Living dangerously 5 16 04.doc

5/16/04

                                        Living Dangerously

          “See you Frank,” “see you Monday Bill.”

The question begs: how do we know that Frank and Bill will see each other on Monday? 

          What does it mean to be living dangerously anyway?

Am I talking about jet pilots; professional rock or mountain climbers; stock car racers – all very dangerous occupations or pastimes to be sure, but what is it that makes the way they are living truly dangerous – not only to their physical well-being, but also to their state of soul?  

So many minds are so numbed to anything except what is felt or seen or heard and not open to what is hidden from our superficial knowledge of what our senses tell us.

Many people today just cannot fathom those things that are “hidden” from the senses, and because of this, perhaps, they live as though there is no tomorrow.  

So, how does Frank know that he will see his friend Bill on Monday?   He doesn’t know.   And neither does Bill know if he will see his friend Frank.  

I will state at the outset that Frank and Bill do not have very hazardous occupations or pastimes, but Frank and Bill are representative of, what seems to be, the majority of those who call themselves the average “man on the street” – working; paying a mortgage; raising a family – these days, a quite small family if Frank and Bill are the “average” American heads of households; playing or attending their favorite sporting events on the weekends; or simply going to the mall on Saturday.  

Frank and Bill are also representative of those who call themselves “Christian” and maybe even Catholic; perhaps, attend some type of church service.   In many instances, the average Frank and Bill do not attend any church service at all, let alone raise their children to at least fear the Lord.   But Frank and Bill are “good people”; they take care of their wives and children and generally provide well for them and their needs.   And, after all, “they believe in God.”

These days, those who are classified or thought of as “good,” can’t possibly be sent to hell just because they don’t “go to church” or raise their children to fear the Lord, or might have just one fling after they tell their wives that they have to “work late at the office.”   Who is sent to hell these days anyway?   Even the liberalized, new order “Catholic” Church tells those of other “religions” that as long as they follow their consciences and lead “good lives,” they too can attain salvation and the Beatific Vision.   There is no need to convert these “good people” of other “faiths” to Our Lord’s one, true Church because God is all love and wouldn’t think of sending anyone to hell.

This false sense of security is rampant among the modern population especially in the United States of liberal America.   Those in authority in the Church can be held responsible for the loss and wondering flock in search of some tradition, some truth, something to cling to in light of the ambiguities of the day.   Many lost “Catholic” sheep find solace and a sense of tradition in other so-called religions – some of Eastern origin.

Modern Rome will have much to answer for when it comes to enforcing Church teaching, or, should I say, lack of enforcement.   The moral and spiritual beacon that was once Holy Church, has been weakened by a weak-kneed hierarchy; chiefly bishops and their subordinate priests who refuse to tell the dwindling attendees at Sunday Mass that there is, in fact, such a thing as evil; right and wrong; moral absolutes -- and hell.   They all say that we must be tolerant of other “religions” and “dialogue” with them in an effort to – to what?   Convert?   No, but to base some type of “unity” on what we have in common; this false sense of “Christian unity” was condemned by Pope Pius XI in his encyclical Mortalium Animos, 1928.  

So Frank and Bill go their merry way each day not realizing that their days are not guaranteed; only death and judgment are.

God and His one, true Church have been put on the backburner if thought of at all.

Sadly, entire families can and are lost to the evil one in a quest to attain “happiness” in this life.

Most folks don’t want to make waves or upset the applecart for fear of alienating family or friends.   And yet, this is just what we are told by Christ Himself that we must do: make waves; upset the applecart.   Or else we are not worthy to follow Him.

The God of “luv” is truly the God of Justice, but this is rarely mentioned in these latter days.   God also demands that we worship Him in a certain way; without innovation or novelty, but this too has been under attack for over 50 years now resulting in confusion as well as outright sacrilege in some instances.  

So, what is there to do for Frank and Bill and for ourselves, for that matter?   For Frank and Bill, if they show any good will at all, they must be evangelized in order that they might have the opportunity to amend their lives and the lives that have been entrusted to them and lead them down the narrow road that leads to the Kingdom of God.   For practicing Catholics, it is our job to continue to make waves; upset the applecart and evangelize the “Franks” and “Bills” of this world.   This one spiritual work of mercy can cover a multitude of sins and help save our own souls.

E. De Lalla.