Thank God for WHAT?

Let me begin simply by repeating the chant of a large collection of pro-abortion screamers who were trying to disrupt worshippers at a Catholic church: 

"Thank God for abortion!" 

Yes, indeed, that's what they shouted at anyone and everyone within earshot. Of course, for someone who actually believes in God, such a chant is pure blasphemy, since it attributes an intrinsic evil to God. I have, however, become convinced that pro-abortion fanatics, and this also includes most of today's Democrat Party politicians, really don't believe in God. Oh, they talk about God as their biggest supporter, they attend church services and take advantage of the photo-ops, and they always refer to themselves as "devout." But it's all just talk, just smoke and mirrors...you know, "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain." 

The pro-abortion pols who claim to be Catholic apparently have no problem discarding Church magisterial teaching when it seems politically expedient to do so. We are left to conclude that they have raised their personal beliefs above the Word of God and the Church's deposit of faith. In other words, they have replaced the Living God with themselves, a bunch of little god wannabes. This is the great temptation to which those who crave power always fall prey: to become a god. 

Our Vice President, too, joined in the cacophony and in a recent speech repeatedly screamed, "How dare they!" She was all upset that any Supreme Court Justice, or any legislator, would try to prevent a woman from doing whatever she wanted to her body. Kamala Harris conveniently failed to mention that there's another body involved, and that the woman's decision to abort brings about this innocent person's violent death. Her near frenzied support of abortion is difficult to understand since she is a black woman and abortion providers have specifically targeted minority women. In truth the population of black Americans would be double its current numbers if abortion had not been legalized by the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision. Any black American who supports abortion is grossly ignorant, a pure Leftist ideologue, or just suicidal...or, more accurately, self-genocidal. 

As I mentioned in a previous post, I believe the Left has made a crucial error by reacting as they have to the illegal leak of the court's draft majority opinion. All they have done is released the crazies who will show the rest of the country what complete weirdos the abortion-loving fanatics really are. I realize I will be criticized for labeling them, but I've always believed that telling the truth is a charitable act and should not be avoided when to do so would lead others to sin. Just check out these photos of current protests.

Yep, these folks will certainly convince all those average Americans to join the next pro-abortion protest in their quiet neighborhoods...yeah, right.

Lest we get distracted by all the weirdness in the streets, let's keep one thing in mind: abortion is the work of Satan and those who support abortion are joining in his evil work. Of course, ultimately, they will fail. They just don't know it. Pray for them.

And to alter that ugly chant slightly, let me quote the Catholic poet, Joyce Kilmer:

"Thank God for God."

The Church in Afghanistan

Thanks to omnipresent cellphone videos, we can all experience the trauma faced by those Afghans and American citizens trying to make their way to the Kabul airport. And as we watch this disaster unfold in Afghanistan, we begin to wonder what the future will bring. Only the most optimistic could find anything positive about all that has happened and likely will happen as a result of President Biden’s historic national security blunder. 

And then I heard an Afghan mention that things would be especially dangerous for Christians in the country. I’ll admit I didn’t realize there was a Christian presence in Afghanistan. I was aware that Afghan law — law established by a government we helped set up — considered apostasy from Islam a capital offense. The punishment for men who convert from Islam is execution, and for women, life imprisonment. Because of this, I just assumed there were very few Afghan Christians. It seems like 1st-century Romans and 20th-century Soviet and Chinese communists, I had underestimated the faith and courage of Christians. As it turns out, there are very few Christians in Afghanistan, but there are some. To find out more, I began to nose around. I was especially interested in the Catholic Church’s presence, if any, in Afghanistan.

I decided to check out the website listing the worldwide Catholic Hierarchy and there I found Fr. Giovanni Scalese, a 66-year-old Italian priest, a member of the Barnabites (The Clerics Regular of St. Paul) who is listed as the Superior of Afghanistan. This good priest might be, from what I can discover, the only Catholic priest in Afghanistan. I suspect there are probably others, but Fr. Scalese must not even refer to this possibility lest he place them in physical danger. Anyway, his name rang a very distant bell and so I checked my favorite journal, First Things, and sure enough, back in 2017, they published an interview with Fr. Scalese that gave a clear picture of the Catholic presence in Afghanistan four years ago. One need not be a prophet to realize things are far worse today. Here’s a link to the interview: The Church In Afghanistan.

After reading this interview, I decided to look for something more current from Fr. Scalese and, wouldn’t you know it, I found it. Fr. Scalese is today pleading for prayers for the people of Afghanistan. In his words, “We are living in days of great apprehension as we await what happens… pray, pray, pray for Afghanistan! Thank you.” Here is a link to the article: Kabul Catholic priest pleads for prayers…

I found another article — Fr. Scalese: Afghans Fear Another Civil War — published online in April of this year, in which Fr. Scalese is asked his opinion regarding the decisions by Presidents Trump and Biden to withdraw our troops from Afghanistan. Even though he is hopeful a Taliban victory will not completely eradicate the freedoms many Afghans have come to cherish, one can sense his fears for the people he has come to love.

I’ll return to this subject soon, but in the meantime pray for the people of Afghanistan, that the Lord of All will grant them the peace and the hope for which they yearn and which only God can provide.

Praised by Jesus Christ! Now and forever!

The Bishops’ Choice...a Postscript

Some thoughts today, as a postscript to yesterday’s post...

Anyone who supports, or even tolerates, abortion will support or tolerate any evil.

I’ve believed this for years, ever since the U. S. Supreme Court permitted abortion in 1973. Abortion is the linchpin, the key that provides us with a clear understanding of the true motivation behind all the policies of the left. Without it, these motivations would be muddied. But because the left, including almost the entire Democrat Party, supports and encourages the unlimited slaughter of innocent unborn children, we can confidently identify why they do what they do. Because they support abortion, we know that human life means absolutely nothing to them. How could it? Their only concern, their one, overriding motivation is power. They will do whatever is necessary to gain and maintain political power. 

Many bishops have long praised the Democrats for their seeming support of refugees, immigrants, minorities, the poor. But they fail to understand that these Democrat policies do not stem from an altruistic concern for these unfortunates. The left doesn’t give a damn about the lives of others.  Remember, if they support the murder of innocent children in the womb, they will support anything. To the left, refugees, immigrants, minorities, and the poor represent only one thing: votes, the means to power. Just consider the many programs of the "war on poverty." They did little to eliminate poverty, but did much to ensure a perpetual underclass dependent on the government. And for whom do they vote? Guess.

Once the left gains power and controls the instruments needed to wield it — the courts, the mass of federal agencies, the military, the police, etc. — the voters become meaningless, as does the Constitution, a mere scrap of paper. One recalls when President Obama said the Constitution mostly "says what the states can't do to you...what the federal government can't do to you, but it doesn't say what the federal government or sate government must do on your behalf." Uh, Mr. President, that's because the Constitution is all about liberty, about the freedom to conduct one's own life without government interference.

If one wants to see what unconstitutional governments decide they "must do," look at the former Soviet Union, Communist China, Cambodia, Cuba, North Korea, and every other “socialist paradise” in which leftist leaders, once they gained power, focused on the elimination of those among their own people who opposed them. It’s all about power, folks. 

 

Sadly, few politicians are immune. Too many Republicans, folks like Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham, who have been in Washington forever, are just as guilty. They might not be leftist ideologues, but they thrive on the power and the perks that come with the territory.

If yesterday’s elections in Georgia turn out as expected and hand the Democrats both congressional and executive power, and if history is any guide, the party’s leadership will move quickly to consolidate that power. We can expect moves to neutralize the power of the Supreme Court, to eliminate the filibuster and other legislative obstacles, to disarm the people through prohibitive “gun control,” to assign new, supportive civilian and military leadership in the Department of Defense, and to create a quick path to citizenship (and voting rights) for immigrants who have entered the country illegally, and so much more. Will a “moderate” President Joe Biden resist these power moves? That remains to be seen, but I wouldn’t count on it. How does the old saw go? He who hesitates is lost. Gained power means little if it is not retained. 

To consolidate their power the left must confront and overcome many obstacles, among them Christianity, specifically the Catholic Church. Because it is so fragmented, Protestantism is likely seen as a less serious threat. The belief is that it can be dealt with piecemeal, one denomination at a time. That, of course, might not be so easy. After all, the Holy Spirit moves where He wills. But the Catholic Church is big. It's worldwide. It has a hierarchy and an authoritative center. Of course, in the past the left never really took the Church all that seriously. How did Stalin put it when told of the Pope’s concerns? “The Pope? How many divisions has he?” Yes, indeed, it was all about power, the application of pure physical power. But things changed in the 1980s, as shown by the personal alliance between Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II. The communists learned that political and military power, when united with spiritual power, could be a formidable enemy, one that almost put them out of business. 

Admittedly, because of the abuse scandals, abetted by the weakness of so many bishops, the Church has lost much of its influence, even among Catholics. Not too many years ago, when a bishop spoke, people listened. Today too few listen and many don’t even know he has spoken. To this we can add decades of weak catechesis in which the Truth was hidden from the faithful, buried beneath layers of psychobabble and secular argot. And so, today, we encounter a Church almost as divided as the nation.

What the Church and the world need today are courageous bishops willing to set an example for the faithful, bishops willing to sacrifice position and reputation, even their lives, to uphold the Truth.  We need bishops willing to take meaningful action against Catholic politicians who publicly embrace evil. We need bishops willing to be faithful witnesses to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, whatever the opposition. 

 

Recall those of the last century who did just that and confronted the evils of both fascism and communism. Cardinal Mindszenty of Hungary, Blessed Aloysius Stepinac of Yugoslavia, Blessed Vasile Aftenie of Romania, and so many others, including thousands of priests, religious, and faithful laypeople, who sacrificed their freedom and their lives for the Catholic Faith. They knew that on their own they could do nothing, but with God all things are possible. 

 

As Diane recently reminded me, maybe it will be the faithful, the Body of Christ, that will do the leading and shame the bishops into doing what Christ asks of them.

Strange Times, Stranger Thoughts

Corruption and more. Okay, I’m bothered by odd thoughts during these even odder times. For example, a few weeks ago I told Diane I was pretty sure that, whatever the ultimate outcome of the election, Joe Biden would not be the sitting president two years from now. I simply believed that, should he be elected, corruption or dementia or other health issues would catch up with him and force him out of office. As a long-time resident of The Villages, I know that many 78-year-old men are in excellent physical and mental shape and could no doubt handle the rigors and demands of the presidency...but not all. And Joe...well, he just doesn't seem to be running on all cylinders these days. Should Biden depart office ahead of schedule — something I believe many of the movers and shakers who supported him have planned for — Kamala Harris would become president, a possibility that should frighten anyone with any sense. It should certainly cause serious concern for any believing Christian or Jew. 

Thank God for God, Who remains in charge of our decaying world. We need to pray, folks. As St. Paul reminded us in today's liturgy:

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances. Test everything: retain what is good. refrain fro every kind of evil [1 Thes 5:16-22].

Read these words every day, to remind yourself to follow God's will, and that everything in our lives calls for rejoicing and prayers of thankfulness. These words of St. Paul also make an excellent brief examination of conscience.

Oddity in St. Peter’s Square. Did you happen to catch the sneak peek offered to the public of the so-called Nativity scene destined for St. Peter's Square? Only one word can adequately describe it: hideous! Some call it art, but I prefer to label it trash. I have no problem with much contemporary art, and actually have a couple of signed prints from Dali and Chagall, along with works of several other modern artists. But this Nativity display has to be the ugliest ever devised, certainly the ugliest ever displayed publicly by the Church. That the Church founded by Jesus Christ would consider this an appropriate symbol to represent our Savior’s birth boggles the mind. Take a look:

Such a heartwarming a scene! But even more bizarre, and uglier still, is this unique pair of characters who resemble escapees from a low-budget Star Wars wannabe movie.

Okay, that sheep kinda resembles a sheep, one suffering from a disease of his wool coat, but want exactly are the others? I first thought they were an astronaut and an alien, but perhaps they represent those who must wear HAZMAT gear during the current pandemic. Who knows?

Of course the "angelic" figure that towers over the entire scene is especially bothersome:

And to show how deeply affected were those among the faithful privileged to view the preview, one Italian observer noted: 

"Ugliness is the first thing you notice, followed by a lack of familial warmth and the distancing guaranteed by the cylindrical figures. If you wish to judge harshly, the cylinders call to mind the sacred poles of Satanic cults condemned in the Bible." 

Yes, indeed, it looks like something one would expect to find when excavating a pagan Canaanite temple.

I’m pretty sure Pope Francis had nothing to do with the decision to display this ugly collection of weirdness, but he has unfortunately surrounded himself with folks who probably believe it to be a perfect depiction of the familiar scene described by St. Luke. I'll assume the pope has not yet seen it. After all, he recently tweeted:

"Accompanied by the Mother of Jesus on the journey towards Christmas, in these times that are difficult for many, let us make an effort to rediscover the great hope and joy brought to us by the coming of the Son of God into the world." 

In no way does this display bring joy and hope into the hearts of those who encounter it. In early November the pope also published an apostolic letter on the importance and meaning of the Nativity scene first introduced by St. Francis of Assisi. It's quite good and you can read a synopsis of this letter here: Admirabile signum.

 

One would hope the more sensible among the Church's Vatican hierarchy would perhaps decide this display should be discretely removed from public view and tucked away deeply in the Vatican's Secret Archives. Otherwise the children of Rome may be troubled by weeks of nightmares.

Empty Churches? If you've read this blog for a while, you'll know that Maddie and I take a twice-daily walk through the surrounding neighborhoods. Maddie's a remarkable dog and will often lead me to people in some need. One day, early last week, I had decided to go one way, but Maddie wouldn't budge. She finally turned toward the opposite direction and tugged at the leash. Accepting that her sixth sense probably had some purpose, I agreed. After walking perhaps 50 yards, she noticed a man coming towards us, so she sat down and waited for him to arrive. An older man, perhaps in his early 80s, he seemed vaguely familiar. 

As he approached us he smiled and said, "Deacon, can you help me?" Maddie, of course, simply displayed her standard Bichon smile as I said, "Sure, what's up?" 

"I have a new rosary that needs to be blessed. I'd take it to the Church, but my wife won't let me attend Mass. Too dangerous. Can you bless it for me?" Of course I agreed, so he said he'd bring it by the house and let me bless it. Then he added, "I really miss the Eucharist. Not being able to receive Jesus is the worst part of all this."

I didn't want to come between him and his wife, so I thought it best simply to suggest attending a daily Mass on occasion since weekday congregations are usually smaller, and he and his wife might feel more comfortable.

Anyway, he got me thinking, about the pandemic and our response to it. Not long ago I read a Real Clear Science article addressing the pandemic guidelines in the United States. Among their conclusions was this comment, focused particularly on Catholic churches in the U.S.: "For Catholic churches following these guidelines, no outbreaks of COVID-19 have been linked to church attendance." They also discovered no evidence of viral transmission even when tracing systems picked up examples of asymptomatic people who were infected, but didn't know it, and attended Mass. In other words, attending Mass at Catholic churches where appropriate measures have been taken, is probably the safest public activity in which one can engage.

The larger and more troubling issue, however, is the attempt by government officials to decide what kind of worship is permitted in their city or state. Any attempt by government to control religious worship, especially when the church involved takes special precautions to protect their congregations, is a direct violation of the United States Constitution. But apart from this, such actions also disregard basic human rights. 

In a recent interview, Fr. Thomas White, O.P., Director of the Thomistic Institute at the Angelicum in Rome, stated that we cannot separate a person's right to believe from his right to take part in public worship. He argued, correctly I believe, that public officials are attempting "to designate theologically what the Church's internal self-understanding should be with regards to worship, and that's an unsustainable approach with engagement to the Church." In other words, no secular government should decide how we worship. Fr. White goes on to stress that the state must not infringe on the most fundamental human rights; for example, the rights to marry, to work, or to worship. He calls such infringement, "an act of spiritual totalitarianism."

Too many bishops seem to have allowed city and state authorities to call the shots when it comes to worship. It would be nice for the faithful if they would say, "We are taking proper and reasonable precautions, but the decision to do so is reserved to the Church and will not be ceded to the state." No mayor or governor may control the Church's celebration of the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. We are a Eucharistic Church and must find ways to ensure the faithful can receive the graces the Holy Spirit extends to us through the sacraments. How did St. Paul put it? "Do not quench the Spirit."

My concern is that the fears that keep people from attending Mass will remain and alter their long-term concept of Mass attendance. Our faith is centered on the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist and the community worship of the Triune God. This simply does not happen with online Masses. Given the attitudes of state authorities, the legal precedents being set, and the acquiescence of the people and too many in the Church, I worry that the future Church in America may more closely resemble the underground Churches that struggle to survive in the world's totalitarian states.

COVID-19 Bible Study Reflection #18: Blessed to Be Americans

How blessed we are to be Americans!

A little over 231 years ago, on March 4, 1789, our Constitution, drafted by our founders and ratified by the states, went into effect. In the first ten amendments to that Constitution, what we call our Bill of Rights, the God-given rights of the people are protected from the government. That’s right, the Bill of Rights limits the government, not the people. It was designed to be a document, in the words of Abraham Lincoln, “of the people, by the people, for the people.” The Constitution does not celebrate the government; it celebrates the American people.

When we look at the Bill of Rights, we discover something else that reveals the priorities of the founders. To ensure future generations understood its importance, the very first of the rights guaranteed by the founders is the right of religious freedom.

The First Amendment begins with the words:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”

According to our Constitution, then, we have the right to worship freely without the threat of government interference. But because it is our Constitution, you and I, indeed all Americans, must ensure that the government we elect to do the work of the people, to do our work, must never usurp or trample on those God-given rights protected by the Constitution.

We are truly blessed to be Americans, but as the citizens of this nation, we are sovereign, and must never abdicate our sovereignty by allowing politicians and bureaucrats to rule in our stead. As Americans we are not ruled; we are represented. Those in government are called to do our work. As Christians, though, we must also live under the authority of God who is the true sovereign, the Creator of the cosmos. For us, then, His Law supersedes all human law.

It might seem like an odd choice, given the theme of this reflection, but I’d like you to turn to Matthew’s Gospel and read Mt 8:28-34. I’ve included the passage here:

When He came to the other side, to the territory  of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met Him. They were so savage that no one could travel by that road. They cried out, "What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?" Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding. The demons pleaded with Him, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine." And He said to them, "Go then!" They came out and entered the swine and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea where they drowned. The swineherds ran away, and when they came to the town, they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their district" [Mt 8:28-34].

This visit by Jesus to the land of the Gadarenes is a remarkable incident, a rare event in His public ministry. Jesus, who spent most of His public life among the Jews, here does something very different. He crosses the Sea of Galilee and enters the province of Gadara, a place populated largely by pagans. Gadara is depicted as a district especially under the sway of the Evil One – God’s name is not invoked there, His law is not obeyed – and so, we shouldn’t be surprised to find demoniacs dwelling there in their natural habitat.

It must have been a disturbing visit for the apostles, as evidenced by the fact that we hear absolutely nothing from them during the visit. We sense, however, that Jesus is showing them the kinds of challenges they will later face when they go out into the world to “make disciples of all nations” [Mt 28:19]. Until now they’ve been accustomed to people coming to Jesus for healing and instruction and forgiveness. Indeed, only moments before, as they crossed the Sea, the apostles themselves had begged Jesus to save them from the freak storm that had arisen [Mt 8:23-27].

Yes, they had heard many people pleading with Jesus for help; and had even uttered some of those pleas themselves:

Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean [Mt 8:2].

"...only say the word and my servant will be healed [Mt 8:8].

Lord, that I might see…[Lk 18:41].

Lord, save us, we are perishing [Mt 8:25].

How different were the cries they heard this day in this strange place…

What have you to do with us, Son of God? [Mt 8:29]

A remarkable question by these demons, isn’t it? How darkly urgent is their need to separate themselves from Jesus. And how do they do it? By denouncing him as the Son of God! Imagine that! Yes, in spitting out their hatred, their poison, they who lie so easily can do nothing but proclaim the truth.

We sense some tiny remnant of goodness in their nature, but one that is exclusively intellectual. They know who Jesus is. But knowledge isn’t love – something we who engage in Bible Study must always be wary of. We study Sacred Scripture not simply to expand our knowledge of our God, but rather to deepen our love for Him so we can live the life He wants for us.

The demons, though, through their own choice, have totally disfigured the beauty of their souls, a beauty created in the beginning by God. Now, no beauty remains. No moral order remains. Is it any wonder, then, that this acknowledgment of Jesus’ identity should escape from them, just as everything else does, with destructive violence?

What have you to do with us…?

What indeed can the spirit of evil have in common with the Son of God? In a sense, this question, what have we in common, is the same question the centurion asked of Jesus when he uttered, “Lord I am not worthy…” [Mt 8:8] But for the demons it’s not a matter of unworthiness, but rather a question filled with hollow pride. It’s as if they sneer at Jesus:

“How dare you come to us. Don’t you, Son of God, have better things to do? Leave us alone.”

You see, the demons can lie to everyone except to God.

“Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?” [Mt 8:29]

These demons can’t believe that Jesus has entered this place among the tombs of the dead where evil believed itself safe from God’s Word. But now…now they know that Jesus’ redeeming work knows no boundaries. The Word of God must spread throughout the earth, and no place is exempt. How does the Apostles’ Creed put it? “He descended into hell…”

They know, too, that their hold over a portion of humanity is only temporary, for they scream at Jesus, reproaching him for coming before the kairos, before the appointed season of definitive judgment and the expulsion of the forces of evil. How odd. While they clearly know who Jesus is, and hate him for it, they appear pathetically misinformed about the extent of their authority. But in Jesus’ presence, they resign themselves to being cast out.

Unlike the centurion who saw his servant’s illness as an evil that needed Jesus’ healing intervention, these demons, having made evil the cause of their very being, find only torment in their Healer. Rather than surrender to Jesus’ healing presence, they beg Jesus to send them into a herd of pigs – a choice that reveals their true condition.

Brothers and sisters, Jesus offers each one of us healing and life. There is just one other choice, and it leads only to death. How humiliating this incident in Gadara must have been for Satan. Satan, the pure spirit, is routed by the mere presence of this Divine Person who has inexplicably humbled Himself by embracing the weakness of our human physical and psychological nature.

Yes, Satan still lurks about seeking souls who will admit him. But at the same time, in the presence of Jesus Christ, he is powerless. When Jesus is present, in our individual souls, in our community, in our nation, Satan has no power. He can do nothing.

But when a people and a nation turn away from Jesus Christ, when a people decide that the presence of God, the name of God, is an embarrassment, that the sovereignty of God is an insult to their intelligence and freedom, then they create a vacuum that Satan is only too ready to fill.

Although our nation is far from perfect, for most of its history it turned openly and willingly to God for help and guidance. “In God we trust” is still embossed on our currency. And we still pledge ourselves as “one nation, under God.” But sadly, although religious freedom is a fundamental human right, one that comes not from man but from God, much of recorded history is the story of men trying to deny it, to take it away.

Throughout our nation’s history many have given their lives so you and I can reap the benefits of religious freedom and the other rights enumerated in our Constitution. Like those who came before us and sacrificed so much to guarantee the freedoms we so often take for granted, we too are called to defend these rights. But today the greatest threat to these rights is not from foreign adversaries, but from many of those we have elected to represent us or appointed to exercise judgment.

The Church – and brothers and sisters, that’s you and me – is under attack. We face real threats to our religious liberty. Many in Congress want to force us to accept and even pay for that which violates our deepest religious and moral convictions.

The most obvious and egregious example is abortion, an evil like no other. To accept the slaughter of the most innocent among us, our own unborn children, by torturous dismemberment…well, it is simply beyond comprehension. And yet, as a nation, we have done exactly that to over 60 million Americans since 1973. Can anything be more unjust than the slaughter of these innocents?

Perhaps, as a nation, we should turn to the prophets, who repeatedly called the people of another nation, Israel, to return to the Lord before they experienced divine judgment. Amos, for example, chastised a wealthy Israel, a nation that practiced a religion without justice, pleading with all:

Seek good and not evil, that you may live; then truly the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you as you claim. Hate evil and love good, and let justice prevail at the gate; then it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will have pity on the remnant of Joseph. [Am 5:14-15]

"Seek the Lord that you may live..." [Am 5:5] God expects us to seek Him in all that we do. He expects us to act, so justice will prevail! You and I may think we’re not important enough for our voices to be heard, but that’s simply not true. Just consider how God has called on the weak and the obscure to be His messengers. Amos was a simple sheep herder and pruner of sycamore trees [Am 7:14], and yet, chosen by God, he courageously confronted the hypocritical and unjust leaders of Israel.

Isaiah and Jeremiah were both called from the womb to be God’s great prophets [Is 49:1; Jer 1:5]. David, the young shepherd, raised up by God to be King of his people [1 Sam 16:12]. And John the Baptist, dwelling in the desert, was destined from the moment of creation to be the herald of Jesus Christ [Mt 11:9-11].

Brothers and sisters, we too are called by God, just as Amos, Isaiah, Jeremiah, David, John, the apostles, and so many others were called from obscurity to take God’s Word to the world. Like that tiny mustard seed of the Gospel, wondrous things can come from even the smallest voice.

Today, as we face so many challenges to the most fundamental of our rights, we, you and I, must plant and nourish that seed. We must speak up. We must defend our right to religious freedom in both the public square and the ballot box. To do so is a responsibility, an obligation that derives not only from our citizenship, but even more so from our faith.

Satan would love to turn us into today’s Gadarenes, but believe me, that will not happen if we, as the People of God, as the Body of Christ, as a nation of free men and women, remain true to the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church. Pray for the Spirit, dear friends, for the presence of the Holy Spirit as the guide for our nation. Where the Spirit is, so too is Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Yes, how blessed we are to be Americans. Let us pray that our children and grandchildren will always be able to say those same words.