+ Again we place the context
of our readings in what is going on in our personal lives, and in our world. The
manner in which we respond to the challenges of any given day ought to be
directly related to the activity of faith within our souls, and words and deeds
in our lives that reflect it: that is words and deeds of love.
For example, in our day,
today, we are facing an historic challenge to the very fabric of our democratic
system of government. It seems that everything is in the right place at the
right time for “a perfect storm” – that
rare combination of circumstances that will aggravate a situation drastically.
The events within the
stormy/situation are the collision course of the United States government – the
Executive Branch, in particular – with foreign agents whose underlying
motivation is and always has been the destabilization and dismantling of the
free democratic process and world domination. There appears to be a collusion
of effort to disrupt our democratic system.
Such agents – no matter what
nation they represent – are sure and present pawns of the Father of Chaos, the Father of Mistrust, the Father of Confusion, the
Father of Manipulation, the Father of Trickery, the Father of Lies, the Father
of Deception: the Evil One, the Devil Himself – who is very real, very much
alive and very active – because these seem to be the real beginning of the End
Times – and he wants to take down with him everyone he can.
With this as a backdrop we
consider the readings at Mass which are all about mankind’s true invitation to
a right stance before its Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier – the Triune God –
and that stance is humility, deep and
true, and a contrite heart which ought to reflect daily examination of a
conscience in the process of right formation – where we reflect on how our
wills and ways attempt to supersede God’s – which is a recipe for failure and
disaster every time. Such a posture is ever ready to say: “I was wrong.” “I
apologize” “How can I make this up to you?”
The first reading from the
Prophet Daniel speaks of the result of
sin on the lives of a nation: and that would be the reduction of the nation to ruins. To head off this destruction
and annihilation Daniel encourages his hearers to placate God with a contrite heart and a humble spirit.
This is the only posture that gets directly and immediately to the heart of
God, and evokes compassion, mercy and forgiveness from him.
And not only the inhabitants
of the nation ought to adopt this posture, sincerely and profoundly, but also
the nation’s leaders and their support administrative assistants. In this way, a true regeneration will have the chance to
take root and blossom.
In the gospel passage we see a
progression from the mercy message of the first reading: when once a person or
a nation is forgiven because it pleaded in its distress to the Lord, when the
same person or nation refuses to apply the same principle of justice tampered
with mercy to those who beseech it of them – for example, in a broad sense,
refugees and immigrants, who want to enjoy the same opportunity to enter our
country as our forefathers had – then the unmerciful person or nation in
justice ought to be punished and severely so – including imprisonment – where
applicable – until the whole original debt is paid!
We have the power within us to
be humble, to seek a contrite heart for ourselves – so that we can deal with
extraordinary kindness and justice to others who are in the same shoes that we
ourselves once were in.
How about it? The decision is
entirely ours! But since time may be running out – a positive decision, sooner
would be better than later!
Remember,
O Lord, that your mercies and compassion are from of old! In your kindness look
with love upon us your sometimes stupid and senseless people!
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