13th Week in Ordinary Time 2024 - Tuesday - Trusting Christ in the Storm

Yesterday we started reading from the book of the prophet Amos.

Amos was not a professional prophet but a shepherd and fig farmer from Judah. He was called by God to prophesy during a time of relative prosperity for both the Northern and Southern kingdoms. It was a time of economic growth and military success, but a time of rampant social injustice and religious corruption. The rich became richer while the poor were often exploited, and the north, especially, was incorporating idolatrous elements of the pagan Canaanite religion into their religious worship.

Despite being from the Southern Kingdom of Judah, Amos primarily prophesied in the Northern Kingdom, warning the people to prepare for God’s judgement, boldly indicting kings, priests, and leaders for their failure to lead the people in the ways of God.

In today’s passage, Amos asks a series of powerful rhetorical questions to help the people understand the reason they have brought themselves under God’s judgment. Does a lion roar unless there is prey? Is a bird not brought to earth unless it is snared? So too does a city experience evil unless it has turned away from God?

Amos is pointing out a very simple cause and effect relationship between our actions and the evils we bring upon ourselves. Even though there is prosperity for a time, when a city turns away from God, there will be consequences. And Amos’ message is timeless. That cause and effect relationship is at play in every city and nation and household and parish. There may be prosperity for a time, but when family members, parishioners, citizens, priests, bishops, and civic leaders turn away from God, there will be blood, there will be hell to pay.

The good news, the message from the Gospel, is that those who trust in Christ, who are in the boat with Christ and live in close friendship with him, and trust in him, have nothing to worry about. O sure, the world will crumble, the storm will wreak havoc, but the disciples of Christ will survive the storm with their souls in tact. 

Many literally sell their souls for earthly gain, for earthly prosperity, and they, who have sown the wind, shall reap the whirlwind. But those who live with Christ as Lord, who eat his flesh and drink his blood, and follow his teachings, and seek union with him through prayer, shall withstand the storm, and bear fruit that will last unto eternity.

So don’t be afraid when you see the world going to hell. It’s often a result of evils and forces beyond your control. What you can control, is whether or not you put your trust in Christ. Trust in Him and you will experience peace in the midst of the greatest storms, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For the Church, that we may be bold witnesses like Amos, speaking truth to power and calling all people to authentic faith and justice. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our civic and religious leaders, that they may govern with wisdom and integrity, prioritizing the common good over personal gain. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those suffering from economic exploitation and social injustice, that they may find advocates and assistance in their time of need. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our community, that we may resist the pagan influences of the world, and instead cultivate a deep and sincere relationship with God. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all who are experiencing storms in their lives, that they may find peace and strength in Christ, the master of wind and sea. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our parish, that we may be a beacon of hope and a place of refuge for those seeking God amidst the chaos of the world. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those who have lost hope in the face of societal decay, that they may be reminded of God's enduring presence and love. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the grace to bear fruit that will last unto eternity, living as faithful disciples of Christ in all aspects of our lives. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the sick, the impoverished, the lonely, those suffering from mental illness, those most in need, and those near death: may God, through the loving mercy of the Precious Blood of Jesus, be close to them in their trials.

And that all those redeemed by the Precious Blood of Jesus may come to the glory of heaven, especially X for whom this mass is offered.

Almighty and ever-living God, You spoke through Your prophet Amos in times of prosperity and corruption, and You calm the storms through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Grant us the wisdom and all we truly need to heed Your warnings and the courage to stand firm in our faith. Through Christ our Lord.

32nd Week in OT 2020 - Friday - A warning to progressives

Will you be prepared when the Son of Man comes?

Throughout his ministry, the Lord offers many warnings about the need to repent, to turn one’s life around and to embrace his teachings and place faith in him. For example, in the parable of the 10 virgins, which we heard last sunday, the foolish virgins are shut out of the wedding feast, for failing to prepare for the return of the bridegroom. There will be consequences if you fail to prepare your soul.

In today’s reading the Lord gives a series of examples of those who were unprepared for the end of their lives which came rather unexpectedly. 

The people of Noah’s time, ignored Noah’s warnings, wrote him off as a crazy person for constructing the ark. They just went about their lives eating and drinking and marrying. They were unprepared for the flood because they unlike Noah, had not attuned their hearts to God.

So too the people of Sodom, a city filled with wickedness. They were going about living godless lives—eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting and building, engaging in earthly matters, when all of a sudden fire and brimstone rained from the sky. Due to their wickedness, their souls were unprepared for this natural disaster. 

The warning is clear: we must be prepared by attuning our lives to God. How do we do that? St. John gives us the clear instruction.

St. John rejoices because many of the Christians to whom he was writing were walking in the truth, abiding by the commandments of God. They were attentive to attuning their moral lives to the truth that comes from God.

But John also offers a warning. He warns the Christians about being too progressive. Finding this term “progressive” in the scriptures might surprise us. I’ve known Christians who have prided themselves about being progressive. Open to new ideas and the changing ways of the world. And to an extent that is fine. But John is very clear about the possibility of being too progressive, so much so that you do not remain in the teaching of Christ. 

He is very clear that there comes a point where the ideas in the world, new ideas, new philosophies, new moralities, and models of the human person, cease to be consistent with the teaching of Christ.

And just like the people of Sodom and the people of Noah’s day, the danger of being too progressive is that you get so wrapped up in pursuing and pushing the ideas of the world, that you will find yourself unprepared for the return of the bridegroom. 

For the people of John’s day, it was considered “progressive” to deny that Jesus was fully human, to consider him simply appearing to be human or that his humanity was insignificant: a clear contradiction of the Catholic faith handed down by the apostles. In our day, so-called progressives might be those who seek to make allowance for certain moral teachings that are contrary to the Catholic faith. Progressivism can devolve into a form of godlessness when it no longer remains rooted in the truth of Christ.

So, St. John is warning us to be very careful about progressive theological trends, because you might just find yourself deceived by the antichrist, and unprepared for the return of the bridegroom.

Rather, as our Psalm declares: “Blessed are they who follow the Lord, who walk in the law of the Lord, who observe his decrees, and seek him with all their heart.” May we be prepared for the return of the Bridegroom by walking always in his truth, by seeking Him with our whole heart for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the healing of all division in the Church, for the Pope and all Bishops and Priests to be truly faithful in teaching the fullness of Faith, for the conversion of those whose hearts are hardened to the truth of the Gospel. 

That leaders of nations may find guidance in the Word of God for proper governance and the pursuit of justice for all.

That Christian families may be places where the Christian faith is studied, understood, observed, and cherished.

For all those who suffer illness, those in hospitals, nursing homes and hospice care.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, the deceased members of our families friends and parishes, for those who fought and died for our freedom, and N. for whom this Mass is offered.

O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your Church, for you yourself are the source of all goodness, and grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith we may truly obtain