Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Society must be saved from above: Daily Mass Homily--Wednesday, May 15th, 2013 (Srs. of St. Scholastica)


            I want you to imagine a winter scenario.  This might not be the best idea as we are finally in spring, but please humor me. 
Every year in northern Minnesota something bad happens on ice-covered lakes.  Whether it’s a person or vehicle that falls in, or someone stranded on an iceberg in Lake Superior, someone every year finds themselves in trouble.  In such a situation, our natural reaction would be to run out and help.  Yet this is imprudent as more ice will inevitably break.  In the case of stranded fishermen on an iceberg in Lake Superior, help can only come from above in the form of the Coast Guard’s helicopter.
With respect to morality the United States has fallen through the ice.  At the human level, our first reaction is to use human means to help—changes in law, monetary benefits and other humanitarian programs.  Yet the fact is, our society can only be saved from above.  We need a helicopter and I see this rescuer as our Catholic faith.  The Church consistently provides guidance and grace from above to help save fallen humanity.  Ironically, this form of life support is belittled by our media and often rejected by our world.
Yet we shouldn’t be surprised by such rejection.  St. Paul encourages the priests in Ephesus by preaching, “Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, in which you tend the Church of God that he acquired with his own Blood.  I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock.  And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth to draw the disciples away after them.”  Jesus himself said, “I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.”
In dark times we thank God for the Church and we trust her teachings, leadership and guidance.  We pray for grace to live out our Catholic faith to the full to rescue, one by one, our family, friends and coworkers.  Like St. Paul and Jesus himself, we must strive to give aide from above to those who need it.

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