The Cult, only capable of learning–if at all–from excruciating self-inflicted pain, is starting to feel the pinch. Stupid as ever, most of them will parrot whatever lie they are fed about how “the media” is cooking the books to make the Fuehrer look bad. Then they will lie more and more desperately that it’s Biden’s fault, or the Dems fault, or the gays, trans, illegals or some other scapegoat. But none of that will save them from the crushing pain resulting from the consequences of their own idiot choices and denialism. Some will then opt for violence in their frustration at their own failure. And finally, some of them (likely a minority) will at long last face reality and start to deal with their fault, with their fault, with their own most grievous fault honestly. The incredible thing is that even then–indeed, even now, while they are yet pig-headed sinners–Christ has already has died for them and God is extending them grace by his Holy Spirit–or they would never in a million years be able to admit their sin even in a half-assed way.
And–here’s the thing–we are solemnly commanded by God to do the same.
The goal is to survive this time in our history, not make things worse by settling scores with penitents by gloating over their suffering or, worse, refusing to help their groping after light or spitting on their attempts at repentance.
That means, among other things, facing the fact that the overwhelming percentage of penitents do not undergo massive, totally-life-altering conversions in a moment like Paul on the Damascus Road. Most penitents are thick and slow and take forever to figure things out, like the apostles and Peter.
Pay close attention to this parable:
And he said, “There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.’ And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to make merry.
“Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ” (Lk 15:11–32)
The Prodigal Son went back to his Father, not out of a sudden burst of nobility, but because he was starving and hoping for a meal. The Father didn’t chide him. He loved him and welcomed him home. The older brother, who had done everything right, was royally pissed at this, but the Father said, “My son you are always with me and everything I have is yours. But it was right to welcome your brother because he was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.”
In the early Church, there were brave, but unloving, Christians called Donatists who gutted it out in seasons of persecution and who suffered profoundly while others in the Church failed, betrayed the Faith and even betrayed the brave martyrs and sufferers who paid in pain and blood for their cowardice. When the hour arrived that those who had suffered were back on top, they wanted the cowards, many of them repentant and seeking mercy, to be banished from the Church. These embittered survivors became rigorists who would accept nothing less than perfection and refused mercy to the prodigal like the older brother. They ended by rejecting the Church for being “too merciful”.
My point: Be gracious to the crappy, self-centered penitent. Yeah, he still has a long way to go. How do you expect him to make the journey when you stomp on his foot as he takes his very first step? When the Cult finally faces their sin it will be a slow, sloppy, self-center process that, for most of them, will never be finished in this life. But if the will to obey Christ is there, he is pleased even with their stumbles.
And since, let’s face it, none of us is any better at facing our own sins and we all require a ton of patience from God, let us extend it to those who have failed where we, by the grace of God, have not because next time, it could well be us.
“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” (Mt 18:23–35)
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4 Responses
Yes, mercy towards MAGA people (maggots?), who finally see the light would be a good thing. It might help them along in the process of returning to sanity.
The logic of MAGA people is quite curious. Instead of blaming billionaires and CEO’s for shipping jobs to China, they blame immigrants, transgenders, etc, who are safer targets. MAGA is about scapegoating. Over the past 40 years,the white working class has lost a lot of ground for many reasons. Much of it can be attributed to the greed of the billionaires. However, they are not safe targets, they have power. Thus, all this vitriol is directed at immigrants, transgenders and “safe” targets.
Big cuts to Medicaid to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. And MAGA is told this is a good thing. Incredibly, they believe it. Now, a few are waking up. It’s about time.
It’s hard to forgive, indeed. Thanks for the reminders, Mark.
When Jesus instructs his followers to forgive “not seven but seventy-seven times” in Matthew 18, it’s hard not to read that as “however much you think you need to forgive, I’m telling you it’s a lot more.” It’s also just hard to read that, because forgiveness is just plain hard. The MAGA crowd has done so much harm. But if we ever wanted a practical test to assess how well we follow the Teacher, this might be a good one.
My dear husband just came back from a trip to Colombia. He hadn’t been to Bogota in years. What moved him to the core of his being was the people there–store clerks, taxi drivers, family, young professionals–the guy on the street who when asked for directions replied something to the effect of “it is my pleasure to serve you”. When my husband let loose with a string of profanities after the taxi he was in had a close call with another driver, his driver very calmly informed him: “I realized long ago that to become angry would embitter my life.” What words of wisdom from a taxi driver in one of the most congested big cities in the world! Another taxi driver, when asked how he felt about all of the refugees from Venezuela reflected: “it is true that they have made our lives more difficult. If the United States invades Venezuela there will be another wave of them–but we will welcome them because they are our brothers.”
The many young professionals my husband conversed with all shared the same traits: respect, sharp intelligence, excellent English and a refreshing, unassuming elegance–and yet they were also very affectionate with each other–hugs and kisses on the cheek–nothing that would fly with HR at a big company in the U.S. They literally made my husband choke back tears when he told me about them on the phone. I think they reminded him of his own children. He was so proud of them. He felt so proud that they were his people.
This was not the Colombia my husband remembered as a child–where he would see street children, and his mother would instruct him to look away.
I asked him why he thinks they are so gracious and temperate. He said, “I don’t know” but after some thought he told me that he thinks that it is because they have suffered a lot. They have suffered years of civil war. They are also very much rooted in the Catholic faith. A while back there was a movement where the young people got together as a nation and said “enough”. They walked around in black T-shirts, to signal to their country that they wouldn’t continue with the old way of thinking.
I pray that this nation doesn’t suffer violence. All around us I see contempt, entitlement, sarcasm, deep divisions, money obsession, and an utter lack of elegance and temperance. One of my children sent our group chat a South Park episode of a naked little Trump in bed with the devil. (yes, I laughed.)The day before yesterday, my youngest son sent me an Instagram reel of an immensely overweight black girl sobbing, and wailing that she was hungry. A reporter at some news station introduced her to the public, saying: “This is ______ (very African American name) snd she is starving.” I think they chose her on purpose. They were laughing at her. My own child was laughing at her. I replied to his reel saying, “you are committing a sin to laugh at someone who is hungry.” He has never suffered food insecurity. I admit, I’ve chuckled at some of the uncouth reels that come into my feed. Yesterday there was one of Gavin Newsom using AI to mock a coddled baby Trump. Silly. Unprofessional. Embarrassing. Not even funny anymore. And I’m beefing with my-sister-the-welfare-queen (she has no qualm availing herself of every free benefit from the government) who behaves like my children and I are beneath her. She drives a Range Rover, sports Gucci, Prada shoes handbags etc.,travels the world with her rich boyfriend, goes to society parties every weekend and scheduled a face lift on her youngest daughter’s birthday. She loves her hero Trump. And she thinks the people in Gaza are getting what they deserve. She’s not as tacky as Trump but she’s inching closer. Yes, I feel guilty for judging. My MAGA mother judges her too. No. I’m not exaggerating. We are a sick culture. Most of the Catholic people I know are MAGA. How is that even possible? Why isn’t God shouting at them in their consciences?
What has become of us? How will we ever be great again? I fear we are gathering all of the materials to create the fire that will purge us of our sins.