Pater, dimitte illis: ...

Nunc DE VERBI textus Missae Lectionum ingredi
quia April 4th, MMXIV
Feria Sexta Quartae Hebdomadae Quadragesimae

QUOD veritas, amici, mundus undique in Christianos celeriter claudit ad tenendum vero. In Mediis Orientalibus regionibus fratres ac sorores cruciantur; ^[1]cf. endoftheamericandream.com capite truncatus est; ^[2]cf. IndianDefence.com de domibus et ecclesiis suis exustis. ^[3]cf. Persecution.org In Occidente, libertas loquendi evanescit in realis tempus ante oculos nostros. Timotheus Cardinalis Dolan in eius vaticinatione ante triennium non longe abest. ^[4]Lege etiam quae anno 2005 scripsi, quae nunc fiebat; Persecutionem! ... et morali Tsunami

Nolite solliciti esse debemus de hoc quidem ... libertas et religio. Editorials already call for the removal of guarantees of religious liberty, with crusaders calling for people of faith to be coerced to acceptance of this redefinition [of marriage]. If the experience of those few other states and countries where this is already law is any indication, the churches, and believers, will soon be harassed, threatened, and hauled into court for their conviction that marriage is between one man, one woman, forever, bringing children into the world.—from Archbishop (Cardinal) Timothy Dolan’s blog, “Some Afterthoughts”, July 7th, 2011; http://blog.archny.org/?p=1349

In today’s Gospel, the authorities attempt to arrest Jesus for merely speaking the truth that they found disagreeable. But He reminds the Apostles, “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” ^[5]cf. Io 15 Today’s first reading, then, is fast becoming a parable for the Church today…

The wicked said among themselves, thinking not aright: “Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training. He professes to have knowledge of God and styles himself a child of the LORD. To us he is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see him is a hardship for us, because his life is not like that of others, and different are his ways. He judges us debased; he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure. He calls blest the destiny of the just and boasts that God is his Father…

But today’s Psalm adds the reassurance:

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. Many are the troubles of the just man, but out of them all the LORD delivers him.

beati qui persecutionem patiuntur propter iustitiam quoniam ipsorum est regnum caelorum, Jesus said. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. ^[6]cf. Matt VII: 5-10

Brothers and sisters, the answer to those who wish to destroy our freedoms or paint us as intolerant bigots is the same answer that Jesus eventually gave to those who arrested Him: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing. ^[7]cf. Acts 23:34

Let love burn in your heart for those who insult and hate you so that this love, in turn, may sear their hearts with the presence of God: “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.” ^[8]cf. XII Rom: II

For..

The LORD redeems the lives of his servants; no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him. (Today’s Psalm)