SERMON ON THE MOUNT
BLESSED ARE YOU WHO ARE PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF ME
I have been thinking recently why the society I live in and the government that is there to serve the “common good” are so often unfriendly and sometimes, even threatening, to a practicing Catholic who puts God’s Law and his conscience first. At the same time, I worry how much pressure there is in the Catholic community on the Church Magisterium to water our doctrine down to accommodate the world and other religions.
Ecumenism in principal is fine. It is just sometimes I believe the Church goes too far to accommodate others. For example in Vatican II there is no separate Document on Mary because this would help foster ecumenical dialogue with “our separated brethren” and also because it would help provide “an antidote to devotional excesses”.
A chapter on Mary was added later to the document, Lumen Gemtium. Now we know why so many favorite devotions of traditional Catholics began to disappear.
Another accommodation at Vatican II was to Russia. Pope John XXXIII wanted the Eastern Churches, including the Russian Orthodox Church, to come and observe and perhaps dialog. Finally a deal was made that they would come but the Council had to promise to “abstain” from dealing with Communism and Russia”
Today, we see something similar in the geopolitical world. Pope Francis in his attempts to reach diplomatic relations with China, severed 70 years ago, has recently asked two underground Chinese Bishops to step down in favor of their Beijing-approved counterparts, one of whom the church in Rome had already excommunicated, and the Vatican indicated it would recognize the legitimacy of seven Communist Party approved bishops.
Over the last few decades some practices, centuries old, have changed. Fasting Days in the Catholic Church were reduced some time ago. Holy Days of Obligation have been reduced as well. Homilies on sin or hell are remote and spare. Today, you see in some dioceses across the globe accepting same-sex marriages, inviting divorced and remarried Catholics without an annulment invited to receive Holy Communion and Protestant spouses of Catholics invited to receive with their spouses. And the beat goes on…
I just don’t see how becoming more like every other denomination is attracting more to the Catholic Church much less keeping those already practicing, in the fold. What must attract people to the Catholic Faith is its authenticity to the Gospel, its sacraments, and its liturgy, the Mass. A watered down Catholic Church is a “lukewarm” Church.
The Bishops of the Church must give bold leadership in rejecting themes of this world that are destructive to individuals as well as families. In Book of Revelations 3:14, God says to the Church of Laodicia, “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth”
Jesus was counter-cultural. “You have heard it said, but I say to you.” Jesus taught with authority. His authority came from the Father. “Who sees me, sees the Father.” Jesus founded a counter-cultural Church on Peter, the Rock and promised the Holy Spirit to guide it on earth from error. Catholic Church teaching condemns abortion, contraception, divorce and remarriage, same sex marriage and gender identity theory.
All right, so we pull ourselves up, tighten our belts, and go forward as soldiers of Christ. What can we expect? Jesus gave us the answer. “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first….. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. John 15:18 – 23 Well that isn’t very comforting is it? But why do we expect more than our Savior who gave His all for US?
Hold on, there is more…Jesus also tells us what happens if we persevere to the end. “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you because of me Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven, they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:11
Catholicism remains the staunchest opponent to the culture of the times. Our doctrines are stubborn things, even for some inside the Church who would like to change them. The Rock of Peter, whatever the human limitations may be. By God’s own promise, the gates of Hell slam against the Rock but cannot prevail. Satan certainly has a raging fear of Jesus. As the “prince of this world,” Satan spreads his lies to the world in the guise of modernity.
Perhaps the world has a sense, a vague awareness, that the Church is still going to be here preaching the gospel long after this current experiment of a godless and truth-less “culture” has run its course. Indeed, in the age of the Church, empires have come and gone, nations have risen and fallen, heresies have been presented and resisted. Yet here we are still, preaching the gospel. We aren’t going anywhere as long there are practicing Catholics bearing witness to the Truth, the Way, and the Life.
REFLECTION
PHILLIPIANS 2:6-12
Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but [also] everyone for those of others.
Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself,
Taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and found human in appearance
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.*
Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
that is above every name,
That at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth
And every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
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