Doubling Down

Greetings on this the Thursday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Rom 3:21-30; PS 130:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6ab; Lk 11:47-54
Notes: Today in America we see the ancient problem of retrenchment by sinful men.

People who are called out for their oppressive ways, instead of considering and accepting the correction, they double down on their beliefs and manage information to the specifications of their bias.

We see this in the recasting of the January 6th, 2021 Insurrection and those in the Republican party who would describe it as something else. Anything else at all but for what it was.

Then doubling down they build a new reasoning process. A false narrative based upon deeply held fear and existing advantage. It is the way and the language of civil war.

We are becoming or have already become an El Salvador, circa 1980.

This day, Óscar Romero, was canonized October 14, 2018 and his feast day is March 24.

Reflection

Oscar Romero and many other Latin American martyrs for the faith were falsely accused of advocating a Marxist-inspired “theology of liberation.” Following Jesus always requires choices. Romero’s fiercest critics conveniently dismissed his choices as politically inspired. An incarnational faith must be expressed publicly.
https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-oscar-arnulfo-romero

First reading
For there is no distinction; all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God. They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus.

We first and foremost oblige ourselves to the Law of Love. We do not demand it of others but of ourselves.

Jesus said, I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do (John 13:15).

Responsorial Psalm
With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.

Alleluia Verse
I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father except through me.

Gospel Portion
Just be glad we aren’t reading the Matthew version of these woes (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/23?27=#48023027)!

It has been a practice for so long to disparage the word of God.
So many, through the ages, hated the Prophets and the Apostles.

Nobody killed them because they preached ‘love’. They killed them for speaking out against injustice and oppression.

the blood of all the prophets
shed since the foundation of the world,
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah
who died between the altar and the temple building.

Everyone is tempted to discount their own guilt or participation in the oppression of people and the persecution of the Church. For some, Jesus’ words brought about repentance. This was his purpose to bring about the conversion or evolution.

For some instead, they doubled-down.

When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees
began to act with hostility toward him
and to interrogate him about many things,
for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.

They intended to kill him eventually.

When you are tempted to double down having been called out for an injustice, resist the temptation to appear white and washed while being rotted inside. Instead seek the face of God who is merciful and make right the wrong.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry