Eight Sunday of Ordinary Time (Sirach 27:4-7) “A New Reason or Penance”
Eight Sunday of Ordinary Time (Sirach 27:4-7) “A New Reason or Penance”
The Catechism of the Catholic church has four main sections entitled: Creed, Mystery, Morality and Prayer. In the area of morality, the ten commandments are explained extensively. The eighth commandment deals with truth. Considering what has happened the last few days in our world, it might be good to dwell for a few moments on why truth is so important if we are going to have a stable world. The Catechism is quite strong.
It says: “The eighth commandment forbids misrepresenting the truth in our relations with others. The moral prescription follows from the vocation of holy people to bear witness to their God who is the truth and wills the truth. Offenses against the truth express by word or deed a refusal to commit oneself to moral uprightness; they are fundamental infidelities to God, and, in this sense, they undermine the foundations of the covenant” between God and humanity. (Catechism of the Catholic Church #2464)
“Nothing can justify recourse to disinformation for manipulating public opinion through the media. Interventions by public authority should avoid injuring the freedom of individuals or groups.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church #2498)
“Moral judgement must condemn the plague of totalitarian states which systematically falsify the truth, exercise political control of opinion through the media, manipulate defendants and witnesses at public trials and imagine that they secure their tyranny by strangling and repressing everything they consider “thought crimes.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church #2499)
The reading from Sirach that was our first lesson today says that “the fruit of a tree shows the care it had; so too does one’s speech disclose the bent of one’s mind.” We might also say that one’s actions, are proof of whether one’s words are to be trusted.
World leaders often have played games with the truth. We may wonder what difference that makes. But we have seen where that leads with the war that has broken out in Eastern Europe. The leaders of Russia have lied to their people. They have played the victim. They have thrown around words like Nazism and genocide as they have spoken to the people of Russia to try to justify invading a sovereign nation. Russian leaders have lied to the broader world saying they wouldn’t invade Ukraine while at the same time having every intention of doing so. The lies that have been told need to be called out. This isn’t a matter of politics. No, it’s about justice. The fact that justice and truth are often paired together in moral teaching is no accident. When we lose a sense of moral outrage when lies are blatantly told, losing a sense of justice follows close behind. We should be horrified if we hear Americans speak in admiration for the Russian leadership.
What are we to do? One thing we can do is to condemn lies when we hear them. The second thing we might do is to assist the Ukrainian people when the possibility arises. The third thing we can do is to respond spiritually. Pope Francis has asked that all Catholics use Ash Wednesday as a day of fast and prayer for the people of Ukraine. Fasting is something that has gone out of style in our church. Our society looks on fasting as an eccentric practice of another era. But I would encourage everyone to fast this Wednesday praying that the scourge of War be stopped in its tracks. Fasting is engaging in a physical action. We might commit to fast every Wednesday of Lent for Ukraine if we are physically able.
What good does fasting do? First, it speaks of being in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. In the days ahead there will be many people in that country who will lose their homes. Many will be cold as well as hungry. I was struck by one news story I saw about a mother who was with her two children huddled in a subway tunnel waiting for the bombs to drop. She was asked what she had to eat. She had a bag of potato chips and that was it. Can we suffer feeling to a small degree the anxiousness of the people of Ukraine?
Another thing fasting can represent is protest. I am reminded of the movie Gandhi. At one point in Gandhi’s struggle to bring freedom to India, Muslims and Hindus were fighting in the streets. Mahatma Gandhi went on a hunger strike until the fighting stopped. After many days, the fighting did cease when people became more aware of Gandhi’s fast. It was his non-violent way of protesting. Might we try to protest those who seek to dominate the powerless through lies and violence?
We are more interconnected in our world than we ever have been. The war in Ukraine could lead us down a path of unprecedented destruction. Now is the time do penance, not just for our own spiritual fulfillment, but out of concern for the future of our world.
Reflection Questions:
- Am I disturbed when I hear leaders tell blatant lies? Do I correct others who repeat lies?
- What might I fast from this Lent? Am I willing to be in solidarity with others who suffering injustice?
Dear Parishioners,
On March 3rd ,a historic event will happen in our diocese. Bishop Daniel Jenky will be retiring as bishop of our diocese and Bishop Lou Tylka will become the ninth Bishop of Peoria. Bishop Jenky has been our bishop for twenty years. A lot has happened in that time. The sexual abuse scandal has been constantly unfolding, the great recession has happened. A twenty-year war was fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. The pandemic has impacted church life the last two plus years. These things would have been a challenge for any leader. Bishop Jenky has earned his time of rest. I am positive all of us will pray for his health. He met with the priests this past week and one of the things he asked for was forgiveness for his shortcomings. I am sure his request was sincere.
Bishop Tylka will have his own style of leadership. So far, he has gone out of his way to engage people. He has visited many parishes all over the diocese. The good news is that he has had time to learn about the history and problems of our diocese. Maybe this will help him to get off to a good start as he begins to shepherd us. This is a challenging time to be a bishop. His job will be tough. Let’s pray for him also.
Bishop Tylka has already visited our parish three times. He will be here for confirmation in April. Let’s continue to welcome him and make him feel at home.
May Our Lady and all the Angels and Saints watch over you today.
Fr. Mark