Homily: Friday of the 27th Week in OT - Opposition to Jesus

As oppositions to Jesus grows in the Gospels, Jesus’ critics often pick out the good things he is doing and finds some way to turn them into a criticism.  When Jesus forgave the sins of the paralytic, the Jewish leaders accused him of blasphemy; when a sinful woman anointed Jesus, a Pharisee was upset that he allowed such a woman to touch him.  Jesus is constantly being ridiculed for reaching out and eating with tax collectors and prostitutes.  We heard in the Gospel today the reaction of the Pharisees when Jesus cast a demon out from a man stricken with muteness.  The Pharisees responded with hard hearts, and accused him of using the power of the devil. 

In the present age, the work of the Church is similarly criticized.  When she speaks about the dignity of marriage, she is criticized and called anti-Gay.  When she speaks about the evil of abortion, she is criticized for being anti-woman.  When the Bishops in America warned that the HHS mandate threatens religious freedom, the Church, which invented hospitals, is attacked for being “anti-health care”. A few years ago when Pope Benedict spoke out against certain violent tendencies in Islam, he was criticized for being anti-tolerance.  When Pope Francis spoke wrote about the dangers of unfettered capitalism, “the cult of money and the dictatorship” of an inhumane economy, he was lambasted and called ignorant.

The Church has been labeled anti-progress, anti-freedom, anti-science, anti-fun.  And yet, she is the greatest instrument of true progress, true freedom, and true joy.  Just as Jesus, when he was accused of being an instrument of Satan, is the greatest liberator from Satan.

There will always be irrational resistance towards the Church.  But that doesn't mean we stop working.  Resistance to the Gospel doesn't mean that we have the authority to change it.  We might have to state it more clearly, with greater conviction.  We might simply have to suffer for it. 

We shouldn't be surprised that working for the spread of the truth feels like a constant, uphill battle.  Christ continued his ministry despite the opposition.  And so must we. 

May we repent of all the ways we have hardened our hearts against the Lord and failed to cooperate with his holy work in the world.  May we be faithful in the face of opposition to all the Lord commands, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.