In these strange times, we need the teachings of the Church to help us navigate, priests who show how our faith can sustain in us in a disordered world. Our parish is fortunate in having such a priest, Rev. Timothy Marcoe, who sees the world as it is and tells us how Catholic teaching will help us live in that world. I’m going to summarize one of his recent homilies, but I urge the reader to go to the original (see here.) He talked first about “The Great American Experiment,” and what is required to keep it going.
THE GREAT AMERICAN EXPERIMENT: DOES IT NEED FAITH IN GOD?
“But America is an experiment in democracy – where the majority rules. Such a model works fine when the majority is still under the starting premise that we are all one nation under God and that God’s Law is supreme. But, what happens when the majority no longer believes that?”—Rev. Timothy Marcoe, Homily, 7 May 2023.
And it may well be the case that now a majority no longer believes that God’s Law is supreme, according to a 2021 Gallup poll, (if such belief is identified by membership in a church, synagogue or mosque). Accordingly, we can ask whether secularists/materialists will now determine whither the U.S.
“That means that you and I are now in the minority in America. And unfortunately, with rampant secularism, consumerism, materialism, and hedonism in our great nation, this trend is likely to continue…And so, if in a democracy the majority determines the laws, as well as the lived experience of those laws, will a future majority overturn God’s truth with man’s truth – whatever they happen to then think is true?”[emphasis added]—ibid.
Fr. Marcoe suggests that if this happens, we should turn to Catholic teaching to sustain us.
JESUS IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE
Contemporary culture (media, education, academia,…) asserts that truth is not absolute, but to be determined by social values.
“In contrast to this world-centered view is what we hear Jesus say in our Gospel today, who unequivocally declares that He is the way, the truth, and the life. And so, if the very Son of God became man to teach us the way to the Father, and made His Church to be His voice on earth, how deceived is a society that looks for another way – for another truth. Truth is not what you want it to be.” [emphasis added]—ibid.
Fr. Marcoe reminds us that our fellow Americans are not our enemy. Rather,
“…as Scripture truly teaches, ‘our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits.’ In other words, there is a spiritual war going on for the soul of our nation to keep God in the center of society, of our institutions, and of our lives.”—ibid.
FINAL THOUGHTS
As Fr. Marcoe emphasizes, the battle is the Lord’s; it will be His victory, not ours. Therefore we should pray for our country and for ourselves to carry on:
“Fortunately, though, this is not a battle we fight solely with human means either. Rather, because the victory already belongs to the Lord, we must fervently pray for our country, and we must pray that we ourselves have the needed strength to witness to the only truth that saves – God Himself – and make Him the true center.”—ibid.
Again, I urge the reader to go to the linked sites to get the full force of Fr. Marcoe’s sermons.
I plan to do another post on another of his homilies, a commentary on Pope Benedict XVI’s prediction (speaking as Cardinal Ratzinger) that the Church will become smaller.
We too, have a dynamic, intelligent and courageous priest to lead us forward.
One that tells it like it is.
As I read his homily I was reminded of these words;
Whether we live or die, we belong to Christ.
As His children we boldly go forward in this time, our time, and take great comfort knowing that Christ had you in mind for this period in time.
Opportunity abounds for future Saints. Pray your full Rosary and help save souls in the process.
Peace Bob Kurland…great homily from your shephard.
Our Founding Principles, our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution each declare a belief and acknowledgement of “their Creator” and the Infinite Supreme Sovereign Being, God, Who creates man in sovereign personhood.
Individuals who choose to believe otherwise damned themselves and unfortunately some of us, our Constitutional Posterity (Preamble).
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