Mt 10:16-23 Double Standards“I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves.”
When I look at myself, what do I see? Of course I would love to see myself as one of the Lord’s sheep. Who wouldn’t? But what truly matters is whether or not the Lord sees in me one of his sheep.
Recently, we have been inundated - as if it were a new genetic mutation - with a good number of wolves dressed in sheep clothing, or at best, sheep who have gone astray or even black. What in the world is going on? Why is this happening? I hate to mention names. I hate to even comment on anyone, especially when I have little or no evidence to support any given side. All I have is what is available on respectable Internet sites and on reliable news channels.
Let’s get one thing straight. We will always seek the sensational. That is, we seek what is shocking to the imagination. Many people spent many hours in front of their television watching the Anthony Casey trial. It was televised and streamed live for all to see. And the verdict came in: not guilty. And yet, very few (especially women) can accept it. They know, as all mothers know, that it is impossible for a mother to forget her child. They cannot fathom how someone could go for one month and not report their child missing. But the jury seemed to not know. And therefore, she will be set free in less than ten days. Is she a lamb or a wolf-in-lamb’s clothing. In time, we will find out. This will not be the end of the case. The last chapter has not been written. “What is done in the dark (good or bad) will always come out in the light.”
What is ever more interesting than the Anthony Casey trial is the post-trial chatter. MSN recently asked the stars for their thoughts regarding the verdict. Interesting…when in the world did a movie star become a legal expert? Why are they asked and not the poor man in the street corner? I happen to be one who thinks the poor man’s opinion is far more important. At least he would better represent the common man.
Before I forget, it would appear as if we now need a new law, a law that will make it a crime for a mother not to report her missing child within 24 hours. What kind of society do we live in that requires a law like this? Oh yes, a society which has become an immoral, individualistic, hedonistic, secular, relativistic, materialistic and atheistic society. Sound familiair? “Jesus turned and said, Do not weep for me daughters of Jerusalem; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say ‘Blessed are the barren.’” (Lk 23:29)
How bizarre our legal system is. How inconsistent it appears to be. At the other end of the spectrum, a Mexican national was executed in the state of Texas on Thursday. Legal challenges and petitions were brought in from the White House, the State Department and the Mexican Ambassador pleading to save the convicted murderers life. Humberto Leal was convicted of brutally raping and killing a sixteen year old girl. He confessed his crime. And yet, the convict’s lawyers repeated over and over again that his execution would be considered a violation of international law. The lawyers were truly acting like babies in order to save a baby killer. I would not even dare to say that his man should not have been spared. But what I am saying is that a million innocent babies are slaughtered every year and the lawyer guilds and associations, the ACLU and the White House remain silent and refuse to request a stay of execution for them. Oh my, what are they? Lambs, sheep-wolves, or wolves.
Recently, three female public high school teachers were arrested for having sex with their students. In all three cases, it was reported that the minors all consented to their relationship. That was supposed to make it better. Not once in the article did the terms “molested” or “raped” or “victimized” ever appear the Dallas Morning News. Terms that would have been readily used if the Catholic Church had been involved. The Judge in the case gave a very light sentence to the three teachers. Child advocacy groups screamed and rightly so. They stated that a child’s consent is meaningless. After all, they are children. I agree with them one hundred percent. I also agree that that needs to be the standard when a child seeks an abortion without their parent’s consent.
The media always have a field day with the stars – movie and royal stars. I have to admit I had never heard about the scandal involving the Duchess of York, Sarah Furguson. Of course it was all a set-up involving a fake deal with a real reporter. But what is even more scandalous is the fact that she was thrown out of the palace and her prince divorced her. He apparently forgot the scandal and hurt his brother caused his Princess.
There is one institution in the world that continues to omit no one. When they preach, it is for all, congregation and preacher. When they forgive, it is for all, congregation and preacher. I love the Roman Catholic Church because we are all equally sinners. I could easily welcome everyone with a smile and say, "Welcome sinner." I won't of course, but I could and no one - not priest, bishop, pope, laymen, laywoman, child should ever feel offended - including myself. There is, within Christianity, a fraternity, home, where all are welcomed, all are equal, all are sinners in need of a Savior. We have to make sure that we never fight against each other but rather help save one another.
In summary, the case against our elected officials, beloved lawyers and fairytale royals is the same as that of our politicians; that when they legislate for all men, they always omit themselves. The same can be said about the media (movie and music stars too). The media loves to interview and blast someone on TV (as they often do), but they always omit themselves from any form of interviews or blasting. Enough is enough and the heat is on as one tabloid magazine just folded after a phone hacking scandal was revealed.
The moral of the story is this. We have all cried wolf on various occasions in our lives. We have often played the victim card. We have looked for ways to be deceptive, manipulative and deceitful because we have sincerely thought that we could avoid being detected and caught by going around the eye of the needle. But we cannot. There will be many that will cry out, “Help! Help!” There will be many that will look for sympathy and advantage. Many of us continue to seek to be one step ahead, one mountain peak higher, than the other.
Very few of us are willing to be forgotten or left alone to die. It is hard to trust in the Lord. The Lord is a demanding God. Sometimes you just have to sell what you have, give it to the poor and start all over again. And one day, you will have to die like a grain of wheat so that you can bear some fruit.
The Lord did just that. And he is looking for those who will do the same. They will be his sheep. There will be no others.
