I Weep as the World Rejoices

When I began to reflect on today’s gospel, I read Jesus’ words, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices,” and immediately thought this is exactly how I feel.  I weep at the sins of the world.

I often feel like the world is going in a very different direction than our faith, than Jesus teaches.  The world makes freedom the ultimate prize while our faith calls us to look beyond our desires to choose to use our freedom to work for the building up of God’s Kingdom.  We pray in the Lord’s prayer, “thy kingdom come.”  Do we mean it or do we just say the words?  What about the words “thy will be done?”

Jesus knows our grief and goes on to say to us, “So you also are now in anguish.  But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.”  We can find ourselves in anguish in a world that rejects Jesus.  Do not be afraid!  There is hope! 

Before his recent passing Pope Francis inaugurated a jubilee year of hope (see Spes Non Confundit. see also my articles relating to the Jubilee Year of hope).  We need hope in our world today.  We are given that hope through Jesus Christ who loves us so much that He willingly laid down his life for us on the Cross (see John 15:13).  How can a person believe that Jesus died for them and then not follow what He teaches?  In his Crucifixion, Jesus makes the forgiveness of our sins possible so that we might share in the Resurrection to eternal life.  Our hope comes not from human endeavors but in eternal life.

Turning to today’s first reading, we read, “When Paul was about to reply, Gallio spoke to the Jews, “If it were a matter of some crime or malicious fraud, I should with reason hear the complaint of you Jews; but since it is a question of arguments over doctrine and titles and your own law, see to it yourselves. I do not wish to be a judge of such matters.” And he drove them away from the tribunal.”  Gallio understands his jurisdiction lies with civil issues, not issues of faith.

This too makes me think of how our world today conducts its affairs.  We talk about separation of church and state but we fail to see that there is overlap.  People say that our Catholic Church should be silent on matters like abortion, assisted suicide, and LGBT issues, claim.  They claim they are not matters of faith.  Abortion and assisted suicide are matters of faith as they fall under the Fifth Commandment, thou shall not kill.  LGBT falls under the Sixth Commandment, thou shall not commit adultery. 

In Ezekiel 3:17-21, our Lord calls us to warn others about their sins as He calls us to be mindful of our own when He calls us to tend to the wooden beam in our own eye as we address the splinter in others (Matthew 7:1-5).  If we do not warn them, we are jeopardizing their souls and our own soul. 

While they want us to be silent on issues important to them, they want to tell us what to do when it comes to the seal of Confession.  Are you aware that the state of Washington has passed a law to force priests to violate the seal of Confession when it involves abuse (Amira Abuzeid, “Washington Bishops sue over law forcing priests to violate seal of confession.”  May 29, 2025.  Catholic News Agency. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/264407/washington-bishops-sue-over-law-forcing-priests-to-violate-seal-of-confession)?

Now, abuse is always a terrible thing and we must pray often for it to end.  I am sorry for any past abuse by priests and I am very sorry for the way it was poorly handled by the church.  But the seal of Confession is a deep matter of faith of which civil law does not have jurisdiction over.  They say the abuse allegations are more important than religious issues yet they still give nurses and therapists an exemption from reporting abuse.  This makes no sense. 

And so my heart weeps.  I turn to Acts 5:41 for hope in the example of the early disciples.  In the midst of persecution, “they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.”

I pray that the world comes to see what is going on as God sees it (see 1 Samuel 16:7).  I pray that the world comes to understand that God has a better way for us.  His will is a better way for us.  Jesus is “the way and the truth and life” (John 14:6).  His commandments are good for us (see Deuteronomy 4:6).

Only when we accept God’s Will can we find the joy that endures forever.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff