November 2022

Christ the King (C) – November 20, 2022

Frackville, From the Pastor /

Believers, and at the same time systematically participating in religious practices, are the part of society that is definitely more active in various fields of social life and more willing to speak out on important matters than the so-called statistical man. Nevertheless, this activity is not at all impressive. According to the data of various research centers, it affects only about 7-10% of believers. So many declares belonging to various organizations, movements and church associations. How many actually work in them, speak publicly, react when something wrong happens? It’s very different with it.

The Gospel read on the Solemnity of Christ the King is kind of remorse for all those who stand aside. It begins with a dramatic sentence that illustrates the tragedy that unfolds on Golgotha precisely in the face of human passivity, and perhaps even indifference. “When Jesus was crucified, the people stood and watched.” The evangelist says little. He records only a few words. Very eloquent though.

As we gaze upon the people who stood and watched, we must ask ourselves about our personal reactions to various events. We are certainly not a society indifferent to human miseries of a material nature. In the face of various tragedies and in the face of needs that arise in many places and on various occasions, we react vigorously and show ourselves to be very generous. It’s even worse when it comes to values. Especially our Christian ones, firmly rooted in faith. In the name of the so-called tolerance, we are ready to keep silent, pretend that there is no topic – after all, you must not offend anyone; everyone must be respected.

The problem is that silence is not necessarily a sign of respect. By remaining silent, you can lose your self-respect. And by shutting your mouth in the face of evil and injustice, take the blame of others on yourself.

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Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (C) – November 13, 2022

Frackville, From the Pastor /

Another mysterious prisoner was brought to the prison overcrowded with people. He voluntarily placed himself in the hands of the guards. After some time, the amazing news began to spread among the prisoners that this newcomer was able to free from prison anyone who wanted to be released. There is only one condition, you have to trust him completely. The path he proposes is difficult, it leads through death. However, you should not be afraid, because he can bring even the dead back to life. Moreover, he guarantees that, outside the prison walls, he will lead all liberated ones to a new, wonderful, happy life. Who will risk and follow him? Some trusted the mysterious prisoner and followed him. Others mocked him and those who trusted him. They were all considered madmen. People preferred not to risk and take up the use of prison life. After all, you can accustom to everything, including a prison.

Prison is a temporal world. A strange prisoner who came voluntarily into this world is the Son of God – Jesus Christ. He came in hiding, like all the other prisoners. He was born like any other human, suffered like other people, even in death He did not differ from us. However, His words about eternal life were puzzling, His deeds were astonished, which surpassed the abilities of ordinary mortals, the news of His resurrection forced one to reflect the most. Twenty centuries have passed since the Son of God came to earth as a prisoner. Some people risk, believe Him and follow Him step by step, to the threshold of death, which they cross with the hope of a resurrection to a new life. Others do not take risks, they only count on earthly life.

Centuries pass, and in the walls of the prison the news of His first mysterious, hidden, unrecognized coming is crossed with the news of His second coming in the divine majesty of glory. The Son of God will come into this world once more, but no longer in secret, not as a prisoner, but as Lord and God. He will come to reward those who have believed in Him. He will appear on earth surrounded by the saved. He will show everyone the riches, glory and happiness of those who believed His words. It will be an hour of happiness and despair. Happiness to those who risked and believed in Christ immediately after His first coming, and despair for those who did not risk, did not reach out for a different, new life and stayed to care for temporal things.

Faith is a risk. However, this is not a great risk. It is based on the word of God, and He has never misled anyone. Whoever trusts in God, whoever trusts in Him, will never be disappointed. In this situation, the risk of faith becomes a great certainty.

We are a group of people who took the risk. We believed Christ. Do we follow Him willingly and persistently today? Are we not whining? Have we not been charmed by mortality? Which life do we care more about: temporal or eternal? Many gave up, they did not have the courage to follow Christ to the end. They forgot that the day of reward for the persistent is coming. On this day, those who followed Christ for some time and then fell away voluntarily will despair the most. They were so close to happiness and they gave it up themselves.

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