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XXXII Sunday in Ordinary Time
by Rev. Fr. Arthur F. Rojas © All Rights Reserved © Nov. 4, 2022
Today we have a recurring guest blogger: Fr. Arthur F. Rojas, administrator of PRESENTATION OF THE B.V.M CHURCH, PORT EWEN AND SACRED HEART CHURCH, ESOPUS. For more information on this parish, check out their website at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary & Sacred Heart Churches - Port Ewen - Esopus, NY (presentationsacredheart.org)
Scripture readings for today's reflection can be found at Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB
In the Ordinary Form of the Mass today, the proclaimed Word of God exhorts us as Christians and then as Americans to live here on Earth, here at New York in particular, with an eye to eternity. However, for which eternity are we aiming by the course of our daily lives in matters great and small?
To what end did the brave seven Hebrew brothers and their mother resist the demands of the pagan king to violate God’s law in a gross manner, even to the point of torture and death? The first reading today (2 Maccabees 7:1-2,9-14) tells us why: the resurrection of the just by Almighty God. When you prepare for Heaven as your first priority during your life on Earth, you are willing to make sacrifices so as not to lose Heaven by orienting ourselves to Hell by prizing comfort over conviction and courage, especially regarding faith and morals. This prayerful courage is required not only of Catholics in China, Nicaragua, across the Middle East, Nigeria, certain parts of India, but also Catholics in “developed countries” such as America amidst the chill of our freedoms of speech, religion, and assembly in America thanks to “cancel culture,” gender theory, Critical Race Theory, and other pressures from private and public sectors. I think of Jack Phillips, the Christian baker in Colorado who has been harassed repeatedly by lawsuits and administrative pressure for refusing to prepare cakes to celebrate caricatures of God’s plan for life and love between one man and one woman at one time or that mock God’s design of humankind as male or female. I think of Catholics in the medical and educational professions whose conscience rights are under siege in America right now regarding practices that kill preborn children, that violate God’s plan for life and love, or that mutilate adults and even children in body, mind, heart, and soul. I think of committed Catholics and other people of good will through the ages and presently who have resisted policies and practices which, under the guises of national unity, social progress, public safety/health, justice, or tolerance, have exalted grave sin and error over God’s call to all mankind, especially to us as disciples of Christ, to live and to share The Gospel of Life and The Splendor of Truth, to recall the English titles of two encyclicals by St. John Paul II. More examples abound.
With Election Day coming on Tuesday, November 8th, may we Catholic Americans prepare to exercise our right to vote for various offices and ballot questions. Please reread the second reading for today (2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5). It is timely for these days. As disciples of Christ the King, we proclaim God as the Supreme Being, Whose teachings and commandments deserve our lived fealty in every sphere of life, whether in the boardroom, the laboratory, the classroom, the bedroom, and the voting booth. Thus, the God-given dignity of the human person from the moment of conception until natural death must guide not only how we treat each other and our neighbors in commerce, the arts, sports, etc. but also how and why we select those whom shall serve in public office and through them, their appointees. Although there are serious concerns over the economy, crime, immigration, the educational system, and our freedoms of speech, religion, and petition for the redress of grievances, etc., our leading teachers of the True Faith – that is, the bishops – remind us that among all issues of life and social justice, that abortion-on-demand is the pre-eminent issue for us to consider as we evaluate prayerfully and thoughtfully the candidates and the parties before us on the ballot. Before the eyes of Heaven as well as of Earth, may our votes as Catholic Americans affirm the splendor of truth and the Gospel of life!
From Arlene B. Muller:
ReplyDeleteWhen I read or hear the first reading from Maccabees I wonder why & how the mother & 7 brothers would be willing to suffer & die for obeying a dietary law, which probably meant more to them but what I would consider something minor: refusing to eat pork, a dietary law that they did not know but we know would no longer be in effect once Our LORD walked the earth, suffered, died, rose from the dead & established the New Covenant. Personally I am grateful that this dietary law, along with other ceremonial laws, was abolished for Christians, since pork is my favorite meat. Would GOD really expect His people to die rather than eat pork??? Obviously GOD would expect us to die rather than to bow down to an idol or worship any other person or object as a false god, to kill, steal, commit adultery, commit fornication or any other sexual act outside of sacramental marriage with a spouse of the opposite sex, or to get drunk or high--things that would be classified as mortal sins-- but to die rather than commit an infraction of a dietary law?? I even wonder if the LORD would waive the obligation to refrain from eating meat on a Friday of Lent if the consequence for obedience was persecution & death!
I believe I have strong enough convictions to avoid mortal sin & I hope that with the help of GOD'S grace I would choose to die rather than commit a mortal sin, but would I have similar courage to die rather than commit a venial sin? I definitely have my doubts about that!
This family had really intense faith & intense moral courage--an intense faith & moral courage we definitely need in our time & that is sorely lacking in many of our political leaders who claim to be Catholic while endorsing & championing policies that are in extreme opposition to Catholic & Biblical moral teaching. I agree that it is essential that we vote with a properly informed Catholic conscience, especially regarding upholding the sanctity of all human life, on Election Day & every day & declare that we hold our leaders to a much higher standard!
From Fr. Rojas:
DeleteDear Ms. Muller:
I recommend that you read the Second Book of Maccabees to appreciate how seriously pious Jews took the divine prohibition of consuming pork and foods that were classified as unclean. This prohibition is found throughout the Old Testament. From a review of indications in Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, etc.. consuming pork would be considered the equivalent of a mortal sin today, not merely a venial sin.
Furthermore, the seven brothers and their mother resisted the edicts of King Antiochus Epiphanes as he attempted to Hellenize the Jews of Palestine and to forsake other commands from God (i.e. worship of the one true God, study and fidelity to the Mosaic law, circumcision of males, et al) that formed the basis of identity as God’s chosen people. They suffered and died out of fidelity to God and His covenant with Israel.
As Catholics, we belong to the People of God thanks to the New Covenant sealed with the Precious Blood. Blessedly, thanks to Acts of the Apostles 10, we may enjoy pork ourselves. But at a time of growing hostility to Christianity lived in the public square in America and the West, what indeed are we Catholics willing to forego, even to suffer, for fidelity to Christ and our primary identity as His disciples belonging to His Church? Conversely, how public are we Catholics prepared to be in defense not only of Gospel values but also our rights and duty to follow them in conscience?
With Christ the King Sunday coming in less than two weeks, the readings of yesterday provide necessary context to consider what the Lordship of Christ means today. One other helpful source would be the encyclical “Quas Primas” (1925) by Pius XI.
Fr. Arthur Rojas
Thanks for preaching the truth
ReplyDeleteYour commentary indicates to me that you are not at all familiar with the obligation the Israelites had to obey God in all things, as well as their absolute fealty to God. Well, most of the time. Your typical Jewish person in the street today is not anything like the Jews who lived during biblical times. I’d say the closest thing to them are the Orthodox and the Hasidic Jews.
ReplyDeleteThis is why Hitler and his buddies were able to slaughter millions of them in WWII. There was a HUGE percentage of Hasidic and Orthodox Jews amongst the final tally of the butchered. They stayed the course and went like sheep to the slaughter. Frankly, much more “Catholic” than the majority of Catholics today, if I may say so. I work with the Hasidics during the summers and I have learned much about what they believe. One thing in particular which is critical for this conversation is that they believe God does not just allow good and evil, but that He is the author of it all. Good for obvious reasons and evil because good will come out of it. This is why the Hasidim have such a willingness to die for their faith.
It is the same obligation we Catholics and all Christians have today and have always had.
Obeying God and refusing to offend Him or disobey him, even in the face of torture and death, is the stuff Martyrs and Saints are made of.
Keep in mind what Jesus said about the “eye of the needle.” Now, don’t get me wrong. Not everyone has the strength of character and absolute conviction at the very moment they are put to the test. See what St. Peter did in denying our Lord. But to think that God would be okay with His people turning their backs on His Law in the face of temporary discomfort, well, because it’s torture and death, is erroneous thinking.
Staying the course and trusting in Jesus for strength to endure is the only path to salvation. Anything else is taking the path of Judas Iscariot.
Thank you. I read Father Rojas' response & the other 2 comments.
ReplyDeleteThe key point is that eating of pork would have been considered a serious offense/grave sin at the time of the Maccabees.
I was looking at the dietary laws from a 21st century perspective, which means that many Jewish people (Reformed & those on the borderline of Reformed & Conservative) don't observe them & that for Christians, the New Testament which abolished the ceremonial laws. At the time of the Maccabees these laws were in full force & effect & there was no indication that they were going to be abolished for Christian's in the Church age, beginning with St. Paul & his ministry to the Gentiles.
I totally agree that as Catholics we must be faithful to Church teaching, regardless of the cost & pray that the LORD will help us with the neccessary grace & strength to be faithful & endure to the end.
Pax et Bonum,
Arlene
Keep in mind that for authentic Jews (Orthodox and Hasidim) the laws have always been in effect and continue to be in effect.
ReplyDeleteLucky for us, we don’t have to follow the Old Law as I can’t imagine a life with Puerto Rican Fried Pork Chops, using my moms recipe!! 😬😬😬