Advent Pastoral, 2005
Dearly Beloved in Christ:
We have just experienced a year of unparalleled natural disasters, not
only in this country, but throughout the entire world. Hurricanes, the
likes of which no nation has ever seen in modern times, earthquakes, typhoons,
tornadoes, the number of which is also unparalleled, nature’s horrendous
fires, and a tsunami, the toll of which is still uncalculated. What does
it all mean? Is it merely “mother nature’s” cycle of cleansing the
earth and revitalizing herself? Perhaps! Yet there are those of us
who do feel Almighty God is trying to tell us something.
How often do we wish, individually and collectively, that God would
intercede in our lives to bring about those remedies and changes that we so
often seek? In a world of faith, of course, we would refer to such
intercessions as miracles. But our ever increasingly secularist society
frowns on such phenomena. All can be explained scientifically.
Perhaps! Science has an answer for everything. Has it not?
Of course that may well bring us to that on-going debate in the media and
in our nation’s courts now concerning evolution versus “intelligent
design.” Even one Vatican elitist “priest” joins the opposition in
saying, “God has no place in science. He belongs in theology classes and
similar studies.” That priest ought to be defrocked by Pope Benedict
XVI. When the debate concerns the very origin of man and the universe, we
are obviously dealing with the First Cause, Whom we of the Judeo-Christian
culture call Yahweh/God. “Quidquid causatur ab abiit causatur:
that which is caused is caused by and uncaused Cause,” says Saint Thomas.
Now, any intelligent, well-educated Catholic, who has received a Catholic
education, has certainly studied theistic evolution – that’s what we
called it before we attempted to appease the atheistic evolutionists! God,
we learned, put all things in motion to bring about the changes or the
evolution, which are everywhere apparent.
To get back to the natural disasters that wreaked havoc on our whole
world during the past year: The outpouring of aid, especially from this
country was overwhelming. Generosity, almost to a fault! Why, even
Our Lady of Good Hope Church, small as it is, provided a lump sum donation for
hurricane relief equaling that of one township with the combined efforts of four
churches. Americans may pat themselves on the back. Their unexcelled
charity the world over is magnificent. We can all be proud. Proud to
be Americans, proud of our heritage!
How amazing that we come together with a display of unity and magnanimity
that outranks any nation in history in our care and concern for those who have
met great tragedy. There appears to be no limit to our ability to pull
together in doing what is right for others.
But what about our charity – genuine love – toward the Giver of all
gifts, the Author of charity Himself? Where do we stand with Him?
Him Whose birth we will shortly be singing again! Why, are we not adamant
in DEMANDING that Jesus Christ’s birthday be respected as we Christians have
in previous times. No, we knuckle under. We are obsessed with not
wanting to hurt the feelings of those new residents who have come to our land
and demand that we do it their way. Indeed, we join the pathetic excuse
for a priest such as we have mentioned above, who does not know the difference
between God and a moron! Do not offend! Well, it is time we
Christians recognized that We are offended by the iconoclasts everywhere, who
demand, demand, demand, and give back nothing in return. Come to America,
be Americans, but we will do it in our own hedonistic, God-less way!
We have just celebrated Thanksgiving. Whom were we thanking?
The United Nations, the United States Congress, the Supreme Court, the Council
of Churches? I believe that unique American holiday was established so
that we – we Americans, Jews, Catholics and other Christians, Muslims and the
wide wealth of other believing sects that have come to our Land seeking the
American way of life, to give thanks to GOD. Let us say it: GOD.
It is still legal to use His divine name. But it is becoming less so each
day in this country. Say it, and say MERRY CHRISTMAS, NOT “happy
holidays.” Mean it with all our hearts. He is our God to Whom we must render
praise, love and our BELIEF. And it is time we arched our backs against
all those who would dare to make it otherwise.
With every good wish and prayerful blessing, I am devotedly yours in
Christ,
+ John J. Humphreys
The Most Reverend John J. Humphreys, Archbishop
