This Sunday Brings Us Two Passages from Scirpture to Help Us Weather the Growing Storm From This C-Virus Mess

A consistent theme of our Sunday posts has been how we can take advantage of the respite provided by The Lord's Day, or Day of Rest. We've found great opportunities for us to build and strengthen our spiritual life, ultimately to grow closer to Our Lord.

In more recent recent Sunday posts, we've included discussions of  the impact of the C-Virus Mess that began in March 2020. Beginning with the draconian lock-downs, we've posted many thoughts about how best to respond in order to keep our personal and spiritual lives calm and productive. And now that mandates and passports have ramped up the Mess to a new level, we thought it would be good to re-focus on this. 

In that spirit, we turn today to two passages from Scripture that will strengthen us, physically, mentally, and - most importantly - spiritually in the face of the continuing onslaught of lies, forced compliance, as well as threats, and bullying coming from our government and - sadly but not surprisingly - our Church leaders. 

While there remains a real physical threat to some of us from the actual virus, I suspect many if not most of us have been subjected to various assaults to our emotional and spiritual well-being. The following Scripture passages can help us counter, quell, and control this relentless buffeting, this Sunday we cite two passages from Scripture. Each passage provides clear recommendations that should bolster our emotional and spiritual immune systems. You may find each to be far more effective than the vaccines purported to protect our bodies.

First, in Jeremiah 15: 19-21, we find Our Lord speaking encouraging words to his prophet. Jeremiah faces a world turned against the Lord and His Commandments. As happens over and over in the history of the Israelites, despite God having brought them to the Promised Land, despite His having given them specific Commandments to help them live good and holy lives, they sometimes ignore and, worse, actively reject God. In some cases, not only does their depraved conduct display this, but they also take up the worship of false gods. 

In the face of this Jeremiah tries to call his people back to the Lord, but they reject his entreaties. Here God gives his prophet instructions on how to deal with his wicked countrymen. If Jeremiah will stay the course, ultimately God will stand by him and deliver him from those who would drag him into what will become their hellish pit, no matter the strength of his enemies.

"...thus saith the Lord: If thou wilt be converted, I will convert thee, and thou shalt stand before my face; and if thou wilt separate the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: they shall be turned to thee, and thou shalt not be turned to them. [20] And I will make thee to this people as a strong wall of brass: and they shall fight against thee, and shall not prevail: for I am with thee to save thee, and to deliver thee, saith the Lord. 

[21] And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the mighty."

While none of us is a prophet like Jeremiah, we Catholics may be stuck facing individuals and institutions who cause us harm. Think of the consequences of the policies and decisions of powerful people who pressure folks to take experimental injections or face exclusion from public venues and social events, "shaming," etc.. And that's just from our C-Virus Mess. Add to this a whole list of nonsense and outright evil promoted and pandered by forces inimical to God and His Church. Think: educational institutions from pre-school through college; major media and entertainment, laws and regulations that permit and promote all sorts of perversion, even murder of innocents; language and behavior that within the memory of some of us would be not only unacceptable, but, in some cases, illegal, punishable by law.

 

If you've been awake and attentive at any point over the last 50 years you know what's happened and what's going on. But if you sum it up, it does add up to what Jeremiah faced: a total turning away from God. So consider following God's instructions to Jeremiah: separate the precious from the vile. Maybe we might even be something of a "strong wall of brass" standing up to the vile. God says he will save and deliver us if we do.

 

Or we could just stay as we are and accept what's going on. Our choice.

 

Our second passage, Psalm 21: 2-5 might provide some encouragement to those of us who take our faith seriously, even more, desire God with all our heart and soul. It's a favorite of mine:

 

"As the hart panteth after the fountains of water; so my soul panteth after thee, O God. [3] My soul hath thirsted after the strong living God; when shall I come and appear before the face of God? [4] My tears have been my bread day and night, whilst it is said to me daily: Where is thy God? [5] These things I remembered, and poured out my soul in me: for I shall go over into the place of the wonderful tabernacle, even to the house of God: With the voice of joy and praise; the noise of one feasting."

 

Every time I read this passage, I can picture, even hear, the hart panting. Would that I could similarly pant after God. Would that my desire to draw closer to God could be as strong as the thirst spoken of in our passage. Would that my shortcomings might draw the tears we read of. And when God's enemies ask, "Where is thy God?, I pray my clear answer might begin every day with every thought, every word, every deed.

In the face of those those who turn their backs to God, may we all go to Him with that "voice of joy and praise; the noise of one feasting." 

This C-Virus Mess may go on longer than any of us would have thought. It certainly seems that way now. If it does, I hope our two Scripture passages help us weather what may continue to be a growing storm.

Happy Sunday!