Last Sunday, during Mass, I suffered a major anxiety issue. Those that know me well could tell that something was off. I did my best to hide what was happening, but the signs were there. This attack was likely caused by all the stress and worry that has invaded our lives since the presidential change of power.
It was also a moment for reflection for me. I may appear strong on the outside, but inside I am scared and worried about the future of our country and those that I love that are being attacked and vilified every single day.
In the past two week, my daughter has come under attack from dozens of conservative “Christians” who think it is their mandate from God to attack her for being transgender. Our church has been the target of a tremendous amount of hate online because we are “woke”. And I personally have been attacked by dozens of conservative “Christians” who believe I am a false prophet for teaching the Bible.
I preach the Gospel. The very Gospel we read this Sunday.
“Blessed are the poor. Blessed are the hungry. Blessed are you who are now weeping. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.”
Jesus was saying that those society marginalizes are blessed in the eyes of God. He even tells us in a roundabout way that if we proclaim his message we will be persecuted, reviled, and abused. Most people stop reading there because they are too upset that Jesus is “woke”. But let’s look at the rest of what he says:
“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”
Wow! Jesus’ message makes it clear that the rich, the gluttonous, those who laugh at those in need and marginalized, and those who are set up as idols and spoken well of have already received their rewards and they will suffer in the life to come.
Sadly, in today’s version of mainstream “Christianity”, people are too concerned with wealth and power. They either have wealth and power, or they think they can gain it by stepping on those who are considered “undesirable”. We need only look at the things they are promoting and accepting to see this.
I was reminded of this today when a former friend was found to have posted a video of people laughing and pointing at people wearing a mask to protect themselves from COVID or Bird Flu. They claim to be a “Christian”, yet they show a complete disregard for other’s health or concerns.
As someone who worked in the hospital 15 hours a day in the COVID ICU watching hundreds of people die from COVID, that kind of abuse is evil. As someone who has a weakened immune system due to diabetes and congestive heart failure, it is a wish that I would die.
That kind of behavior Jesus spoke about in the Gospel I just quoted! “Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep.”
Rather than repent, so many “Christians” today think they can be forgiven by claiming, “It was just a joke” or “You can’t judge me, only Jesus knows my heart.” Jesus also spoke to this when he said that we will know a tree by its fruits.
If you are not standing on the side with the Blesseds, then you are on the side of the Woe to them. Now is the time to make a real change and become a real Christian.
Otherwise, your experience at the end of your life will be less than pleasant.
Pax et Bonum,
Bishop Greer