Out of sync ...

Random reflections.

Yesterday, while at Mass I found myself missing the traditional Mass. That rarely happens to me. (It was most likely because it was the Feast of Christ the King and the Ordinary Form isn't able to project that mystery very well.)

Likewise, with all the squabbles going on in the Church, I some days do not know what to think, much less who to believe. The priest's homily was about apologetics and how important it is to read books by apologists. I had to wonder if he goes online - I know he does.  But I thought, how can you read an apologist's defense of the faith when they are all fighting one another, dissing every word, dismissing one another as alt-right/alt-left, and many, if not most, questioning everything the Pope and the Magisterium have to say? (I stand with the Pope and bishops in communion with him, BTW.) In a boast for apologetics, Father said, "Catholics are smart!" He kind of lost me there ... I couldn't help but recall what St. Paul had to say about the simple ones Christ called: "God chose the foolish of the world to confound the wise ..."  To be sure, there is nothing wrong with reading, but I will stick to the solid and true - those I can trust - and bypass those who are trying to write a best seller, while denigrating the competition.

Catholic apologists can get pretty 'puffed up'.  And Catholics are so proud of being intellectual and smarter than anyone else on earth.

"You search the scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf.  But you do not want to come to me to have life."

Missionary position.

Another squabble onliners are quibbling about is the missionary guy who set out to evangelize the Sentinelese tribe and got shot with arrows. The guy was a self-appointed 'missionary' and his visit was illegal. The tribe made their preference to be left alone clear and authorities have thus far honored their wishes, making it illegal to approach them or visit their island.  In a sense they were simply protecting their homeland from invasion.

"John Allen Chau, 27, was killed with arrows as he illegally set foot on North Sentinel Island in the Indian Ocean after paddling there in a kayak last week." - Source

Initially I thought Chau was foolish to do what he did, after all, the Sentelese made it clear they weren't interested in outsiders disturbing their peace and well-being, and they probably long ago rejected Christianity.  Missionaries maybe left them alone and shook the island dust from their sandals.

That said, contrary to popular Christianity-today opinion and policy of not proselytizing, few people seem to know that witnessing to Christ and the Gospel is still something Christians do. In fact, Christians are called to be missionaries. Though this man's actions were unusual and imprudent, to say the least - his going to a place where he could be martyred was never uncommon among the martyrs of ages past. 

St. Francis went to North Africa to proclaim the Gospel with the hope of being martyred, and yes - it was illegal for him to do so. In fact, it has always been illegal to proclaim the Gospel among peoples who rejected it. The Jesuits who went back to Protestant England and the English martyrs are excellent examples of domestic martyrdom.  Then we have the example of Japanese and Korean martyrs, and more recently, the Martyrs of Algiers, who will soon be beatified. Not forgetting the recent innumerable martyrs of ISIS in Egypt, and the Middle East, as well as the Nigerian Christians dying for the faith.  

So, make fun of John Allen Chau, but he just might be a martyr for the Christ in God's eyes.

"When the Son of Man returns will he find any faith at all on earth?"