Gospel Reflections for November 22 2015
This Gospel is a message for ISIS.
The world is repulsed by their violence in Paris. Once again we see the cruelty that is Islamic Extremist Fundamentalism.
The Roman Empire was also known for cruelty, and Pontius Pilate, the local Roman Prefect of Judea at the time of Jesus was one of the most ruthless.
Yet, when Jesus meets Pilate He is unafraid, even bold in his comments to this powerful Roman Prefect. Pilate is intrigued at His courage and begins a conversation on power and authority. They each use power differently.
Pilate rules Judea by fear and ferocious acts of Roman terror, such as crucifixion. People obey because they are afraid.
Jesus rules the Kingdom of God, with love, peace, courage, and compassion. People follow because they are free, and deeply desire the peace that comes from following Jesus. History affirmed that love is stronger than fear, and the Kingdom of God remained long after Pilate and the Roman Empire were gone.
There is no freedom today in the areas controlled by ISIS and other Islamic Extremist Fundamentalist groups. If they were ever to release their deadly grip, people would freely choose to escape, as several million refugees have already done.
While everyone has a right to freely emigrate from a violent war zone, they do not automatically have a right to immigrate into any country. Fortunately, the UN and USA security agencies provide a robust set of careful vetting procedures to make sure only peaceful refugees will enter our homeland. We especially hope many Christian families will make it safely outside.
As ISIS loses even more territory, it will probably strike out in desperation again, as it did last week in Paris. However, ISIS violence is uniting the world in compassion for victims and courage to stand together against terrorism.
This last week, I spoke at several seminars on Islamic Extremist terrorism at Mount St. Mary’s University in Maryland. This great school is planning on hosting a few Syrian refugees who pass the UN & USA vetting process. I also spent a few days at Notre Dame University attending a conference on religious freedom.
Both of these Catholic Universities wonderfully affirm the power of faithful people to freely and compassionately reach out to those in need and to courageously stand together against terror. Both Universities, and this Gospel affirm that love is stronger than fear, and that the Kingdom of God will remain long after ISIS is gone.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Thank you for reaffirming my strength in my faith. This too shall pass, and we must have stronger faith than ever before to stand up for our freedom for my grandchildren and their children.
Yes, Rome, Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, are all gone. The power of love, as Jesus lived, outlasts anything we can build.
Father Dave, Love your commentary!! I have been thinking of our precious faith of love and joy!!! Our precious God becomes man as the second beautiful person of the Blessed Trinity, Jesus, teaches us to love, dies for us so that our sins can be forgiven and we can once again return to God!! What an amazing beautiful faith of love and joy!!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee being a Catholic Christian !!!The extremist, violent ,Islamic terrorists kill in the name of their God!!!How terrifying!! They must be stopped!!! Good will always win out!!We need to act to stop violence!! God works through us to end evil!!!! Our beautiful Lady of Fatima said to pray the Rosary for peace in the world!!!I I will tell our Circle of Love and everyone to pray the rosary to stop ISIL and other terrorist groups for we LOVE!!! Through intense prayer to our God ,ourJesus, our Mary, and action by the U..S. the United Nations, and NATO, Islamic terrorism will be defeated!!!We need to act!!!
With love, Franca and Dick
I think the world is mobilizing slowly now in the right direction. I am happy for that!
Thank you so much for these comments, the style of which we have long experienced during your years at St. Paschal’s: rational and thoughtful, and always hopeful.
We especially appreciate your comment regarding the lengthy process concerning potential immigrants: “a robust set of careful vetting procedures”. We are familiar with this interview process inasmuch as the husband of a close relative is employed by the Department of Homeland Security in Washington, and conducts these extensive interviews as part of a mandatory prolonged period of investigation before applicants’ acceptance into our country.
Glad you were able to participate in the seminars in Maryland. Keep up the great work!
Thanksgiving Blessings,
Bob and Rose Mary
Yes, and most of the vetting process occurs overseas, long before anyone is ever allowed to actually come here.
“Fortunately, the UN and USA security agencies provide a robust set of careful vetting procedures” But it is worrisome that the FBI director states that it is not possible to do proper vetting with the number of persons within the time proposed by our Administration. It seems to me that either the 10,000 immigrants stay in Europe, or we should set up a retention center where the vetting can be performed over the time required.
The bottom line is that no one can come here unless they are properly vetted. If someone does not have a proper background check, they do not get in.
I am confident that the vetting agencies are erring on the side of caution now, especially with so much media scrutiny on them, which is a good thing.
i also along with others loved your comments. They remind us of who we are as Catholic Christians. I was just listening to A man with the last name of Cahn talking to the USA and how were were founded on Christianity and there is no way w2e can erse history like they are trying to do. It and you reminded me that we need to stand firm in our faith. Another reqaction is in France as they are taking to there knees and praying. Praise the Lord, because I know of several who have gone to France to Evangelise and they say that it is far from being Christian. It is taking this to bring them to their knees. We need to pray for our country daily as with the bills passed in California and in the USA we have a lot to pray for. I always believe that because of our faith in Christ and that our USA was founded on Christianity God has blessed us. If we turn away from that the question is what will happen. We need to pray against all that the enemy is throwing at the USA and other countries .. It is our only hope.
I am glad that France is reaffirming its ancient Catholic traditions. I saw pictures of thousands of people gathered at Notre Dame Cathedral.
Praise God. What does it take to get people back to their relationship or even get a relationship with the Lord. We in the USA need this also We are eaded for a crisis. I have always believed the Christians need to stop fighting amongst each other and fight for our values in he USA to change back to the Lord.
Coming back to the Catholic Church I have always struggled with the Rosary. It takes concentrating on two things at the same time, and that isn’t me. I do understand the Rosary people and their dedication. Learned it by watching Betty Swan.
I do and have started the prayer from Sister Fauustina (sp?). There is a place on line to go there and I am starting to do that prayer with them. We do need God’s mercy in the USA.
Praying along with Sr. Faustina is a great way to start!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for standing up for freedom and trying to ease the fear of taking in refugees. These poor people have suffered enough. Let’s open our arms and welcome these persecuted families. We must have faith that our government will take the proper precautions to ensure our safety.
From what I have studied carefully these last several weeks the vetting process has a higher standard for these refugees than anyone else. Everyone understands the need to reach out to suffering people. We just want to make sure that bad people do not take advantage of the system and infiltrate our country to kill people here. However, I think the system in place right now is good.
Fr. Dave,
Zinger! As much as I distaste the tactics the Israeli Goverment is using to defend themselves (and by default their neighbors) against radical Muslims, their “PlaybooK” needs to be taken seriously less our Judeo-Christian way of life is all for not. It’s important to emphasize that no one is calling for war against Islam, only its radical extremists!
I find it disheartening to not hear or see huge condemnation movements by the many hardworking and good Muslims – perhaps it’s the FEAR you allude to in your commentary….
As an aside, while I don’t always reply to your weekly reflections, I do always read them – keep up the good work. Too, attended the I-Heart Radio Elevate conference last Saturday, it was fabulous (sold out, over 900 attending). Have you thought about hosting a radio spot on Catholic Radio – you’d be fabulous!
Finally, hope to see yah at Catholic Charities Xmas Gala in two weeks.
Dio vi Benedica
Dear Father Dave:
What can we all say about your experience, with everything in our Christian Faith. You have made it so we once again our having the ability t o say “In God we Trust! ” And we will not let anyone take that away from us.
You are an expert in all avenues in our Faith – Thank you Father Dave, because we need your hope and faith in our lives.
Our love is with you and our respect for being a wonderful disciple of God
Thank you
I saw a story online reporting that some religious leaders of Islam are condemning acts of violence and terror in the name of Allah. Maybe this is another turning point. I believe you had mentioned a while ago that you thought the solution to ISIS would have to come from within Islam.
Yes, there are various Muslim leaders here and there making good statements, but I do not think it has been enough, or in sufficient numbers. It needs to every Muslim leader every week, every month, and every year, until radical Islam is seen to be wrong. However, I am always grateful when some Muslim leaders speak as you have indicated.
So good to be back reading your gospel commentary after some time away due to surgery. Particularly comforting to me was your hopeful vision of a turning point in both attitude and re-action to the Paris ISIS attack. Some French relatives visited me this summer and told me how the Muslim influx to France over the years has significantly changed their country. Their biggest complaint was non-integration of the immigrants. As my cousin said, “I go to Paris and it doesn’t look like my own country anymore.”.
Hopefully, the refugee situation will not breed resentment on either side.
Thanks Father for always enlarging our Catholic perspective.
You are very welcome. I always try to connect the Gospel with what is happening in our world.