It began in a beautiful Garden. Adam
and Eve had everything they needed. But they began to listen to that voice –
the voice of evil.
“If you wish you can become like gods
– you can decide what is right and what is wrong. You determine what is good
and what is evil.
The listened and they acted. Simply
put, it was a catastrophe for all of us. We are still suffering from the effects
of it. We call it Original Sin.
They were cast out, and the garden
became a desert. Look what has become of it Just ask any of our children and
they will tell you.
We produce almost 4 ½ of waste per
day per person. 40% of our food ends up in the trash. 64% of our lakes are not
clean enough to fish or swim in. Air pollution kills 2 million people per year.
And look what has become of us. Another school shooting. In a state where you
don’t need a permit to own a rifle, where you don’t need a permit to carry a
rifle, you don’t have to register the weapon, you don’t have to take safety classes,
you can buy it from anyone, no limits on the amount of guns you can buy, there
is no waiting period to buy a rifle, no ongoing permit or inspection requirements. Really? We can’t
do better? And, get the help needed by mentally ill people?
Into this desert comes Jesus. Spirit
drove him into the desert – to take on the evil one and remain faithful – to show
us the way out of this desert.
Jesus gives us the True Weapons that
are needed:
1)
Prayer – lift hearts and minds to the
God who creates us and loves us. To recognize where we have come from and where
we are going. Pray – morning, noon,
night, Mass, quiet room, reading bible, walk, rosary or stations
2)
Fast – from all that can take us from
God – God’s grace is sufficient. We will not be consumed by the things of this world
but see these things as gifts!
3)
Almsgiving – we respond to hate with
love. Love is willing the good of the other. For all our brothers and sisters. We will put aside all anger, all hate, all
revenge. We are better than that.
In the end, the only answer can be
God. How wonderful then that we are about to begin a Mission – an opportunity
to reflect upon God and our relationship with Him. Tony Bellizzi
