FROM THE SERVANT GENERAL
OUR THEME FOR 2020
(Part 65)
BEING PROPHETIC – 2
August 29, 2020
Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist
Today’s readings:
Jeremiah 1:17-19
Psalm 71:1-6,15,17
Mark 6:17-29
Jesus is the Rock on whom our lives and our community are built. Our constant prayer must be: “Be my rock of refuge, my stronghold to give me safety; for you are my rock and fortress.” (Ps 71:3). Built on the Rock that is Christ, we are safe, secure and strong.
How has it been for MFC all these years?
* We have always put our hope in Jesus. “You are my hope, Lord, my trust, God, from my youth. On you I have depended since birth” (Ps 71:5-6a).
* We have had extensive formation based on the words of Jesus. “God, you have taught me from my youth” (Ps 71:17a). Our teachings have been very much scripture-based.* We have done a massive work of evangelization. “My mouth shall proclaim your just deeds, day after day your acts of deliverance” (Ps 71:15a).
In all of our 39 years, God has built us up and prepared us for the work that is at hand. Today this work is of utmost critical importance, because there is unprecedented darkness and evil in the world, and even our own Church has been infiltrated and contaminated. As God’s people doing God’s work, we are to speak, not just in proclaiming the gospel, but also in refuting and combatting errors within our Church, as we defend faith, family and life. As we do so, we are in for a fight. “Against Judah’s kings and princes, its priests and the people of the land.” (Jer 1:18b). This fight will engage us not just against secular authorities and against worldly forces, but also against clerics who have abandoned the authentic faith.
So we are called to be a prophetic voice in the world and in our Church today. Are we ready? God has been with us all these years, and will continue to be with us. We just need to continue to listen to His words and act on them. “But you, prepare yourself; stand up and tell them all that I command you.” (Jer 1:17a). It can be a terrifying prospect to fight both the enemy without and the enemy within, especially if those within are in high office, the very authorities in our Church.1 But God assures us, as prophets He has raised, “Do not be terrified on account of them” (Jer 1:17b). As we continue to be built on Rock, God assures us, “For I am the one who today makes you a fortified city, a pillar of iron, a wall of bronze, against the whole land” (Jer 1:18a).
We need such assurance, since prophets, throughout salvation history, have been oppressed and persecuted. This was the case with John the Baptist. He was arrested and imprisoned by Herod because he opposed Herod’s marriage to Herodias, his sister-in-law (Mk 6:17-18). This is one case of what we today call irregular unions, which a number of clerics today do not condemn, as John did, and even condone. For his stand, “Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him” (Mk 6:19). This is the fury we face today.
* From radical feminists who want to destroy marriage and family.
* From LGBT ideologues who oppose the very design of God with regard to sex.
* From secular humanists who continue to celebrate the Sexual Revolution and reject being told what they can do with their bodies.2
* From clerics who are homosexualists3 and want to just welcome and embrace those in irregular unions4, including being able to be given Holy Communion.
So God has prepared us, God has founded us on the Rock that is Christ, and God sends us forth. We face powerful forces of the enemy. We engage in a brutal war. As such, we continue to look to and cling to God.
* God is our haven and our refuge. “In you, Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame.” (Ps 71:1).
* God is our deliverer and redeemer. “In your justice rescue and deliver me; listen to me and save me!” (Ps 71:2).
* God is our protection from evil forces. “My God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked, from the clutches of the evil and violent.” (Ps 71:4).
Because we have God on our side, because we have Jesus as our guide and savior, because we have the Holy Spirit as our strength and power, we need not be afraid. We are assured of God’s victory. “They will fight against you, but not prevail over you, for I am with you to deliver you—oracle of the Lord.” (Jer 1:19).
1These are the liberal bishops who have moved into Modernism and no longer maintain orthodoxy in their teaching.
2The mantra of those who are pro-abortion is: “My body, my choice.”
3Those who are either homosexual themselves or just strongly supportive of homosexuality.
4This is political correctness, which just accepts, welcomes, accommodates and embraces those in irregular unions but without talking of their sinful situation, because it is deemed offensive to do so.
