RBWords

     The scene presented to us today is emotional.  A mother is witnessing the martyrdom of her seven sons.  Her speech is a beautiful reflection on the creation of any human and the ultimate hope that God gives all of us.  The context is the rebellion against the imposition of pagan Greek culture by the descendants of the generals of Alexander the Great, who divided up his empire after his death.  The heroic figures refuse to eat pork, which would be a violation of Mosaic Law.  Scripture scholars point out to us that there are parallels to this story in other ancient literature, but the message is more important than the story.  Fidelity to God's law is rewarded by God.

     The bishops of the United States are beginning their annual November meeting.  One of their principal concerns is the loss of religious freedom for Catholic health care facilities.  The United States government is threatening to withdraw all public funding support from health care facilities that do not provide abortion or other morally offensive medical practices and procedures.  It seems that an ancient problem keeps being repeated.  A government thinks that it is more powerful than God, or worse, it thinks it IS God.  The history of health care and other charitable initiatives in this country could not be written without the accounts of the heroic efforts of Catholic religious orders and dioceses.  Yet, the government wishes to bring all of that to an end in the name of a euphemistic provision of "complete" health care services.  Perhaps no one, except those being killed by abortion or euthanasia, will be martyred for resisting this governmental action, but many could lose their livelihood and communities will lose the caring and value-oriented services of Catholic hospitals.  The speech by the mother needs to be written large and sent to those leaders as a reminder of the One whom they must face someday.   AMEN