Jn 16: 16-20 God’s Side
Jesus said to his disciples, "A little while and you will no longer see me, and again a little while later and you will see me...Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy."
On their front cover of this month’s issue, Newsweek magazine declared Mr. Obama “The first Gay President”. The President recently said, “History is on our side.”
On their front cover of this month’s issue, Newsweek magazine declared Mr. Obama “The first Gay President”. The President recently said, “History is on our side.”
I would think that similar words must have been said by Julius Caesar with regards to himself and the Roman Empire: “Citizens of Rome! History is on our side.” And it was, until brutal facts set in and the Barbarians burst in.
After his life was spared from a failed assassination attempt, Hitler declared, “Here you have it: proof that Providence is on my side.” And so he thought, until the Allies arrived and they found him like they had found millions of others: burned to ashes.
Of course “history is on our side”…at one time or another. You see, empires rise… and fall. Republics rise…and fall. Dictators come…and go. Presidents live…and die. Policies come…and go. Liberties are given…and taken away. Do we really think two hundred years is a very long time? Try two thousand years and counting!
Recently, I spoke to an Irish woman who was really trying to convince me that the Catholic Church in Ireland would soon disappear. I told her I believed the Irish people would disappear before the Church did. I reminded her that that is exactly what people have been trying to do for centuries. The Irish Pagans tried to do it but St. Patrick wouldn’t go away. The English Protestants thought they could terrorize the Church away, but they didn’t. Now, it’s the Irish Prime Minister’s turn to think he can do it. And he won’t, because the Church is larger than history. If history is supposedly on our side, then I am pleased to say that the Church is on everybody’s side, including God’s good side.
Ever since the fall of man, the world has been operating upside down! Think about it. What is in common with all empires, dictators, most politicians, and too many demonstrators? If you want to be great then crush. If you want to be feared then you must terrorize. If you want to be respected, then show no mercy. If you want to be first then push and push and push. If you want to be heard then scream! If you want to be superior, then highlight the inferior.
We thought we could build a tower and burst our way into Heaven. We failed. We failed because there was a better way. God wanted His Son to come to us. He did and He conquered. We have to change our ways of doing things. We have to start thinking more like Him and less like ourselves. Our way of doing things will always fail if we start at the top and work our way down. WE have to love like he loved. The Lord took delight in the meek and humble of heart. He loved the loser, the diseased and the crippled because he knew they could be so much more. But He also loved the prideful, the arrogant, the obnoxious and the intelligent because he knew they could be so much better.
Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. What is the Gospel? What are the means? If you want to be great, then be small. If you want to be served, then serve. If you want to be worshipped, then love. If you want to ascend into Heaven, then descend on earth. If you want to be lifted up, then lower yourself. If you want to be first, then be last. He who humbles himself shall be exulted. St. Augustine wrote, “The only one who has ascended into heaven is the one who came down from heaven.” That’s it! That’s the secret! You cannot ascend into heaven until you have fallen in love on earth! Let’s turn the world right side up.
Humility is a tough sell. Humiliation is an even tougher sell. But God told us, I will be on your side. Go. Allow the Lord to be with you. Speak the truth that no one wants to hear. Love others like no one really loves. And you will start walking in his footsteps: Humiliation. Betrayal. Rejection. Judged. Sentenced. Executed. Entombed.
And then and only then, no more steps. He will lift you up. Your grief, like His, will become joy!
Start small. End great. Climb ever higher!
Great meditation!
ReplyDeleteHistory is on the Catholic Church's side and will always be on God's side no matter how much the faithful are persecuted, mocked, judged for their stand on issues, or ridiculed!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure many people over the years. especially during various reigns of persecution, thought the Church would disappear for good. Thank goodness Christ has never allowed that to happen! The discussion of Ireland makes me think of the Cristero War in Mexico in the 1920s where anti-Catholicism prevailed. Practicing Catholicism was banned and clergy heavily persecuted. I never heard about this point of Mexican History until I started learning more about the upcoming movie "For Greater Glory" which is receiving outstanding reviews. I recently began reading Graham Greene's 1940 classic "The Power and the Glory" which is a fictional tale relating to this time period in Mexico history. Father, if you have never read this book I highly recommend it. It sheds a whole new light on not only corruption, persecution and poverty but also mortal sin and its ramification. The main character is a "whisky priest" so you can imagine why he's considered a "bad" priest. Anyhow, I couldn't help but think of this book when I saw the picture for this meditation. Even on the run, everybody wants the "whisky priest" to hear their confessions.
Anyway, thank-you for your priestly inspirations.
Blessings,
-Jennifer
I would rather be one of the few in history that stands with the church, than be part of the many that follow fickle leaders. Leaders come and go...the church has outlasted them all. I prefer to not follow the cult of personality. A humble man of good will would not place himself on the entertainment tv circuit and constantly seek to be popular with the pop culture crowd, but would be rolling up his leaves to work. Men of good will are humble! Satan has one goal, to topple the church and lead as many away from God as possible. I think it is very sad that the Irish woman thinks the church will disappear from Ireland. If you are truly faithful, you should trust the church and not blame the church for the sins of some trusted to be shepherds. Satan works hardest on those called to serve God. We need to pray daily for our priests and church leaders and for our Mother church. Thank you Father for your meditations!
ReplyDeleteAmen! When I became a priest, I didn't do so because I liked my parish priest. I became a priest because I believed in what the Church taught, and I believed that this is what the Lord wanted.
ReplyDeleteInteresting article: "In Defense of Your Parish Priest" http://www.integratedcatholiclife.org/2011/10/hain-in-defense-of-your-parish-priest/
ReplyDeleteNo particular priest can be all things to all people at all times, except our One High Priest Himself. Thank God for His love of diversity in creating each of us (including each priest) so differently. I like the point of this article, and others like it--the Eucharist is the most important part of our lives as Catholic Christians. May God continue to bless you richly in your ministry, Father.
"you will start walking in his footsteps: Humiliation. Betrayal. Rejection. Judged. Sentenced. Executed. Entombed"
ReplyDeleteKnowing this does not make it any easier. Every time I encounter these things in relation to standing up for the Church or for God, I still feel fearful and concerned with what others think.
I truly believe that that one thing, fear of what people think or may think is a force that holds many of us back from sharing the Truth' that we proclaim to hold with those who disagree or don't understand.
Just tonight it came up that a Catholic woman who is married to a Lutheran is looking for a church that fits their needs or desire instead of what is True.
I did not even try to share the Truth with her. I actually didn't think of it until I was on my way home. But I did feel uncomfortable when she kept calling the Eucharist a wafer and the precious blood, 'wine' in a way that made it ordinary. She had no clue what she was saying or why it was wrong and I didn't say anything. I regret it, but I'm sure God will give me another chance to speak up. He always does.
Lord, give me the courage to speak up when I need to.