The Catholic Defender: The Pursuit of Life, Liberty, and Happiness

Jesus said to his disciples: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man; they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage up to the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Similarly, as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building; on the day when Lot left Sodom, fire and brimstone rained from the sky to destroy them all. So it will be on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, someone who is on the housetop and whose belongings are in the house must not go down to get them, and likewise one in the field must not return to what was left behind. Remember the wife of Lot. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it. I tell you, on that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. And there will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken, the other left.” They said to him in reply, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will gather.”

This Gospel Text coming from Luke 17:26-37 ties the last days (Matthew 24:36-39) with the immorality taking place at Sodom (Luke 17:29).

Today we are faced with two visions, one of warning that the Universal Catholic Church places before us and the other coming from honoring our Veterans who have served our Nation. Freedom is not free, yet despite the cherished gift of freedom, many are abusing this freedom.

On the one hand many are drowning in gang violence, sexual misconduct, power and greed while at the same time, many cherish religious freedom protected by our Constitution.

Have you ever heard the slogan, "When it pours, it rains on the good and bad alike"? The Church is that moral voice that Christ instills His voice to keep us focused and our azimuth straight and true. The celebration of Veterans Day is based on our thankfulness towards those who gave their all for their nation.

Can we effectively bridge the two boundaries? Can we bring back our nation so that freedom and liberty represents our being a Christian Nation once again? James 1:25 states, "But he who looks into the perfect Law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing."

There is something about perseverance! Jesus tells us, "But he who endures (perseveres) to the end will be saved." (Matthew 24:13)

With the recent election of Donald Trump, who received a majority of Christian support, it reminds me that God is in control and that He still can call a Constantine to appear and bring back a fresh hope.

America is a work in progress until the Lord does make His Blessed Appearance at the Parousia on that great and wondrous day when he will raise those who received the Eucharist awaiting Him (John 6:54, 1 Corinthians 11:26).

"When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:54-58

As we celebrate Veterans Day, let us place our hope in the Lord, let us place our hope in tomorrow because America's road is not in the things of the world, but in the ideals that freedom and liberty affords us. The good news is that today, Americans can still identify with our basic values of patriotism, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

"Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and repents of evil." Joel 2:12-13