In the Gospel reading today from Luke 11 Jesus is accused by some people of driving out demons by the prince of demons. Jesus talks about what a ridiculous notion that is. He says, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.” He then goes on to say, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” Are you with Jesus? Because if you’re not, if you’re on the fence or ambivalent, the you’re against Him.
The first reading today from Jeremiah 7 takes a rather dire tone. God recounts the state of the people. It is not pretty. “But they obeyed not, nor did they pay heed. They walked in the hardness of their evil hearts and turned their backs, not their faces, to me. When you speak all these words to them, they will not listen to you either; when you call to them, they will not answer you. Say to them: This is the nation that does not listen to the voice of the LORD, its God, or take correction. Faithfulness has disappeared; the word itself is banished from their speech.”
We're living in the midst of cancel culture. People are getting canceled left and right for saying (or even thinking) the "wrong way." If you go against the grain of the new woke religion, you will be cast out. Jobs are lost, lives and families are ruined. How long do you think it will be before the mere mention of Catholic Christian beliefs will get you canceled? It's on the way. And when it comes, I encourage you: don't lose faith and don't stop speaking truth.
Father, our hope is in you. Give us the grace to stand up to evil forces in the culture trying to silence us from speaking truth. Amen.
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AMEN Gus! Eloquently stated!
Sadly, I agree with your prediction of what lies ahead. I heard a wise lady put an excellent question to some (in church) who felt that “things will be OK” because we have a “Catholic” president. She mentioned the names of some prominent Catholics and “Catholics” in government and asked why some were raked over the coals and others embraced – then pointed out that it is only those who actually practice their faith that come under attack.
Gob Bless!
This reflection is do true. Everything that was once sacred is now considered corruptible.