Christmas time again

Now that we are into the Christmas season, several observations cross my mind as another
year draws to a close. Political correctness continues to run amok. Traditional seasonal carols
are the latest targets. Some radio stations stopped playing Baby, it’s cold outside due to words
that could suggest a possible sexual assault taking place. By that standard, about a million
other popular songs should also be removed. The 1964 movie Rudolph the Red-nosed
Reindeer has been mentioned as a story that could encourage bullying. Some have suggested,
perhaps in jest, that White Christmas is racist. The point is that we are all getting soft. In a
Godless society, the lines between right and wrong get fuzzy, and common sense takes a
backseat.

Actor-comedian Kevin Hart just lost a job hosting the Academy Awards because of his
comments about homosexuality. Hart is quoted as saying, “One of my biggest fears is my son
growing up and being gay. That’s a fear. Keep in mind, I’m not homophobic, I have nothing
against gay people, be happy. Do what you want to do. But me, being a heterosexual male, if I
can prevent my son from being gay, I will.”

Do you see the problem with that statement in this political correctness climate? Hart implies
that homosexuality is a defect. Today, we are required to believe homosexual behavior is
perfectly normal, less we be ostracized as haters. And that leads me to another question. We
are now hearing of genetically modified babies being a possibility. Suppose a defective genetic
cause for homosexuality was discovered and could be corrected in pre-borns. How would
today’s homosexuality advocates view this procedure? Would they oppose it as an affront to
the normality of their orientation? I wonder.

I don’t want to end the year complaining about the state of our society. We have much for which
to be grateful. The fact that petty differences are so prevalent in our daily interaction means we
are generally free from more serious issues to worry about. Yet among us are many individuals
bearing heavy burdens every day. Some are experiencing their first Christmas after suffering
the tragic loss of loved ones. Others know this will likely be their final Christmas. Many with no
outward appearing maladies suffer excruciating mental anguish on a daily basis from severe
anxiety and mental illness. While many of are enjoying the Christmas season, this can be a
very difficult time for others. Let us all be on the lookout for those in special need of our
friendship and understanding.

Food for thought

Our parish recently began offering free soup luncheons on the second Saturday of each month.  We have done two so far, and both were well attended.  The evangelization committee uses the opportunity to set up a table with free Catholic materials, books, and audio CDs from Lighthouse Catholic media. 

I was assigned to greet our guests last Saturday.  Most of them were elderly folks (probably about my age!).  Some had visible disabilities or mental issues.  Most were not members of our parish.  All seemed to enjoy the experience and camaraderie.

A bearded gentleman sitting alone at one table caught my attention.  The man wore a Viet Nam veteran cap, and being Veteran’s Day weekend, I sat down with him to thank him for his service. Next to his plate was a CD he had selected from our table by a well-known Catholic apologist, Steve Ray.  I thought this might be an opportunity to do a little evangelizing.  I got myself a bowl of soup and sat down at his table.  I am not sure why I assumed he wasn’t Catholic, but I was wrong.

His name was Larry and shortly into our conversation, he began talking about his Catholic faith and how reading the church fathers has been so instrumental in bringing converts into the Church.  I pointed to the CD and said that was true of the author.  He said, “Yes, I know.  I have met Steve and we have gone to the same parish in Michigan.”  Wow, I thought!  What are the odds someone of about twenty people who wandered into our little parish soup luncheon would be an acquaintance of a well-known Cathoiic author whose material we were giving away?

Pretty soon, the man’s wife came in and sat with us.  Like her husband, she was a veteran of the Air Force.  Turns out they were in town for a baby shower, and he was just looking for a place to kill some time while his wife was at the party.  The three of us had a great conversation about our common interest in Catholic apologetics.  Larry mentioned that Steve could sometimes be seen with tears in his eyes after receiving the Eucharist as Mass.  How wonderful it must be to have such an emotional connection with Our Lord.

This somewhat accidental encounter left me marveling at how we cross paths with strangers everyday without taking the time to engage them.  This life that God gives us most assuredly guarantees that every person we meet has an interesting story to share.  Maybe this is why I have not been a more effective evangelist.  The one time I make an effort to initiate a conversation, the person I approach is already a better Catholic than I am.  I wonder how often God has put someone in my presence who needs a kind word, and I failed to provide. 

Did he or didn't he?

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I am writing this as Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the United States Supreme Court has become an emotional firestorm.  Dr. Christine Ford provided very convincing testimony that she was assaulted by Kavanaugh when they were both high school teenagers.  Kavanaugh vehemently denies it ever happened.  Watching the all day hearing on Thursday, September 27th, I thought both of them appeared to be truthful.  Obviously, one of them is either wrong, or a very good liar.  Despite the allegation, the Republican majority wants to push his nomination through before the mid-term elections.  Democrats are doing all in their power to block his confirmation.  

Make no mistake, the combustible in this conflagration is abortion.  Kavanaugh would take the seat of Justice Kennedy, a swing vote on the court.  Those on the left fear that Kavanaugh’s conservative record could overturn Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion.  Those on the right see that as a hopeful possibility.  I watched the Kavanaugh interviews before the assault allegations came out.  I thought he gave great answers, and as an opponent of legalized abortion myself, I favored his confirmation, but now, I have reservations.

Yes, If the process extends beyond the mid-term elections, the Republicans could lose their majority, and any hope of putting a conservative judge on the court could be lost.  But if the Republicans strong-arm his confirmation while the allegation of sexual misconduct is still an issue, they most certainly face disaster in the mid-terms.  As of this writing, it looks like the vote may be delayed a week while the FBI does an investigation.  

I’m not one to make predictions, but my gut tells me Kavanaugh will not be confirmed.  Whether he is innocent or not, he has been damaged.  Unless the FBI can find evidence that Kavanaugh is falsely accused, and I doubt that they can, a cloud hangs over his nomination.  Women who have been victims of sexual assault are very vocal these days, and voting for an accused abuser could be political suicide.  Conservative Christian groups still calling for Kavanaugh’s confirmation should be cautious.  In the event Kavanaugh’s nomination is eventually withdrawn or negated, President Trump would be wise to nominate a woman. 

 UPDATE: So, I was wrong.  Kavanaugh was confirmed on a close party-line vote.  I really thought a few Republicans would acquiesce to those opposing his confirmation while considering the possibility something inappropriate may have happened under the influence of alcohol when he was a teenager.  While the Supreme Court vacancy has been filled, the controversy remains.  Protests, talks of impeachment, threats, and vicious comments permeate the airwaves and social media.

Once upon a time, the news media reported on the activities of the day.  Sometimes at the end of the newscast, someone would give an editorial comment, clearly labeled as such.  Now, most every media report seems to have an editorial slant, and the real story is how social media reacted.  We hear how Twitter lit up in response to some event of the day.  The problem is that people say things under the anonymity of usernames that they would never say in person.  Deliberate agitation adds fuel to the already intense fire.  Will things will cool down after the mid-term election in November?  Probably not. 

To whom shall we go?

Catholics have been reeling from the most recent revelations of alleged sexual abuse among the hierarchy as charged by the Pennsylvania Grand Jury report.  It was the subject of many a homily on Sunday, August 26, the same day news broke of ex nuncio, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano calling for Pope Francis to resign, claiming he withdrew sanctions imposed on Archbishop Theodore McCarrick by Pope Benedict. 

There seems to be a fear among the clergy that Catholics will be making a mass exodus (no pun intended) because of the terrible conduct of priests and bishops we had once respected as our spiritual leaders.  While one can hardly fault some Catholics for having this thought, the majority realize that evil perpetrated by individuals within the clergy, even a pope, does not diminish the truth of the Catholic faith.  Christ promised us the gates of hell will not prevail against His Church. 

On the same Sunday the scandal was in the forefront, we heard these words from John’s gospel in Chapter 6, where Jesus’ disciples had also heard some news that was difficult to accept:

As a result of this,
many of his disciples returned to their former way of life
and no longer accompanied him.
Jesus then said to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Master, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.
We have come to believe
and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”  (- John 6:66-69)

For those of us who may think we may want to leave because of the scandalous behavior among even the highest members of the clergy, we have the same question, to whom shall we go?  Jesus Christ established the Catholic Church.  There is no other option!  No other church has the Eucharist, Confession, Holy Orders, and holds the keys to the Kingdom of God. 

And if you read ahead to the next two verses in John 6:
Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you twelve? Yet is not one of you a devil?”  He was referring to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot; it was he who would betray him, one of the Twelve.
 
Yes, even one of the first bishops of the Church, selected by Jesus Himself, committed an evil act.   The evil one is purged and replaced.  Back then, Mathias replaced Judas and the Church continued to flourish.  This isn’t the first scandal to scar the Church, and it won’t be the last.  Do what we can for the victims, purge the evildoers, learn from our mistakes, and move on. 

Imagine no Possessions

Mark 6:7-13

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two
and gave them authority over unclean spirits.
He instructed them to take nothing for the journey
but a walking stick—
no food, no sack, no money in their belts.
They were, however, to wear sandals
but not a second tunic.
He said to them,
“Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave.
Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you,
leave there and shake the dust off your feet
in testimony against them.”
So they went off and preached repentance.
The Twelve drove out many demons,
and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

On Sunday, July 15, we heard Mark’s gospel where Jesus sends His apostles out to teach.  Our priest, in his homily, said this is where His disciples became apostles.  The word disciple comes from a Latin word meaning learner.  Apostle is derived from a Greek word aposotolos, meaning one who is sent, or a messenger.  The Latin term would be missio, where we get the word missionary.

Interesting to me is the way Jesus sent his missionaries.  He told them to take nothing for the journey, no food, no sack, no money, no extra clothes.  They were to take only a walking stick, their sandals, and the clothes on their backs.  The homilist said this meant we should detach ourselves from material things that weigh us down or prevent us from focusing on our mission.  Travel light, in other words, so to be not encumbered by excess baggage.  Applying this passage to our current parish mission of evangelization, I think the message goes even deeper.

At the end of every Mass comes the dismissal.  We are invited to go forth.  When the Mass was in Latin, the priest said, “Ite, missa est.”  We are being sent forth as missionaries to spread the good news.  If you are like me, I walk out of Mass with this mission, but I go home and resume my normal daily routine.

Now, imagine what would happen if the priest is standing at the rear of the church greeting people as they prepare to leave, but acting in the person of Christ, he collects your car keys, your house keys, your cell phones, your wallets and purses.  Acting in the person of Christ, he gives you a walking stick, tells you to pair up with a partner and go spread the gospel.  Could you go home and resume your normal routines?  No!  You have no way of getting home unless you walk, and even then, you are locked out.  You have no food, no money for food or lodging.  What would you do?

I can envision all of us standing in front of the church dumbfounded.  Whoa!  What do we do now?  I have the clothes on my back and this stupid stick.  Now what?  It occurs to me that we would suddenly find ourselves completely dependent on those we are called upon to evangelize.   If we are to obtain food and shelter before nightfall, we will need to rely on the generosity of others.  Our mission suddenly becomes something we do not when convenient, but immediately out of necessity. 

Perhaps the apostles were equally shocked by Our Lord’s instruction.  Their sustenance was dependent on the success of their mission.  Humbled by their lack of possessions, they approached the community as faithful servants of God, able to share their message without pretense. 

The challenge for us is to approach our mission of evangelization with humility, as an immediate need rather than a waiting opportunity, despite the material possessions that make us so comfortable in our routine. 

Lean Right

The deep polarization of our country is unsettling to say the least.   Here in northwest Indiana, we are inundated with political ads for the Illinois governors race.  Whoever writes those television spots must think the voters have sub-zero IQs.  Both Democrats and Republicans insult our intelligence with inane characterizations of their opponents, trying to make them look as ridiculous as possible.  Do they realize the middle school demographic they appear to target cannot yet vote?

I can imagine how the Catholic faith will be disparaged during the upcoming Supreme Court confirmation hearings.  Brett Kavanaugh’s orthodoxy will be scrutinized by the Democrats for fear that he actually follows Catholic teaching.  Front and center will be Roe v. Wade with the left concerned that a right leaning court will eventually overturn legal abortion.  The same people who are outraged about children being separated from their parents at the Mexican border have no qualms about an unborn baby being violently separated from its mother.

Before any nominee was even announced, the protesters were gearing up for a fight.  Think about what our society has come to.  The President nominates a good honest family man who respects life, and promises to interpret the Constitution as it was written.  People on the left attack him viciously because he likely opposes destroying the life of unborn babies. 

If I were being questioned in a pejorative way about my Catholic faith, I would say, “Senator, with all due respect, if your judgement were not so corrupted by evil, you would view my Catholic faith as a blessing, not a liability.”  Of course, I wouldn’t stand a chance of being confirmed after that!

Generations from now, historians looking back at this period will view abortion the same way we now view human sacrifice that took place centuries ago.  They will wonder how a civilized society ever permitted unborn children to be dismembered in the mother’s womb.  At least, I pray this will be the case. Otherwise, a continuation down the path we are on does not bode well for the future of humanity.