They Shall Put You Out
We are presented today with a very ominous warning. Our Lord does not mince words when he spake unto his disciples and told them what was going to happen to them. “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.” We are left to wonder if he meant these words only for his disciples at that moment of history, or whether they apply also to us in these difficult times in which we live today. In any case, he confirms his words by warning that “these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them.”
Have these times come? If the shoe fits, wear it, as the saying goes. It’s difficult to ignore the words of our Lord in our current situation. As Catholics who remain loyal to tradition, we are not permitted to celebrate the true Mass in the Catholic churches that were built precisely for the celebration of this Mass. We have been summarily ejected from these churches, relegated to offering Mass in our homes, in makeshift chapels like this one, banned from saying the apostolic Mass passed down through the ages, a Mass now “abolished” by the one who claims to be the Vicar of Christ on earth. We have, in short, been put out of the synagogues.
The second stage follows on from this. “The time cometh,” warns our Lord, when they’re not only going to kill Catholics but actually think they’re doing a good thing by killing us, somehow pleasing God by their murders. How many sincere and otherwise decent people think they’re being virtuous by killing unborn babies? While their arguments for doing so are abhorrent and plainly repugnant to the word of God, many of these proponents of “women’s choice” sincerely believe that their murderous cause is justified. From there, it’s a small and logical step to murdering anyone who stops them from their agenda, and we’re already beginning to see the persecution of those who would even dare to pray silently outside the Planned Parenthood clinics. As violence continues to escalate throughout the land, encouraged by woke district attorneys and magistrates, we don’t need to think too hard about where things go from here.
The descent of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost will be our comfort in these times to come. He is the Spirit of Truth, and will guide us and help us to testify to the Truth of our faith. Are we prepared to testify in the face of persecution, imprisonment and death? Pray the Novena to the Holy Ghost this week, begging him fervently for his seven Gifts. These will see us through whatever tribulations are visited upon us, and the Holy Ghost will truly be our Comforter.