An Initial Assessment of 2022 on This Last Sunday of January

It's the 4th Sunday after Epiphany in the traditional Liturgical Calendar. January has just about exhausted itself. It's too early to assess 2022 - or is it?

If we try to opine about the financial markets and the economy, the political and social state of affairs, or even the C-Virus Mess that keeps hanging on, then yes, it's early. Any potential trends may be taking root, but there's no way to assess whether they'll grow from here, and if they do, how far and how fast.

Whatever our economic and financial future might be, we've got to now factor in the continuing supply chain problems and - an even bigger factor - inflation. We've not seen inflation at these levels in at least 40 years. If we're heading in the same direction inflation took us starting in the 1960s, extending through the 1970s, we'll be in for a rough ride. But to make any definitive assessment now would be premature. All we can say is a prudent person should sprinkle a few grains of salt on predictions that supply chains bottlenecks and inflation will ease in 2022.

The political and social state of the country hasn't budged much this month. We're a divided people. We were before COVID landed on our shores from foreign shores. We're divided by politics. Huge and expanding divisions between rich and poor - with the rest of us somewhere in between - continue unabated. The C-Virus Mess that unfolded since early 2021 has only driven an even greater stake into the heart of these United States. Despite growing evidence that the "Warp Speed" vaccines don't really work, that masking and social distancing don't really work, that mandates based on what doesn't work don't really make any sense whatsoever, we seem stuck. Nothing has really changed - so far. 

The pandemic has only made the existing divisions worse. People who refused the jab who were fired remain fired. Countries pursuing totalitarian policies ranging from targeting and segregation of unvaccinated people, press forward despite clear evidence that vaccinated individuals, if anything, are more prone than unvaccinated to contract and spread the virus. And the now clear evidence that early treatment is and always was the best response to this devilish COVID thing has not budged the needle of the many governments (including the U.S.) and their partners in the medical establishment and main-stream media.- so far While January brought some good news regarding the pandemic (that good news being the emergence of the truth), it's been resisted by those still in positions of power to impose what must be seen as ridiculous and dangerous policies. 

So January has provided no respite from that unfortunate, potentially disastrous division that was already in place before the onset of the pandemic, and which has only worsened since.

As for the state of Holy Mother Church, well, let's leave that one alone. While there's plenty to say, words can't really capture the complete unraveling of our Catholic unity and sensibility. The downward slope that began in the aftermath of Vatican II has not leveled off even a single degree during January, far as I can tell.

And yet, despite all that swirls around us, we can indeed find some encouragement where it matters most: within each of our souls.

If we take the trouble to build and fortify our Interior Life, it will provide us with a safe and peaceful place place to "sit" with God each and every day, no matter what the world dishes out. Our spiritual life may be challenged by the world, the flesh, and the devil, but with God's grace we don't have to surrender one iota of the peace that comes with striving to be closer to Our Lord. 

The long-anticipated day of reckoning for our economy and financial markets may very well arrive this year. Our country may grow even more divided, perhaps resulting in greater social unrest, crime, uncertainty, anxiety. As for our Catholic Church, the institution may - let's way will likely - continue in a state of chaos. 

But the Church cannot be defined by institutional dysfunction. We remain the Body of Christ, Our Lord at the Head, sitting atop the Communion of Saints. If we can lift our gaze from our earthly surroundings, we'll find the angels and saints praying for us, led by Our Blessed Mother. We'll see our brothers and sisters in the Church Militant engaged in the same spiritual warfare that began with the eating of the apple, continuing even in the best of times for Holy Church. And we'll remember those Holy Souls who need our prayers and sacrifices to help them arrive at their (and our) ultimate destination: Heaven.

Our place in the Body of Christ has not and will never change no matter what the rest of 2022 brings us. Given that wondrous fact, our assessment of 2022, with a mere month's perspective, may not be as bad as it might otherwise seem. 

Happy Sunday!