Be like Jeremiah and you might get thrown into a cistern

In the first reading today, the princes tell the king that Jeremiah is demoralizing the soldiers and the people.   Jeremiah was a great prophet who often reminded the Israelites of their sinful ways.  He tells them what they need to hear but not what they want to hear.  For this, he was thrown into a cistern.

Archbishop Schnurr wrote an editorial for the Cincinnati Enquirer last Thursday titled: “support marriage, don’t redefine it”.  Like Jeremiah, he is telling us what we need to hear but it isn’t what some want to hear. 

Speaking the truth on controversial issues was difficult for Jeremiah as it is for Archbishop Schnurr and for many of us.  Some would say that it is more compassionate not to bring these types of issues up.  It’s certainly safer to say nothing.  But, we must ask if this is what Jesus would have us do.

The key in addressing issues such as this is compassion.  We must always love our neighbor, even if that neighbor vehemently disagrees with us. 

In the Gospel, Jesus tells us that families will be divided.  He says: “Do you think I have come to establish peace on earth?  No, I tell you, but rather division.”

What was true in Jesus time still is true today.  Some of Jesus teachings will divide us.  There will be some who agree with Jesus and His Church and some who disagree.  Two issues which divide many in our nation today are abortion and same sex marriage.  In both cases, some have taken the position that the teachings of Jesus and His Church are wrong.  In fact, some go so far to call those who proclaim these teachings to be uncompassionate or bigoted. 

I would encourage everyone to learn why the Church teaches what it does on both of these issues.  We know that the early Church opposed both abortion and homosexual acts and that this opposition has continued for the past two thousand years.  Why does our Church oppose this when it might be easier for it to just keep silent, as some others have done?  If you have questions about this teaching and don’t believe that you can fully embrace it, I would encourage you to talk to Father Bernie or me about it.  Or you could visit a good Catholic web site, like catholicanswers.com to better understand this issue. 

And finally, I’d like to ask all of you to pray.  Pray for those women who are carrying a child that they don’t want.  Pray that they will have the courage to carry it to term even if they would, at birth, give the child up for adoption.  Pray for those with same sex attraction.  They certainly have a large cross to bear.   And pray for our families and our nation that we can heal the wounds that divide us.