Earlier this month we celebrated the feast day of Pope St. John XXIII, good Pope John, who, much to the surprise of the Cardinals and Bishops and the rest of the world, convoked an ecumenical council—the Second Vatican Council.
The Holy Father detected great changes in society such as rapid technological development, the development of the working class, changes in women’s role in society, and the gradual disappearance of colonialism. In the Papal Bull calling the Council, Pope John wrote about the Church’s need to pay attention to the “signs of the times”. He wrote, “We renew our confidence in our Savior who has not left the world he redeemed. Instead we make our own the recommendation that one should know how to distinguish the signs of the times (Mt 16:4) and we seem to see now in the midst of so much darkness a few indications that argue well for the fate of the Church and humanity (sec. 3).”
After the death of Pope John, the new Pope, Paul VI, also continued this idea, that the Church needed to pay attention to the signs of the times in order to effectively speak to the world in the midst of all of these changes and challenges.
In the Gospel today, the Lord Jesus remarks that his contemporaries are adept at forecasting the weather by reading the signs, but they were missing something more important than weather, which was happening in their midst. Signs of God’s presence were all around them: loaves being multiplied, the lame walking, hardened sinners repenting, and the good news spreading. But with all these signs many refused to believe.
Similarly today, even amidst all the political chaos, natural disaster, war, and sickness in the world, God is present. There are miracles and healings, restored relationships, souls trapped in cycles of destructive behavior being freed through faith in Christ, Catholics pouring out their lives in teaching the young, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, so much evidence—if we take time to look and listen—of the presence of God.
And yet, there are dark clouds on the cultural horizon, that the Church also needs to read and respond to. The rise of artificial intelligence, sexual immorality and gender confusion being imposed on young people, war mongering, unnecessarily risked national security, the threat of the use of nuclear arms, rampant, rampant corruption on every level of politics, the negligence of the media, the rise in the popularity of communism and atheism and witchcraft and the occult, the scientific community being compromised by financial and political interests.
The Church has the duty to point to God, but she also has a duty to call souls to turn away from evil, and to call men of good will to work against the tides of evil. In fact, one could argue that the Church is being faithful to her mission when she is actively and publicly combatting evil, for the Lord said, the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church.
The darker the world becomes, the more worldly evils provide reasons for unbelief, the brighter the Church need to shine, the clearer the Church needs to teach, and manifest God’s goodness through works of charity, providing hungry souls with reasons for belief for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
- - - - - -
For those who have fallen into error, for Catholics who have grown lukewarm in their faith, for those who have left the Church, for their conversion and the conversion of all hearts.
That world leaders may look upon the Son of God, believe in him, and seek the peace and justice that only he can bring.
That our young people may will turn away from the evils of our culture in order to pursue the goodness of Christ’s eternal kingdom.
For all whose lives are marked by suffering, may they come to know the healing and peace of Christ.
For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.
O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.
No comments:
Post a Comment