I overheard part of a conversation today between 2 young men having a couple of beers and attempting to solve the problems of the world. (Well do I remember those days!) I heard one of them opine: "I wish there was some way that we could combine the best parts of socialism, like taking care of other people, and the respect for individual liberty, like libertarianism!" I thought to myself that way already exists. It's existed for 2000 years. It's called Christianity!
It reminds me just how far secularism and political ideology have become entrenched in our culture and how marginalized Christianity had become. Political ideology seems to have become the golden calf today, replacing faith in the one, true God, with man made artifacts.
The golden calf was in today's reading from Exodus at Mass. As I was listening to this passage being read (Ex 33:7-11; 34:5b-9, 28) I couldn't help but be struck by the parallels that I see in our world today. A short time after Moses left the Israelites to go on the mountain to pray, they forgot all about God saving them from the Egyptians by the parting of the Red Sea. Instead of being grateful, they became resentful for having to leave their nice safe life as slaves. God's promise to them to lead them to the Promised land was forgotten. Having to endure a journey of hardship (punctuated by a few miracles to remind them the Almighty God was watching over them) they became angry and resentful and turned to the things of man instead of being faithful to God.
Doesn't this parallel our own journey as mankind since the Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus? Jesus saved us from the slavery of death and promised us eternal life with him. He showed us the Way to eternal life. Not necessarily an easy journey but He would remain with us, to watch over us, guide us and show us miracles, such as the Eucharist, to remind us He was still with us in the Holy Spirit. At the end of our journey: Paradise! Eternal life with Him!
The secularism, modernism, humanism and moral relativism that pervade so much of our society today, coupled with the marginalization and even outright anger and hatred for all things Christian and pertaining to God seem to be a re-creation of the events in Exodus. People have once again turned their backs on God. They speak of Jesus with scorn and hatred.
There is yet Hope. I feel a growing wave of evangelization coming from the church. A distilization and coalescing of the true Body of Christ is happening. A line between those faithful to Christ, His holy Church and His chosen Apostle, Pope Benedict, and those who would have a more "modern" church and faith becomes clearer to me every day. The new media is rapidly becoming a gathering place for the faithful to spread the Gospel and to communicate and support each other.
We pray for all those who have lost their way. I include them in my nightly rosary. I also pray for those who have kept the faith and in whom I see the light of Jesus Christ burning brightly. I have Hope and Faith and Love. Yet, I recall several years back that I had the distinct feeling Jesus was telling me that it was time to decide. No more sitting on the fence and being a part time Catholic. That He needed Apostles again. That there will be martyrs again.
It's getting a bit late and I need to wrap this up, say my prayers and get off to bed. This blog feels unfinished and scattered somehow. Like I've only scratched the surface of a great many things. I'm afraid I'll have to leave it this way for now.
May our Lord, Jesus Christ, be generous in his blessings and shed abundant grace on all.
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