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Jesus said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain - and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot - and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?"
I believe it was Mother Theresa who said, "A heart full of envy is a heart full of grief."
A cloud is rising in the west. Do you see it? I do. I see our nation becoming more and more polarized. It's getting harder and harder for politicians from both sides of the aisle to sit down and resolve their differences. Most pundits "think" the only way around the gridlock or impasse in Washington is if one party dominates everything: Senate, House and Presidency.
In Western Europe there is wave of discontent for mainstream political parties. In fact, after years and years of socialistic policies, the far-right is once again finding a sympathetic ear in the highly educated citizen. Recent polls suggest significant gains for the far-right in France, Austria, Holland and Greece.
People are upset, very upset. They are upset with judicial activism. They are upset with politicians who do not listen to their consciences. They are upset with representatives who do not represent their constituents.
A cloud is rising in the West.
I see our families struggling to pay their bills. Today, more Americans are on Food Stamps than ever before. So what ever happened on our way to La-La Land? I thought abortion was suppose to reduce the surplus population, and as a consequence, reduce poverty and unemployment?
Well, first of all, the family hit a snag. While our government and Hollywood spent years trying to redefine and reconfigure the family, the modern family became a euphemism for the dysfunctional family. Parents abdicated their mother and father roles to their children, who became far too entitled and enlightened to be content and understood. As a consequence, our public school system across the nation soon became everything but a school. Yep, far too many public schools today are simply teenage day-care centers, drop-off boxes for stressed out parents, foster homes and healthcare clinics.
While the 60's generation worked so hard to make abortion legal (so that young people could get a "second" or "third" or "fourth" chance at "life", this latest generation is working equally hard to legalize marijuana and take away the one and only chance they have at "life".
A thick dark cloud of smoke is rising in the West.
Is this so hard to see? Probably, due to all the smoke and mirrors!
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
After having been pulled over a few times in my life by the Police (for speeding and nothing else, thank God). I found the time I spent off to the side of the road surprisingly beneficial for personal reflection, meditation and examination.
As a people belonging to the greatest nation on earth, I think we need to be pulled aside for a while.
“You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?"
ReplyDeleteFor just as through the disobedience of the ‘one man’ the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the ‘one man’ the many will be made righteous…..But where sin increased, grace increased all the more. Rom 5:19-20
We individuals all have vices and virtues. Some more, some less. We sin, but we try to love to cover these sins (1 Peter 4:8). But as a Body of Christ, I also see that this Body has the same dilemma: it has vices and virtues – collectively. So if my brothers/sisters are sinning, cannot my acts of love for my neighbors ‘balance out’ this vice into more of a virtue – in our collective Body of Christ? All it took was ‘one man’ to turn the tables (above quote). Yes, it was Christ, but He has given us this grace on earth so we can participate in His Life, in His Love. “Where sin increased, grace increased more.” I have been given eyes (even greater grace than their sin) to see what others have not been given, so more is expected of me. “Love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8. Can I, by loving, cover ‘their’ sin? Doesn’t the Church teach that my sacrifices, my intentions for others can resonate across the world for someone I may not even know? Wasn’t St Stephen’s martyrdom related to Paul’s conversion?
I do believe that when I pray for all of humanity, God hears my prayers and answers them in a way that is best for humanity. My acts of love, accordingly, are heard by God. I also believe that He hears the cry of the humblest people who would die to end abortion, world hunger, sins of others, etc., has pity on them and will answer their prayer with a resounding Yes! It’s just going to take a lot of committed Christians who would die out of Love, for the good of this world, our God, without expecting anything in return. ‘The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.’
Thank you Father for your meditations.
Excellent thoughts, Father!
ReplyDeleteI've started reading Arianna Huffington's "Third World America" which talks about the decline of the Middle Class. The Wall Street "casino" and the dominance of the financial industry have thrown our economy into perpetual turmoil. We have an urgent need to grow our production and manufacturing industries to off-set an imbalance, but so many jobs require education/skills Americans lack. The jobs are taken overseas and given to better qualified foreign candidates. She predicts if we don't change things around we as "the greatest nation on earth" may become a "third world nation."
America has its priorities all out of whack! Our government seems to care more about Defense spending and useless wars than creating more jobs. I think our Congress and President have been in "La La Land" for way too long, totally clueless about the real needs of our country. If there was a way we could impeach all of Congress and the President, I'm all for it. However, I think it takes a huge cultural shift by every single American to get things back on track. As long as the Corporate Giants like Citibank, Monsanto, and Halliburton use their power to get what THEY want we will all be left in a thick cloud of smoke and soot unable funnel our way out of economic uncertainty.
Blessings,
-Jennifer
Great meditation Fr. Alfonse. What we need for our country is more prayers. We need to pray more and more.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely.
Delete“As a people belonging to the greatest nation on earth, I think we need to be pulled aside for a while.”
ReplyDeleteHow I wish someone would pull me aside and tell me what I need to do, to say, or stop doing, stop saying. So much of my relationships is miscommunication! I want to build up the body of Christ but it seems all I am doing is tearing it down!....and I don’t even know how I’m doing it.
I know this is my cross, and I accept it. I hope and pray that I will continue to carry the crosses that God gives me with humility and love.