John 15:26-16:4a The Spirit of God

John 15:26-16:4a  The Spirit of God

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Jesus said to his disciples:  “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me.”

In Japan, a lack of babies could mean the extinction of the Japanese people.  Birth control has done more than control the Japanese population.  It has destroyed it.  In America, social scientists claim that childhood obesity diminishes when children sleep with their parents.  In other words, when children feel they are provided and protected for, they tend to worry less and eat less.  Now we have scientific proof of a relationship of epidemic proportions between the problem of childhood obesity and the problem with our families.  In America, we spend billions of dollars protecting our nation from outside attacks.  Yet we spend nearly nothing in protecting traditional families, authentic marriage, and wholesome values from inside attacks. 

Oh Lord, help me to trust in your Church.  Throughout its history, the Roman Catholic Church has had to endure powerful individuals who openly opposed one or more of her teachings.  In the depths of their heart, they knew they were right.  And so, in order to not appear schizophrenic, they took the logical step and stepped outside the Church. 

But recently, it has become fashionable to be a religious schizophrenic; that is, to be in opposition to some of the teachings of the Church and still remain a Catholic.  That novelty goes even further.  We now have individuals who oppose the most significant teachings of the Church and claim to be not only Catholic but a faithful Catholic as well.  I don’t think I need to mention by name any of them.  Suffice it to say, they can be found among our most powerful politicians, secretaries and spouses. 

While I was studying for my B.S./M.S. in Imaging Science at RIT, I took a class entitled “Introduction to Philosophy.”  Our text book was a popular novel of the 1970’s or 80’s entitled, “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.”  Our professor decided to skip all those “old guys” like Plato, Aristotle and St. Thomas and immediately made us jump into what was of interest (1) at that time, and (2) to him.   And what exactly did interest him?  Drugs and Eastern philosophy. 

None of us suspected any type of brain washing.  I enjoyed the class, and I truly believed I knew something about philosophy.  Seven years later, when I was sent to Rome to study philosophy, I was told that I would have to take an introductory class in Philosophy.  I protested.  I said, “I already took this class in College.”  They insisted.  And so, it wasn’t until seven years later that I truly took an “Introduction to Philosophy”; this time in Rome, and under the guidance of philosophers with real PhD’s in philosophy.   

Most heretics pride themselves in the fact that they were educated in Catholic schools and Universities.  They even give credit to the “good” priests and nuns that taught them to question everything, including their faith.

But the truth is quite different.  These young minds were never really taught to question everything.  They weren't even taught to question their faith.  The only thing they were taught to question were the same exact things the "good" priests and nuns questioned themselves:   vows, morals and sex. 

Is it just coincidence that these same things that were being questioned in our schools were also being questioned in society?  Did anyone ever question society?  Were these students ever taught to question their personal decisions, the morality of their actions or their professors bias and prejudice against a teaching authority that was thousands of miles away yet almost two thousand years old?  No, of course not.  Why?  Don't you know?  Didn't you know the Holy Spirit only works at the personal level (like the "me" level), local level (U.S. only, like U.S. Catholic Church not Roman Catholic Church) and only part time (not past or future but only now)?

Today, we have priests and nuns who really think their vows are much more difficult now than they were two thousand years ago; and so the vows need to change.   Today, we have children who question everything - including their parents - but not their friends.  Today, we have parents who question teachers on everything (but not really, just anything to do with their child).  Today, we have Politicians, billionaires and the local junky who think they have been able to study a topic to such great depths and lengths that they feel qualified enough to oppose the teachings of the Church that took centuries, Saints and the Holy Spirit to formulate.  Wow!  Talk about being inspired... today!!!  

We have always had heretics.  But the schizophrenic religious is something new.  However, what is not new is how these destructive personalities can create some of the most horrific fruits this world has ever seen.  Most schizophrenic religious are harmless, but some have the billions or position to pursue and persuade millions of people throughout our country and world. 

There is much evil they have already done.  There is much more to come…  It is not His Spirit they wish to share.  It is their own that is left behind...with one long dark shadow.

Oh Lord, you are the giver and sustainer of life.  Your words are humble and true.  You sent Your Spirit upon us so that we could trust in your Bride, the Church.  Help us all to be more like you:  meek and humble of heart.  May we never fall into the comfort of my own thoughts; may we never see things as they are but as you have created them to be.  We ask this through Christ Our Lord.  Amen.