Lætáre Sunday
St Winefride's Catholic Church
Well Street, Holywell, Flinstshire, Wales CH8 7PL
1130am
All very welcome
Of all the Israelites that crossed the sea on dry land and that ate the manna from heaven, with most of them God was not pleased. God was good to them but they would not love Him.
One of the most sorrowful things that St. Francis suffered was the thought that God (who is Love Itself) is not loved. There are only a few who can truly say that they love God. The majority does not love Him and is headed to Hell.
St. Paul in today's Epistle divides people into two types. Abraham had two sons. One by a slave woman and the other by a free woman.
The children of the slave woman far outnumber the children of the free woman. "... for many are the children of the desolate, more than of her that hath a husband."
The spiritual descendants of Ishmael far outnumber the spiritual descendants of Isaac. The world and the worldly people far outnumber heaven and the saints. But, God feeds and provides for everyone, even those who hate Him.
Thus on judgment day no one will have an excuse for not loving God. He has given them nothing but good. He has fed them and sheltered them, He has offered them guidance and forgiveness throughout their lives, but they would not love Him.
Let us no longer be shocked at the number of those outside the Church, or the fewness of the elect. It is sad but it is an obvious reality that is clearly seen by anyone with eyes to see. And in confirmation of our own observations there are countless scriptural texts that point out to us that the majority will be lost.
The clearer our vision and understanding become of the spiritual reality in the world around us today, the more alone we must feel. But, we are never alone as long as we are with God. The world may be against us and even our own families and "friends", but this is the price that we must pay if we wish to be free children of God. We must love God with a love of preference _ so much so that we will hate even our own father, mother, brother, sister, etc. and even our own selves rather than turn away from God.
As we look out upon the evils in our world today we are shocked and wonder why God does not put an end to all this. Why does He not destroy all this evil as He did in the time of Noah, or as He did to Sodom and Gomorra? What is holding back the hand of God?
God permits man the use (abuse) of his free will as long as he lives here on earth, but in eternity justice will be done and irrevocably fixed for ever. But, one might argue that God did punish the people in the Old Testament many times and most severely, why not now? Many are being punished and punished severely. Whole countries are in chaos and destruction with worldly people fighting against each other for whatever worldly gain they can get.
But, the physical destruction is not world wide, yet. The hand of God is being held back, and we must ask what is it that is holding His hand back?
God's mercy is being given us on behalf of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament there were only animal and vegetable sacrifices to appease the wrath of God. Since Christ's Sacrifice on the Cross we have the daily Sacrifice of Christ in the Mass. In this unbloody sacrifice the wrath of God is appeased for just a little while longer. Christ continues to multiply food for the multitude even though the majority is not worthy.
It is for the sake of the elect (The spiritual descendents of Isaac - children of freedom who are free from the moral stains of the sins of the world) that the damned (The spiritual descendents of Ishmael - children of slavery who are slaves to evil and sin.) are permitted to live and are not punished immediately.
It seems clear enough that when the last true Mass is offered, God's mercy will be at an end and then will come justice. Let us make use of the time which is left to us to obtain God's mercy and draw ourselves to an ever increasing love of Him, even if it means that we are at odds with the rest of the world.