Greetings on this the Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop
Readings: 2 JN 4-9; PS 119:1, 2, 10, 11, 17, 18; LK 17:26-37
Notes: The title of today’s homily is Progressive Perdition.
A friend of mine (who shares the same birthday as me) once commented, ‘You have the best titles but not always the best reflections.’ I admit, therefore, today’s title is a teaser!
For the short answer is this:
Progressive Perdition is for a Christian to fail to profess Christ and fail to act as Christ.
That is to say acting with the impetus of love. He did demand of his followers to obey his commandments. We who are disciples of Christ are obliged to walk like him. He was patient and kind to all those who do not know him.
As to all: He forced noone. He pleaded with everyone.
In no way should the social dilemma of today be construed as the topic of Jesus’ teaching.
The modern application of modernism (speaking of church teachings now by some in USA) is a farcical attempt to:
- Avoid difficult topics.
- Assert non-Christian theology (counter intuitive, yes. But most opponents of ‘modernism’ are, in fact, the modernists, disguised as faithful to Christ).
Read the reflection by the Franciscans below.
Saint Martin of Tours’ Story
A conscientious objector who wanted to be a monk; a monk who was maneuvered into being a bishop; a bishop who fought paganism as well as pleaded for mercy to heretics—such was Martin of Tours, one of the most popular of saints and one of the first not to be a martyr.
Reflection
Martin’s worry about cooperation with evil reminds us that almost nothing is either all black or all white. The saints are not creatures of another world: They face the same perplexing decisions that we do. Any decision of conscience always involves some risk. If we choose to go north, we may never know what would have happened had we gone east, west, or south. A hyper-cautious withdrawal from all perplexing situations is not the virtue of prudence; it is in fact, a bad decision, for “not to decide is to decide.”
https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-martin-of-tours
First reading
[Chosen Lady:]
I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth just as we were commanded by the Father.
Let us love one another. For this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning, in which you should walk.
Anyone who is so “progressive” as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God; whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son.
Responsorial Psalm
Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Blessed are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD.
Alleluia Verse
Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.
Gospel Portion
The Day of the Son of Man and Lessons from the Past.
Rapture is a heresy.
The description of one taken and one remains is a metaphoric expression of the story of Noah’s Ark.
Directly as Jesus indicated.
Noah’s Ark and Lot’s oppresson are the examples to use (Gen 6-8 and 2 Peter 2:4-10).
Those who do not seek their refuge in the Lord face certain, sudden and absolute destruction.
All other silliness aside.
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
Deacon Gerry Palermo 