What’s It Going to Take for People to Realize the State of Things?

I hope I am not sounding like a broken record that keeps repeating itself.  Last week I wrote, “What’s It Going to Take to End the Violence.”  There I said the answer laid in tears that came from the depths of our hearts. 

In my Sunday homily this week, I spoke about current events that fulfill what Jesus said in Matthew 24:3-14 would happen before his return in the Second Coming.

So, today’s question, “What’s it going to take for people to realize the state of things,” may not seem that different.  Comparing it to last week’s question, realizing the state of things is what can lead us to tears that come from the depths of our hearts.  Referring to my Sunday homily this week, recognizing that the Second Coming could happen at any moment should lead us to realize that time is of the essence.

What is the state of things in the world?

Some say things are wonderful because people have more freedoms than ever before.  The problem is what are we doing with those freedoms.  As St. Pope John Paul II said, “Every generation of Americans needs to know that freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought” (“Homily of his holiness John Paul II” during his Apostolic Journey to America. Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore. October 8, 1995. https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paulii/en/homilies/1995/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_19951008_baltimore.html. 7.). 

Are we doing good things with our freedoms?

To answer this question, we must pray that we see the broader picture.  We must pray that we see the world not just from our limited human perspective.  We must pray that we see the world as God sees it (see 1 Samuel 16:7).

Looking at secular affairs, it seems some think the ends justify the means.  They see a good end and think they can do whatever it takes to achieve that “good” end.  For instance, Israel is now bombing hospitals in Gaza with the “good end” of ending the violence done by Hamas as its goal. 

Has Hamas committed horrible attacks of violence?  Yes.

However, that does not give Israel free rein in their response (see the sixth criteria for just war at https://www.renewaloffaith.org/just-war-theory.html).  We are talking about hospitals.  Israel says Hamas is hiding in/under the hospitals.  So what?  How many innocent people are dying in these attacks?  I have not seen numbers but I wonder if more innocent people are suffering from these attacks than Hamas.

Let us pray for the leadership of Israel and Hamas to make wiser decisions.

When candidates run for secular elections, the main method of campaigning seems to be to point out how bad the other candidate is.  Won’t it be much better if they told us their positions and their position is better.  What good is gained by negative campaigning?

Let us pray for all those running for political office, to end the negative campaigning in favor of stating the good of their own positions.

Unfortunately, political maneuvering is becoming more common in our Catholic Church.  I see this in the German synod (see Catholic News Agency’s articles on this at https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/results?q=german+synod#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=german%20synod&gsc.page=1).  There is political batter from Germany claiming the Catholic Church needs to catch up with the world while conservative Catholics write against the German synod.  Where is the truth in this?  For those who think the Catholic Church needs to catch up with the world, I do not hear arguments on how what they say is in continuity with the Bible or subsequent teaching of the Church.  I do not hear sound arguments on how what they say comes from God.  In saying the Church needs to catch up with the world, it can seem like they are putting the world before God.

What’s it going to take for people to realize the state of things? 

We need to get back to our foundation, Jesus Christ.  It is only upon this foundation that our Catholic Church will stand forever. 

We need Jesus Christ as our cornerstone.  We must not pull our cornerstone out by breaking with what God has taught for ages.  Jesus identifies himself as the cornerstone in Matthew 21:42 (cf. Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17).

For those who value “freedom” above all else and embrace relativism, is there any foundation?  Relativism says there is no universal truth.  If there is no universal truth, I don’t see how there can be any foundation.  Is “freedom” their foundation?  How can one build a future based on freedom alone?  Won’t people always be at odds with one another?

We are seeing the fulfillment of what Paul wrote to Timothy, “For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths.  But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardship; perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:3-5).  We need to hold fast to what Jesus taught.

Jesus said, ‘Jesus then said to those Jews who believed in him, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”’ (John 8:31-32).

As I said at the beginning of this article, I hope I do not sound like a broken record, merely repeating what I have written in the past. 

Let us pray that we and all in our Catholic Church seek God’s Truth and to do his Will in all things, always remaining in his Word.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff