Third Sunday of Advent – December 11, 2011
(Epistle: Philippians 4: 4-7)
(Gospel: John 1: 19-28)
“And blessed is he that shall not be scandalized in me.” (Matthew 11: 6)
Nothing is more honorable for a Christian than to bear the name of a child of God and brother of Jesus Christ. But on the other side of that coin, nothing is more awful than being ashamed to confess Him openly in public, that is, as often as the occasion calls for it. Those who fear man more than they fear God are the ones who will deny him, violating the promises they made or made for them at Baptism. What do we get in return for denying Christ? We get to be slaves of Satan, the loser, the evil one. To put it in financial terms, that’s not much of a return on our investment in life.
The fear of man is this: to be ashamed to fulfill our religious duties before the world. “To be afraid to do good for fear of being despised or ridiculed by . . . men is a dreadful insult” to God, Who could send us to hell at any moment. But you can be sure that those Christians who ridicule you for your faith do not have the courage that you do to publically acknowledge that you follow Christ and His Church. Fear of man can also mar a good work we do if we do because we fear being criticized for not doing something good. Man cannot bestow grace upon us, but God can, so do your good works for love of God and neighbor. We find our justification in pleasing God, not man.
Let’s look at this problem of fear of man from a different angle. Piety is a reverence for God,
fulfilling our religious obligations with devotion. If we make fun of pious people, there are three reasons why we do this: One, because we think they are hypocrites or, two, we make fun of piety itself or, three, we are angry because they are better than we are.
As to the first one, in order to treat the pious as hypocrites we must be able to read their hearts and see the hypocrisy there. We cannot do that, but now, isn’t this a better way to proceed? That when we see someone performing a good work we naturally conclude that it comes from a good and pure heart? If the things pious people do are actually good works, then we are reassured by the Words of the Son of God Himself that “Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, and the evil tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can an evil tree bring forth good fruit.” (Matthew 8: 17, 18)
If we are upset when we see a pious person, is that not a call from God? Isn’t He showing you this person as a reminder that you also should be pious? Be content when you see such people, and know that there are many good people in the world whose acts of piety are not only for their benefit, but also for yours.
The second reason: we make fun of piety itself. We really do this because we lack the courage to do what pious people do – pray, receive the Sacraments, attend Mass, all as devoutly as they can. We must justify our lax, indifferent and even sinful lives, so we ridicule piety itself, and those who are pious, as a bunch of losers. But let me give you a gentle reminder: Pious people are on the path to heaven; the lax, indifferent and sinful are on the path to hell. Winners go to heaven. Losers go to hell.
The third reason we don’t like pious people: we are angry because they are better than we are. But let me ask you, what would you think of a poor man who speaks badly about rich people? Would you not ask him: “What is preventing you from working toward being rich?” But isn’t this also true of you, if you speak badly about piety and those who practice it? What is preventing you from being as pious as any saint? The answer, of course, is nothing at all!
We can understand now that those who are pious do not deserve our mockery. These people mitigate the anger of God, and if they didn’t we would all soon be annihilated by the justice of God. We know this is true from Moses and Phinees. The Jews tempted God in the desert and forgot that he saved them, and God “said that he would destroy them: had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach: To turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.” And, later, they provoked God “with their inventions: and destruction was multiplied among them. Then Phinees stood up, and pacified him: and the slaughter ceased.” (Psalm 105) The prayers of the pious today also hold back the justice of God.
No, instead of mocking the pious, we should copy them, do what they do. It doesn’t take much to give up meat on Fridays, to go to Confession and to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days. We aren’t really too busy to say our prayers in the morning, asking God for the graces we need for this day. We aren’t really too tired to say our evening prayers, thanking Him for His many gifts throughout the day. When we do these things we not only receive God’s grace, but also psychological benefits – we get peace of mind knowing that we have fulfilled our obligations to God. From this comes a great confidence in ourselves and we soon find that we are living a happy life.
In today’s Epistle reading St. Paul tells us to rejoice in the Lord. There is nothing more just than to rejoice in our Lord. Be not solicitous, which means do not be anxious or impatient, because the Lord is near. He is near to His Church and near to our souls. How can we be near so burning a Fire and still be cold in our hearts? Let us meet the Christ Child on Christmas morning with our prayers and petitions and with thanksgiving, as St. Paul recommends to us today.
This coming week is Ember Week, a time of fasting and abstinence. When you fast you are denying yourself a pleasure and you will feel uncomfortable. That is called mortification of the body. When you offer that uncomfortable feeling to God you will be rewarded with the grace of God that will bring you closer to Him. It will help you stand fast against the devil and will defeat the sinful vices which lead you away from Heaven.
For those aged 18 to 59, inclusive, Ember Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday are days of fast (one full meal, two smaller meals, liquids only between meals) and, for all aged 7 or over, partial abstinence from meat. You can have meat, meat gravy, or meat soup at the main meal only on Ember Wednesday and Saturday. Total abstinence from meat on Ember Friday, as on all Fridays of the year.
Fast and abstinence is a violence against ourselves. Pope St. Leo the Great says that fasting is the food of virtue, because from abstinence comes chaste thoughts, honorable decisions and helpful advice. By voluntarily suffering through fasting the sting of the flesh is lessened, that is, we think less of our bodies while our souls become strong in virtue. Make the Ember Days even more meaningful by depriving yourself of little luxuries like desert and by praying for Catholic priests, who are in great need of your fasting and prayers. +++
We Celebrate the Traditional Tridentine Latin Mass
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