Matthew 19:23-30 With God All Things Are Possible
Today’s first reading from the book of Ezekiel is a vivid reminder that there is a God, and I’m not him! Man is always attempting to be more “understanding”, more “accepting”, more “respectable”, more “tolerant” then God. Evil has always marketed itself as being “more” humane – the more efficient “savior.” But darkness is not light and evil is not good. When man plays god, evil is let loose! There is one thing in common with Fascism, Nazism and Communism: Atheism.
Ezekiel, with much sarcasm tells the prince of Tyre, You may think yourself a god, but you are a man and not a god! How long will it take for us to learn, that without God - without God in our hearts and minds, communities and nation, textbooks and schools, laws and government, arts and culture, families and life, there will be no understanding of right or wrong; no peace in our schools or offices; no moral compass to guide our actions - no moral authority to look up to. We have not become a richer (kinder) and gentler nation. We are a begging and fearful nation. We fear our schools, neighborhoods, children, husbands, wives, and government because we do not allow the Son of Man to be seated on his throne.
The Lord says, “It is I who deal death and give life.” (Dt 32:39c) It is the Lord who determines the life of each individual and the life of the nations. He is the Lord of life and history. The “rich young man” whom we met yesterday has been metastasized from an individual into a lesson, a society - a nation! The Lord’s lesson is that it is impossible for man to save himself! How we would love to say, “’Our own hand won the victory, the Lord had nothing to do with it.’” (Dt 32:27) Of course we are to try, but alone man cannot and will never eliminate poverty, disease, drugs, abuse, loneliness, despair, fear, war, terror or death! His solution is not God’s solution. His solution will always be one of reduction – of births, of the elderly; of legalization of drugs and prostitution; of technology and devices. Why is it impossible for man alone to solve the world’s problems? Because they are a consequence of sin. Sin lies beneath all the external ailments of life and men. Our world is a mixture with weeds and wheat, sin and grace, sinners and saints, evil empires and God fearing nations (the Vatican is a sovereign nation)!
“It is hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven.” It is very hard, for their hell is on earth! Rich people, those who are in the world and of the world, are generally not happy people. Rich people are filled with spiritual emptiness; physical disease; drug addictions; physical, psychological and sexual perversion; loneliness due to countless separations of spouse and children; despair of ageing; and fear of failure or bankruptcy! It is so hard for them because they are so far down! The temptation to enter the gates of hell and to end their existence is tremendous. Our Lord reminds us, “The first shall be last and the last shall be first.” With regards to sin, it’s not good to be the first. Instead of looking up to the rich, we should bend our knees, look up to the Lord, and pray for them. “I tell you…there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous who do not need to repent.” (Lk 15:7) They need our prayers and we need their prayers! “Who then can be saved?” “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”
Today, let us pray a mystery of the rosary for the conversion of sinners, the start of a new world order in the right order!
AMEN!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for starting out my day in God's order! God bless you, Fr. Alfonse!
"The Lord’s lesson is that it is impossible for man to save himself! How we would love to say, “’Our own hand won the victory, the Lord had nothing to do with it.’” (Dt 32:27) Of course we are to try, but ALONE man cannot and will never eliminate poverty, disease, drugs, abuse, loneliness, despair, fear, war, terror or death!"
ReplyDeleteWhy do I keep forgetting this? I cannot fix myself or anything else in this world. I can only do what I can do and let God do the rest. I keep forgetting the God part. I guess that’s why my success ratio is so low!
Why do I expect more out of myself than He does?
Why do I know these things and yet not KNOW them?
Today's reflection, actually every day's reflection is requiring me to dig deep and think WAY more than usual about my words, thoughts and actions. I'm digging out things that I never knew were there, things I'd rather not know are there and finding lots of areas in my life that need healing.
It's brought the daily scripture readings into my every day life, into my conversations and into my thoughts throughout the day.
Father, you may think that's a good thing, but my head is about to explode!
Who then can be saved?” “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”
THANK GOD FOR THIS!!!