Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

There are several points worth considering this Sunday, and they may seem at first unrelated; but, like puzzles we can work to complete, I will try to "connect" the dots of these points, as it were, with the line of Faith, and our response to Christ's call to be His followers. These points have to do with the readings this weekend, the Fourth of July, and our Diocesan Jubilee celebration.

(1) None of us like to be rejected. Rejection brings sadness, hurt, anger, and other negative emotions. Yet, this is a clear theme in the first reading and the Gospel. God warns Ezekiel that an obstinate people could reject him because of his message. Yet, "yes or no" he goes to speak for God. Christ himself was rejected by His own in today's Gospel. Thus in seeking to live out our Faith, to proclaim the Death and Resurrection of the Lord, can we expect anything different at times? Certainly, as followers of Christ, as the Church, we need to carry the message of the Gospel in a way that invites and welcomes. But, this message of necessity must challenge each and everyone of us. In this age - that is sometimes called the "post Christian" era, the challenge has never been clearer, and the rejection and apathy toward the Faith stands in high relief. One standards and values can visibly set us apart and lone - as the Cross of Christ stood visible and alone - yet like the prophets and saints, we must go forward living our Faith to the fullest extent, knowing that in some places it will win us no friends. However, in that seeming place of aloneness and weakness we are strong as St. Paul says. In moments of doubt, anguish and uncertainty, these is the power of God at work in our lives!

(2) This weekend we have an extended celebration of the Fourth of July. We have an extended time, more than usual, to celebrate Independence Day. This is always a time to pause, reflect, and think about our lives here in these United States. Like the bright and beautiful fireworks against the dark night sky, there are lights and shadows that form part of the whole picture about our life here in the United States. There are many of these; I would like to reflect on just a few. I have had the chance to visit a number of American cemeteries abroad: Anzio (Italy) Omaha Beach (D Day - France) and in Luxembourg (for the Battle of the Bulge) At the Omaha beach cemetery I was present when a man on our tour visited his brother's grave. He had not seen his brother since he left home in 1939. These cemeteries spoke eloquently of the sacrifice made by those in the armed services to defend life and freedom. This part of our history, a truly bright spot. We all have had friends and family who have sacrificed for freedom and human dignity, and still do under the worst of conditions. Yet, in the shadows, life here and in the West in general is not worth that much when it is absolutely vulnerable before birth and during the process of dying, or when life is deemed valuable un so far as it is useful. And, there are times when these attitudes are shaped into policies that exported through the United Nations, with the help of our government, as a condition for foreign aid to developing countries: I am speaking specifically here of mandatory abortion and contraception that have been tied to financial aid to the Third World. When the Holy See, at the United Nations, tries to object to these policies and statements, ironically, the countries who try to help in the efforts of the Holy See are the Moslem countries, who find these policies no good for their families and societies. They do not want the same consequences as we face in the West! No wonder that at times the developing world wonders about the way we conduct business! Or, I could cite other instances when in times past it can be documented that the dictatorial anticlerical Masonic president of Mexico, Plutarco Calles, began a brutal persecution of the Catholics in Mexico with help and backing from this country! This was the time of many of the Mexican martyrs, the time of Los Christeros. The Founding Fathers of our country were religious men - Deists, to be precise. They did not see the presence of God in the same way that we did, believing that once God created the world, he was simply at a distance, so to speak. Nevertheless, they had an abiding trust in the power and providence of God, which they spoke of and believed in and carved into the foundation of our country. They simply did not want a "national Church" which had caused so much strife in Europe. We Catholics were given the freedom to worship. Do you remember that one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence was a Catholic by the name of "Charles Carroll of Carrollton" whose brother was Bishop John Carroll of Baltimore? Yet today, we are faced with the reality of clear attempts to eliminate any public reference to God: to as it were, drive any mention God from the "public square." And, a more cursory view of life will show that anti-Catholicism is the last respectable prejudice in our "politically correct" society. Where have we come from, and where are we going? One simply has to visit Washington D.C., and visit the Jefferson and Lincoln monuments, for example, to see another story and clear trust in God in the establishment of our country and protection of life.

(3) Finally, we have just celebrated 150 years of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. We thank the Lord for His Faithfulness to us in these years: in moments of jubilation and moments of trial. Thanks to all in our parish who participated in these events, especially last Saturday. It was a most special day and a day of grace, especially for the priests, I might say. More than one had their spirits lifted by looking up into the Grandstand filled with 12,000 people, celebrating the Mass with the Bishop, carrying the Body and Blood of Christ to that great crowd, and meeting friends and parishioners. The whole event was a foretaste of the Eternal Banquet. May our response to Our Lord continue to guide us as individuals, Church and nation, from here into Eternal Life.