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“Protect
me, O God, for in you I take refuge!”
Again, good morning
sisters and brothers in the Lord. We have all just heard the Word of God from
the prophet Daniel evoking images of end times: “a time of anguish, such as has
never occurred since nations first came into existence.” There was also a hint of judgement: “Many of those who sleep in the
dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and
everlasting contempt.” Also, from Jesus’ own mouth we heard: “after
the time of suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its
light… they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and
glory.”
We know that planet
Earth is currently threatened by extreme weather, the extinction of living
species, and pollution of soil, air, and water. Humanity itself is suffering
great upheaval due to countless conflicts, big and small, and even wars, all
over the Earth. In our own lives and families, we experience, observe, or hear
of illnesses and terrible trials. A good deal of power and wealth is in the
hands of a small number of individuals and groups who maintain a stranglehold
on governments and obstruct initiatives intended to serve the common good.
“Protect
me, O God, for in you I take refuge!”
So many marriages
and families fall apart, and according to Wikipedia, “The World Health
Organization (WHO) estimates that around 73 million induced abortions take
place worldwide each year, which is about 200,000 abortions per day. This is
equivalent to: 61% of unintended pregnancies, 29% of all pregnancies, and 36–44
abortions per 1,000 women of childbearing age” each and every year. It is a
wholesale slaughter that makes the Holocaust seem almost trivial in magnitude
of scale and sheer numbers. What a burden of innocent blood weighs on us all,
on all of humanity at this time of unparalleled technological development.
So, do you worry
about current events and what the future may bring? Have you been hearing or
reading dark predictions about the end of the world or are you concerned about
the end of your own life? So many young adults still live with their parents or
grandparents, because it is difficult for them to even think about finding a
suitable apartment, let alone buying a home of their own. Are you afraid for
what the conditions of the world may be when your children and grandchildren
come to the time for them to have a home and family of their own?
“Protect
me, O God, for in you I take refuge!”
World leaders think
there are too many people and push population control, contraception, and
abortion. They welcome wars, famine, and natural disasters which reduce the
population. This is far from God’s design of abundance. God intends for all
human beings to have access to the abundance on Planet Earth and enjoy the
necessities of life. Tragically, those who control our economy and financial
system organize it to accumulate wealth to a small minority while
simultaneously blocking the majority of humanity from access to the abundance
of the Earth.
The difference that
faith and Baptism make is to bring us into intimate communion with the Most
Holy Trinity, and the Word of God in the whole Bible shows us the ways of the
Lord. Our Father in Heaven is extravagantly generous with humanity, whom He
looks upon with love and sees each and every human being as his daughters and
sons. For God, there can never be too many people on the Earth; He wants us to
be fruitful and multiply. Now, are you not amazed that Jesus said He himself
did not know the day or the hour for all these events to come to a head and
wrap up with the coming of the Son of Man on the clouds to judge the nations?
“Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge!”
It is also mysterious and
interesting that Jesus did not come to reform human institutions; rather, He
came for individuals. Jesus set out to preach to small and large crowds and
then to encounter people, one at a time. God is interested in people, in you,
in me, and in everyone. Jesus is right now at the right hand of the Father in
Heaven, but He is risen from the dead and now immortal; so, at the same time,
Jesus also stands at the door of our hearts and knocks, day and night. As soon
as we open the door of our hearts to Jesus, He gladly comes in with the Father
and the Holy Spirit, and they sit down with us and bless us with spiritual
food, with love.
“Protect
me, O God, for in you I take refuge!”
Years ago, Pope
Francis began what is called “the Economy of
Francesco”, where he meets with young people
and encourages them to explore better ways of organizing society, economy,
business, agriculture, and the management of the abundance of good things God
provides for all of us on Planet Earth. It is wonderful to welcome inspiration
from God to initiate better ways of managing the goods of the Earth and
responding to the real needs of people. Countless initiatives are happening
now, but the media, controlled by the powerful and wealthy, don’t want to
publicize these wonderful initiatives and projects. With God’s help we can
encourage one another and others to take life giving initiatives, big and
small. We can all open the door of our hearts, minds, souls, and lives to God
every day. “Father, may these dark days of November be bright with the peace
and joy of the love You offer everyone in Jesus.”
“Protect
me, O God, for in you I take refuge!”
“Mary
Mother of God, St. Joseph, help us walk in
the steps of Jesus. O my
Jesus, I trust in You! Thank You; You who are God, the
Father, + the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
In silence now, the Holy
Spirit helps us to unite our offering of ourselves to that of Jesus….
https://frgilleshomilies.blogspot.com https://homeliesabbegilles.blogspot.com
