keep the Sabbath holy is a violation of one of the ten commandments.  Therefore, it is a serious obligation to keep holy the Lord’s Day.

   But what does’ “keep it holy” entail?  Is it just to take the day off and spend a few minutes thinking of God or is there a deeper meaning?  I believe it involves many things but most importantly, attending Mass.  It also means to spend time with the Lord outside of Mass.  It should be a day to rest as scripture says, “The Lord made the heavens and the earth and the seas and all that which is in them in six days, but he rested the seventh day.  Thus, the Lord blessed the Sabbath and declared it holy.” (Ex 20: 11.

   In the Catholic Church attending Mass on Sunday is an obligation and rightfully so.  But it should be so much more than an obligation.  It should be a privilege, an honor, and a joy to go to Mass.  We should look forward to the opportunity to gather in worship.  Going to Mass on Sunday only because it is an obligation misses the point.

   Many leave their faith at the door of the Church on the way out and don’t pick it up again until the following Sunday.  The rest of the day, and all the next week, they are undistinguishable as Catholics; their faith is weak at best.  Have they met the obligation?  I suppose technically they have, but do they keep the Sabbath holy in their hearts and in their actions?

   The Sabbath is considered a feast day, a day of great joy and celebration in the Lord.  It should be the highlight of our week, not just an hour of sitting in a pew because we are obligated to do so.  When we approach it as such it will more and more be the focus of our Sundays as it should.  We will come to realize the deeper meaning of keeping holy the Sabbath and know the joy and many blessings it brings.

 

 Religious Freedom 

   “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;” (First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.) 

   Ten years ago the bishops of the United States designated this week as Religious Freedom Week, a time to recognize and promote our freedom of religion and its free exercise guaranteed by the First Amendment.  This right is under serious threat in our nation today.

   Nothing in this amendment mentions “freedom of worship” or “freedom from religion,” yet this is what our government claims was the intent.  They are wrong, the wording is unambiguous and very clear, it guarantees the right to exercise our religion, both privately and publicly.

   Freedom of worship would indicate that worship is a private affair.  Of course we have freedom of worship; done in private no one need ever know of it.  But that isn’t what “free exercise” means.  Free exercise means we have the right to express our religion, our faith, in all aspects of our life without interference from government intervention.

   Freedom from religion is a nonsensical concept.  No one can force religion upon someone.  Even if it were required by law, it would be a show, not true faith, or religion.

   The question is why would our government want to dilute the first amendment of the constitution?  Political expediency sometimes needs quiet acquiescence rather than free exercise.  When the desires of the majority override the rights of the minority we no longer have a democratically elected republic but a dictatorship bowing to the whims of those in power.

   The purpose of our government is to protect the rights of all, not just those considered “politically correct”.  Without that protection we are a nation at risk of devolving into a banana republic bowing to the whims of those in power.

 

 A Bucket List 

   “The days of mortal man are like grass: he flourishes like a flower in the field.  The wind sweeps over him, and he is gone, and his place never sees him again” (Psalm 103: 15 -16) 

   Bucket lists were all the rage a few years ago.  Things that one wished to accomplish before leaving this world.  Most were very much earthly wishes, even selfish desires.  Some were silly and even dangerous.

   We don’t hear much of bucket lists these days, but I think as Christians having a spiritual bucket list is important.  We need to always be searching for ways to grow closer to God; to prepare ourselves for the transition from this life to the next.  A few options might include:

   Commit to spend an hour a week in Eucharistic Adoration, giving Him thanks for His many blessings, and lamenting the times we’ve failed Him through our sinfulness.

   Choose to serve in a ministry, offering our time and talents to the Lord.  Every church has many areas where help is always needed.  Do it for the glory of God, not to gain recognition for self.

   Donate to a worthy charity.  There are many worthy choices which give an opportunity to love our neighbor. “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brethren of mine, you did for me.” (Matt 25: 40).  When we serve others, we are also serving Jesus.

   Speak out against abortion and euthanasia.  The murder of innocents is an abomination before the Lord.

   Be bold, let faith be evident in everything we do.  Let others see our love for the Lord in the way we live our life.

   Most importantly, do all these things for God, never seeking credit for the good we may do but giving all recognition and praise to God.

 

 Judging Others 

   “Do not judge, so that you in turn may not be judged.” (Matt 7: 1) 

   I once had a friend whom most considered an unreliable drunk.  When on a binge he would miss work for days on end.  Until I got to know him better I wondered how he could keep his job under such circumstances.

   What I came to know and what most never knew of my friend was that he had spent over three years as a prisoner of war in North Korea.  He was barely fed and regularly mistreated and abused.  He was one of many American POWs on the so-called Tiger Death March, a nine day ordeal during which almost one hundred Americans died.

   The lesson to be learned here is that we rarely know what brought others to be what we consider drunks, or addicts of various kinds.  Those whose memories haunt them every day and, at times, overwhelm them.

   St. Theresa of Calcutta once said, “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”  Over and over in scripture we are told that only God is the judge, and that He has given all judgement over to the Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  We, therefore, have no right to judge anyone, only to love them as God’s children.

   We will not be judged by what great works we may have done but by how we loved others, even those we might consider the dregs of society.  We need to keep in mind the adage “There but for the grace of God, go I.”

   “Why do you take note of the splinter in your brother’s eye but do not notice the wooden plank in your own eye?” (Matt 7: 3).  We all have things in our lives that others could use to judge us; things we wish we could change but cannot.  We would hope that others would consider what led us to where we are and refrain from judging us.  Should we do less for others?