Beware of the False Church Veils – Jul 17 – Homily – Fr Terrance

 

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Jul 17, 2024, on the division within the Church, urging repentance, prayer, and true holiness over ideological extremes.

Today's first reading talks about God's punishment of His people by the Assyrians, who destroyed Israel in the 8th century BC. The Lord calls Assyria His rod in anger, His staff in wrath (Isaiah 10:5-6 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/10?5). Wars can be seen as God's way of correcting His children, as Hebrews 12:6 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/12?6) says, the Lord disciplines those He loves.

There is a war against the Church today, both outside and inside. On the left, some align with secular culture over Christ, as 1 John 2:15 - Do not love the world or its things; love for the Father is not in them - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/2?15 warns, "Do not love the world." On the right, some break from the Church in the name of purity and piety, like the Pharisees, often criticizing the Pope and the Church.

Both extremes are deceitful and cause division. True holiness is found in transformation by the Lord, not in constant criticism. Luke 6:44 - A tree is known by its fruits - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/6?44 says a tree is known by its fruits, and Galatians 5:22-23 - The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/5?22) lists the fruits of the Spirit.

We need to repent and pray for those on the extremes, distancing ourselves from their toxic spirituality. Jesus says the Father reveals His truths to the childlike (Matthew 11:25 - Jesus praises the Father for revealing truths to the childlike - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/11?25). Let's ask for the grace to see behind false veils and not be led away from our Savior and His Church.

00:00 – Introduction
00:07 – Assyrian Punishment of Israel
00:45 – War Against the Church
01:18 – Division Within the Church
02:56 – Veil of Purity and Piety
04:02 – Criticism from the Right
06:42 – Deceitful Veils
08:40 – Fruits of the Holy Spirit

Ave Maria!

Mass: Wednesday in the 15th Week in Ordinary Time - Wkdy
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/071724.cfm
1st: isa 10:5-7, 13-16
Resp: psa 94:5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 14-15 0
Gsp: mat 11:25-27

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=886

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