Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Mark, Jesus was seen in the Temple area and is questioned by the the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders…They want to trap him - So Jesus asks them a simple question - One in which he knew they would not answer…..The Jews who rejected him instead of answering the question from their heart were concerned with the “politics” of the moment…..Is this how we respond to simple questions - Questions we know the answers too but refuse to address - Because of “the crowd”? - Because the answers are not “politically correct”? - Because of our concern for social status?:
“Jesus and his disciples returned once more to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple area, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders approached him and said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?” Jesus said to them, “I shall ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me. ”They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But shall we say, ‘Of human origin’?”– they feared the crowd, for they all thought John really was a prophet. So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” Then Jesus said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
As Catholics we should - Know the Truth - Speak the Truth - Live the Truth - And be willing to suffer for the Truth when necessary…Is this what is happening?……The Truth is not always going to be convenient but we are to speak it and live it, in season and out of season…..Again - Is this what is happening?…….The secular world will NEVER respect the Catholic Church if it functions as a “paper-tiger” - Writing down eternal Truths but never applying them to public life and speaking them body in the public square….Even if the unbelieving world does not agree with us - They will respect us if we live what we speak….Let me ask this again - Is this what is happening?
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; giving thanks to God the Father through him”
The Catholic Church is to be the moral voice for the world - And if we do not insert ourselves into the culture - Who will?…….“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lamp-stand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father”…….Recently, a friend of mine who is a Priest in one of his homilies at Mass in New York City made statements about the sin of homosexuality….While we as Catholics must love the sinner - We CANNOT “gloss over” behavior that is objectively sinful…In his homily he spoke about some in the Church, who are minimizing active homosexual behavior….While what he said is 100% accurate - It was “text-book” Catholicism taken right out of the Catechism and the pages of the Bible - That does not mean he will not get “push-back” from both those in the congregation as well as from some clergy….This is reality and a sad reality at that - But that does not mean homilies like the one my friend gave should not be proclaimed to the faithful…If we do not boldly preach the Truth - If we do not boldly teach the Truth - We are NOT living our Baptism mandate as Catholics - To Know the Truth - Speak the Truth - Live the Truth - And be willing to suffer for the Truth…The problem is - We do not what to suffer for the Truth!!!!! - But that is “part of the deal”….We cannot expect the world to always agree with us - But that should not stop us from speaking and living as Catholics - RIGHT?!?
“If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you, ‘No slave is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken* to them, they would have no sin; but as it is they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me also hates my Father”
Today in the Gospel we are reminded once again how the secular world “operates” - The Truth is avoided - Power, Comfort and Status are given priority over the Truth….Catholics must be different and if we are not different - We will NEVER make an impact….A “lukewarm” Church that does not “ruffle” feathers is not a living up to its Baptismal promises…..While “lukewarm” Catholicism is socially accepted in “polite company”- It will NOT be accepted on the day of Judgement before God……Jesus was very clear…”I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth”……Know the Truth - Speak the Truth - Live the Truth - And be willing to suffer for the Truth…..JMJ
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