The sky is falling!

First Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3a, 14-17
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 96
Gospel: Matthew 23:23-26



"The sky is falling!" This is the cry from the story of chicken little. This story is about a little chicken who is hit in the head by a falling acorn. Becoming very frightened, the little chicken concludes that the sky must be falling, what other logical explanation could there be? The little chicken decides to go and tell the king, but along the way runs into his friends and creates the same panic within them as well. This is an excellent children's story about jumping to conclusions and the consequences that can come with it.

In Paul's letter to the Thessalonians, Paul warns the church about this "chicken little" mentality. He instructs them to "not be shaken out of your minds suddenly, or to be alarmed either by a 'spirit' or by an oral statement...Let no one deceive you in any way." (2 Thes 2:2-3a) Paul warns against jumping to conclusions and goes on to tell the people to "stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught..." (2 Thes 2:15) Paul was aware of the dangers at the time and realized that the church needed encouragement. While the church at Thessalonica had earlier been praised for its endurance in the faith, Paul knew that it would only be a matter of time before they may be tempted to stray.

There has been, and always will be people against us telling us things that are different than what we are taught to believe by the church. I can humbly admit that before I came into the church, I had long been anti-catholic and had even sought to change the mind and attitude of my wife (girlfriend at the time) who was raised catholic. But thankfully by God's grace she "stood firm and held on to the traditions that she was taught." I now realize that God had a plan and a place for me in the church, but I had at the time a very hard heart towards the faith. As I have come into and grow in the Catholic faith, I am constantly realizing the abundant graces that begin to flow into our lives and how much closer I have come to Jesus and His church. I feel so blessed to be where I am at today, and it is partly because of those around me who stood firm.

We are going to be tested in our faith very often in our lives. There will be people (even those with good intentions) who will try to tear us away, perhaps from religion completely or to another faith; but in these times we must trust God, stand firm, and hold fast to the traditions that we were taught. If we do this, we can weather whatever is thrown at us, scandals, financial hardships, criticism, prejudices; it doesn't matter for God will always be there for us.

Today's pray will come from the scripture of 2 Thes 2:16-17.
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word.

We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.