Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • September 17, 2021 5 9274 Hwy 49/Airport Gulfport, MS 39503 228-863-5525 1-800-880-2446 FAX: 228-863-9612 www.butchoustalet.com After the sudden attack on United States forces in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, President Roosevelt appointed Admiral Chester Nimitz as the commander of the Pacific Fleet. The admiral hastily flew to Hawaii to assume command and witnessed a spirit of despair, dejection and defeat- ism as if the enemy had already won the war. On his tour of the destruction wrought by the attack, the Admiral saw huge sunken battle- ships and navy vessels cluttering the waters everywhere he looked. The young helmsman of the boat asked: “Well, Admiral, what do you think after seeing all this destruction?” The Admiral’s reply shocked everyone within hearing range: “God bless America,” he said. “He mercifully was taking care of us in our greatest hour of peril. The Japanese made three big blunders: First, they attacked on Sunday morning when nine out of every ten crewmen of those ships were on leave -- saving many thousands of lives. Second, in their fervor to destroy the many battleships they saw lined up in a row, the Japanese forgot to bomb our dry docks, which would have crippled our repair time and our battle readiness. Third, all our fuel is stored in tanks five miles over the hill, one attack plane could have destroyed our entire fuel supply, but they never went there. So, I say that God was providentially taking care of us by allowing the Japanese to commit three of the biggest mistakes that an enemy attack force could possibly make.” Our readings today reflect God’s providential care. Today’s first reading exposes the thoughts of the guilt-ridden (the wicked) when challenged by a righteous person. Written just fifty years before the coming of Christ, Christian thought has always recognized this reading as foretelling certain aspects of the passion of Christ. The teachings and actions of Jesus (healing on the Sabbath) were certainly obnoxious to His persecutors. Their disagreements with our Lord went beyond intellectual discussion, they plotted to kill him and were successful in silencing Him, if only for three days, then denied His resurrection. One of the sad realities of our current culture is the lack of respect for a different opinion. Most arguments against the sin of destroying life in the womb (abortion) never get a hearing because the other side avoids the issue by personal attacks and accusations. In Jesus’ case, He spoke out against sin His whole life but in the end knowing His destiny remained silent because He knew God was in charge and would raise up disciples to take His cause of truth to the ends of the earth. As disciples of Jesus, you and I have the confidence of God’s leading and care to continue proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ by what we think, say, and do. Psalm 54 is David’s plea for God’s rescue when his enemies sought his death. Along with his prayer, David’s confidence and trust in the Lord is asserted through the Psalm response, “The Lord upholds my life.” David’s impassioned plea recognized the gravity of the situation: his life was in danger. And, while the odds were seemingly on the side of his enemies to prevail and destroy him, David recognizes that his enemies have left one thing out of their calculation and declares, “God is my helper; the Lord sustains my life.” Their evil plot will fail because, “they set not God before their eyes” (are acting in contradiction to God’s perfect will). “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end -- they are new every morning” -- Lamentations 3: 22-23. Search for the song and sing it. Because of the tension between Jesus and the Jewish leaders, many people Jesus loved and whom He came to redeem grew increasingly hostile and their unbelief sabotaged any impact He tried to have on their lives. As a result, Mark’s Gospel, two weeks ago, described Jesus and his disciples leaving Jerusalem to pioneer a mission to the Gentiles (Mark 7: 24ff). In today’s Gospel, Jesus, fully aware that torture and death await Him there, decides to return to Jerusalem and prepares His apostles for the fatal event by teaching of His impending passion and their role in the drama that is about to play out. This prediction of Jesus’ passion is so important it appears nine times in the synoptic Gospels (three times each in Matthew, Mark, and Luke) and in all instances is told only to the chosen twelve. “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill Him, and three days after He will rise.” Against this background we consider what follows to glean important faith lessons. Imagine the scene. Somewhere between leaving a successful mission to the Gentiles and arriving at Jerusalem where a horrible death awaited their master, the disciples argued about which of them was the greatest and thereby would sit at His right and His left when He comes into His kingdom. But, when challenged by Jesus about the discussion, they offered no response. It was the silence of embarrassment. We engage in activities, arguments, and exercises that among ourselves may seem useful, entertaining, or necessary, but what if we had to subject these to Jesus’ scrutiny considering His purpose and call for our lives? Jesus shows what is truly important. Instead of desiring power, Jesus offers a challenge to service, and in place of self-adulation He gives an opportunity to worship and bind ourselves to the Father. God’s constant presence contradicts our tendencies to ignore His words or act as if He didn’t exist. Finally, Jesus uses a child to emphasize a key point, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me.” Children depend on their parents for necessities of life, as we adults should with our Lord. Children trust their parents will always act in their best interests as a mark of their love as we should because God cares. Will you think, say, and do everything as if you were acting in the Lord’s name, as God’s representative, and as if Jesus is listening and watching? Do you really believe that in all things, and at all times God cares enough to take care of all the difficult situations you will face? Does your prayer life, personal testimony, and faith in God confidently back up your claim? Yes, God really does care. Pray about it, declare it, and live it! Deacon Ralph Torrelli lives in Hattiesburg and is assigned to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish. Visit his website: www.homilypearls.com. 1st Reading: Wisdom 2:12, 17-20 Psalm: 54:3-4, 5, 6-8 2nd Reading: James 3:16-4:3 Gospel: Mark 9:30-37 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time Providential care Deacon Torrell i Sunday Scripture Commentaries