Greetings on this the Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 2 Corinthians 1:18-22; Psalm 119:129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 135; Matthew 5:13-16
Summary
In this age of chaos and dehumanization it is not necessary to be a Franciscan or a Jesuit to understand the problem. You can also be an Augustinian (an attempt at humor). Pope Leo XIV would understand without a doubt.
From Confessions, Saint Augustine, Chapter VIII
The group of us who lived together as friends used to deplore these things. I used especially to discuss them with Alypius and Nebridius. Nevertheless, the whirlpool of Carthaginian morals, with their passion for empty public shows, sucked him into the folly of the circus games.
The whole place kindled with that savage pastime. But he, closing the passage of his eyes, forbade his mind to range abroad after such evil; and would he had stopped his ears also! For in the fight, when one fell, a mighty cry of the whole people striking him strongly, overcome by curiosity, and as if prepared to despise and be superior to it whatsoever it were, even when seen, he opened his eyes, and was stricken with a deeper wound in his soul than the other, whom he desired to behold, was in his body; and he fell more miserably than he upon whose fall that mighty noise was raised, which entered through his ears, and unlocked his eyes, to make way for the striking and beating down of a soul, bold rather than resolute, and the weaker, in that it had presumed on itself, which ought to have relied on Thee.
For so soon as he saw that blood, he therewith drunk down savageness; nor turned away, but fixed his eye, drinking in frenzy, unawares, and was delighted with that guilty fight, and intoxicated with the bloody pastime. Nor was he now the man he came, but one of the throng he came unto, yea, a true associate of theirs that brought him thither. Why say more? He beheld, shouted, kindled, carried thence with him the madness which should goad him to return not only with them who first drew him thither, but also before them, yea and to draw in others.
Gospel View
Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot (MT 5:13).
Instead
Let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father (MT 5:16).
Reflection
The salt of security. The salt of cohabitation and coexistence is being coopted by the desire to exert power and domination. Our salt is becoming tasteless.
Bishop Alypius ironically found himself defending the faith against pelagianism. Given the story above and, later, his becoming bishop reinforces the stark reality of the need to overcome by grace the soul corruption so pervasive as to miss its effects.
Those who are enforcing immigration control with abandon have fallen into the ignorance of their fallen state.
To be blunt: Your instinct of self-protection, ICE, is corrupted by your blind sinfulness.
Personal Reflection
It is not hard to imagine the original intent of border security has been coopted by the sheer spectacle of authoritarian suppression. Is ther much difference between a circus of old and the blood sport of today?
Sacred Readings Full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061025.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry