Meditation: 27th Sunday Ordinary Time



This Sunday's readings are particularly powerful for the current situation in the Church. We have a sharpening division and an increasing number of Catholics, both lay and clergy, who are weary and concerned about what's happening at the Vatican. All of this is in addition to the increasingly overt and violent attacks from without. Many feel the very words of Habakkuk when he complains to God that He does not seem to be listening.

The upcoming Amazon Synod is disheartening. The working document proposes outright syncretism and apostasy. If the document stands as is, the damage will be grave. Beyond that, there is talk and concern that the conclave that elected Francis was invalid, which would mean that he's an anti-pope.

Regarding the division, there are those Catholics who, desiring to be faithful to the Church (I am not attacking their desire) are defending every word and action of Francis. While their desire is commendable, it is misplaced.

St. Paul urges Timothy and, by extension, us, to "guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit." We are to take as our norm, "the sound words that you heard from me." This is the Deposit of Faith, the measure by which we gauge the words and actions of others. We are to defend the Faith from attack wherever it comes from, whether without or within.

St. Paul also reminds us that "God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control." We are not to be "ashamed of" our "testimony to the Lord." We are to bear our share of hardships for the gospel with the "strength that comes from God."

As servants of Christ, this is our duty. This is what we are obliged to do, and for this reason, are to consider ourselves unprofitable servants when our task is completed.

We must also ask Jesus to increase our faith, trusting that He always fulfills His promises. We must trust that the gates of hell shall never prevail against the Church. We must never become cowards.

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