I start today’s reflection with a warning. What you are about to read, you may find offensive. So be it. On a personal note, I do not write these reflections to be popular. I write them to share truth. So if you think I’m being “political” or insensitive, no need to write me a scathing email. Just pray for me.
In today’s first reading from 2 Corinthians 11, St. Paul talks about how even believers are being led astray. Here’s what he says: “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts may be corrupted from a sincere and pure commitment to Christ. For if someone comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it well enough.” From the very beginning, people who had once assented to the faith were turning away, attracted to a new “gospel” that they found more attractive, more in line with what they thought.
Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? It was happening then, it’s happening now. This is especially true regarding marriage and sexuality. So many Catholics and other Christians are abandoning the timeless teachings of the Church – of Christ- to say that two people of the same sex can marry; that divorce and remarriage (without annulment) is perfectly fine. Adultery? Oh, don’t be so harsh! Funny…that’s exactly the word that Jesus used. There are many within the Church who are trying to “change” the teachings of Christ. This cannot be done. Oh, they can pretend. They can proclaim a new “enlightened” teaching. But don’t call it the teachings of Christ. Call it what it is – adopting a false gospel. Instead of being faithful, we blow with the winds of society, finding ourselves on the wide road that leads to destruction. We “put up with it well enough.” Instead, we should be saying, “Well, enough!”
Father, help us to stay faithful to the teachings of Christ. May we stand for truth, regardless of what everyone else is doing. Amen.
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