Greetings on this the Friday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Genesis 11:1-9; Psalm 33:10-11, 12-13, 14-15; Mark 8:34—9:1
Summary
The LORD brings to nought the plans of nations;
he foils the designs of peoples.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.
Our psalmist today reminds us that the Lord will prevail in his loving plans for the human family. Even as we have setbacks and apparent failure, is not the Cross a failure in the externalities but a great victory from the interior vanquishing death and sin? We know the divine will of good is paramount, efficacious and eternal.
Faith in Action
When the Notre Dame Cathedral burned on April 15, 2019, crowds of Parisians gathered near the site and sang “Ave Maria” as a way to mourn the destruction of the iconic landmark and remembered the divine promise shared between Mary and Elizabeth. In setbacks, faith. The reconstruction of Notre Dame was both an article of a living faith and an honor of the faith of our fathers.
Parisians are not ashamed of Christ. Parisians love Christ. Did the fire reawaken faith?
What endures meets what passes away. Notre Dame endures. France’s civil rulers — kings, emperors, presidents, prime ministers, tyrants, revolutionaries, democrats — pass away. King Louis XIV is alleged to have proclaimed: L’etat, c’est moi (translated The state is me). He was wrong about that. Those who know the history of France know that the truth is better expressed, L’eglise, c’est la France (translated: The Church is France).
Building a Tower of Babel
Are VP Vance and President Trump ashamed of Christ? They are ashamed of the mission for the poor, for the oppressed nations, for actual religious expression and ashamed of the mandate of Christ. Declaring Europe has lost its shared values (democracy and religious freedom) is the “tell” of a liar and a projection of the interior fault. No right thinking man is fooled.
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
What could one give in exchange for his life?
Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words
in this faithless and sinful generation,
the Son of Man will be ashamed of
when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels.
Personal Reflection
As the Church slides deeper into crisis the faith will prevail, I’ve no doubt. Christ is King. The mission is to limit the wave of destruction by those who:
said to one another,
"Come, let us mold bricks and harden them with fire."
They used bricks for stone, and bitumen for mortar.
Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city
and a tower with its top in the sky,
and so make a name for ourselves.
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022125.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
I very much appreciate your applications of today’s world to history and Scripture. Today’s blog, like the ABC article on Catholicism the other day was very enlightening. As someone who has greatly reduced his intake of daily news, well-founded articles and analysis based on Christ’s teaching are still needed by all of us. Thank you!
True!! Catholic Nationalism has lost its way.