Recently, a popular American political leader had a long interview with a “television personality”. The conversation turned to “voter fraud”. He provided undeniable mathematical examples. The young “television personality” refused to believe that actual fraud was taking place. The political leader looked her in the eye and said, “If you can’t understand those simple facts, you are either stupid or crooked.”
No one ever said that to a national television personality! The interviewer changed the subject to another political issue and heard him say again, “If you believe that, you are either stupid or crooked.”
Every time the conversation focused on a subject of popular interest, the political leader described her and those who shared the beliefs she was defending: “You are either stupid or crooked.”
Finally, the political leader realized he was not getting anywhere. He patted her kindly on the shoulder and left the interview. Millions of viewers had a new realization: “Those who hide from truth are either ‘stupid or ‘crooked’.”
Catholics connect that to Today’s Bible Reading from 1 Kings 17:1-6. God was so sick of lying politicians and those who supported their sins that “Elijah said to Ahab, ‘As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, whom I serve, during these years there shall be no dew or rain except at My Word.” The LORD told Elijah to leave the corrupt nation and go live by a distant stream. Then, God “had crows bring him bread and meat for breakfast and dinner”.
The Prophet had left the “stupid or crooked” people and found peace with God. Today, Catholics realize that those who prefer personal gain provided by being too “stupid or crooked” to “Love God and our neighbors as ourselves” always bring God’s destruction upon them, and sometimes, to their nation.
Today’s “Alleluia” is from Matthew 5:1-12. It tells us we must not let ourselves be “stupid or crooked”. We are called to be among those blessed to: “Rejoice and be glad; for your reward will be great in Heaven.”
God’s Promise is clear: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.”
Today, Catholics are blessed to realize! The Loving Programmer wrote and Downloaded The Huge Creation Program to let His “children” among the“Replicating Free Will Programs” get their immortal souls into Heaven! “The peacemakers will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
We see the Promise of God that “Upgrades the DNA” that lets many be among His “Children” with His Promise: “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in Heaven.” Jesus refers to the suffering of Prophets like Elijah: “Thus they persecuted the Prophets who were before you.”
May all be saved from the eternal ignomy that awaits all who choose to be “stupid” or “crooked”.
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Today’s Simple Rhyme: “Blessed are all who labor / on behalf of God and neighbor.”
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