Today's Gospel gives a short, but important, parable. In it, the father asks his two sons to complete a task. One says he will, but doesn't even attempt the job. The other says he won't but then goes and completes the task. Jesus doesn't just want "yes-men." Too often people claim they are Christian and then do not emulate Christ (for that matter, I've been guilty of this). Worse are those who persecute others in the name of Jesus. Jesus specifically says that the outcasts (prostitutes and tax collectors) are more deserving of salvation than the religious of his time.
How about now? Too often "Christians" are judging, harassing, and persecuting people they think are not deserving. "Christian" candidates take away money from the neediest, put the harshest laws on crimes committed by the disadvantaged, and claim a moral superiority on ethical issues without addressing the causes. Jesus preached to (not at) the underprivileged and the forgotten, the people who most of us would like to forget exist. He warned us that we can't just "talk the talk." We must put deeds behind our words.
Our homily today covered a different matter: the persecution of Christians at the hands of ISIS. While our priest presented atrocities committed, my mind could not handle the level of slaughter that was discussed. Now, I am a cynic at heart, and I know about the methods of propaganda as well as the misinformation that can come from a war zone. What I have found is that while the details discussed in the homily might not be true, there is no denying that ISIS (or whatever name it has decided on today) is committing war crimes in Iraq and Syria.
A student of mine once told me that bin Laden was not a Muslim, that he might have claimed to be Muslim, but he was not a true follower as a true follower would not harm innocents. I do not know how true that statement is, but I can't help but wonder the same about ISIS. Do they realize that, although they might claim to be Islamic, they actually serve Satan? Only Satan revels in this kind of bloodshed.
We need to be careful about how we interpret God's plans for us. God is the ultimate judge. I worry about those who claim to carry out judgement for Him.
How about now? Too often "Christians" are judging, harassing, and persecuting people they think are not deserving. "Christian" candidates take away money from the neediest, put the harshest laws on crimes committed by the disadvantaged, and claim a moral superiority on ethical issues without addressing the causes. Jesus preached to (not at) the underprivileged and the forgotten, the people who most of us would like to forget exist. He warned us that we can't just "talk the talk." We must put deeds behind our words.
Our homily today covered a different matter: the persecution of Christians at the hands of ISIS. While our priest presented atrocities committed, my mind could not handle the level of slaughter that was discussed. Now, I am a cynic at heart, and I know about the methods of propaganda as well as the misinformation that can come from a war zone. What I have found is that while the details discussed in the homily might not be true, there is no denying that ISIS (or whatever name it has decided on today) is committing war crimes in Iraq and Syria.
A student of mine once told me that bin Laden was not a Muslim, that he might have claimed to be Muslim, but he was not a true follower as a true follower would not harm innocents. I do not know how true that statement is, but I can't help but wonder the same about ISIS. Do they realize that, although they might claim to be Islamic, they actually serve Satan? Only Satan revels in this kind of bloodshed.
We need to be careful about how we interpret God's plans for us. God is the ultimate judge. I worry about those who claim to carry out judgement for Him.
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