Children Be On Guard Against Idols

Greetings on this the Saturday after Epiphany
Readings: 1 Jn 5:14-21; Ps 147 Jn 3:22-30

Note: This reflection is after the horrendous assault and insurrection on the form of government and the Capitol building of these United States. Even still people persist in their self-righteousness.

Idol of Violence

Children, be on your guard against idols the 1st letter of John states. We know this can come in many forms. Some are more present than others. Some are reflex results of others.

But for a Catholic Christian violence is not something we support. Rather as John states again, We have this confidence in him that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

Taking matters into your own hands is the oldest of Satan’s tricks. Satan used sacred Scripture to lure Jesus into unrighteousness. Did we not learn anything from the temptations in the desert that Jesus endured (Lk 4)?

Jesus’ three responses are:

1. One does not live by bread alone.
2. Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.
3. Do not put the Lord your God to the test.

We know the one who is true is not the one who mimics sacred scripture like Satan did but lives out the Beatitudes. You should have been able to see the difference.

Epiphany Violence

On the day of Epiphany (traditional) – Christian Violence? Is this what you have me believe? Are you pretending not to see Donald Trump gleefully watching the violence with his family and the Vice-President having to intervene.

Our Alleluia

The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death. Indeed the contrast is stark. The silence of the Church is deafening. Jesus is present and he illuminates all of this. The darkness, the pretend sacredness and the true path of right living in him.

The Way of John the Baptist

He must increase; I must decrease. John understood making room for Jesus is the quintessential change in us. Making room for Jesus is Justice!

Quote of the week

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., delivered blistering remarks Wednesday afternoon against President Trump and his Republican colleagues who are objecting to the Electoral College results, saying of Congress:

“We cannot simply declare ourselves a national board of elections on steroids.”

“We’ll either hasten down a poisonous path where only the winners of an election actually accept the results or show we can still muster the patriotic courage that our forebears showed, not only in victory, but in defeat,” he said.

Only minutes later…. the Capitol building was invaded.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry