Many people love to quote Ghandi as this agent of peace. People forget that he was a warrior, a non-violent warrior, but a warrior nevertheless. Remember, his non-violent warfare cast one of the most powerful empires, the British, out of India. Indeed, Winston Churchill despised him so much that he referred to him as that half dressed Indian. So, when someone describes Ghandi in these nice peaceful terms, they miss the whole point of whom he was.

Many people also do not know that he would ask his new recruits if they were willing to take up arms for their cause. Why would a non-violent warrior ever ask such a question? Simple, non-violence takes a commitment that is greater than fighting for a cause violently. Therefore, if people were not committed enough to their cause to fight violently, they would not be committed enough to go the extra-step and fight non-violently. Hence the key to this question.

In today’s Gospel, we also see an apparent contradiction in Jesus’ words. How does someone who teaches love as the ultimate law of God and humanity tell his followers that they must hate their mother and father, indeed specifically mentioning father and mother, or else they cannot be His disciples. The answer is simple. It is not that they reject their mother and father, if anything it is the opposite. Are the followers of Jesus ready to deal with their parents’ rejection of them? That is the more severe question.

Remember the times. If you were a follower of Jesus, then you would be cast out of the synagogue and considered an outcast and a rebel in most circles. Remember, the story of the man born blind, when the leaders of the people ask his parents how he was cured, they basically turn away. They offer no defense of their son and do not even tell the leaders to back off. Would you do that if your son was healed of a debilitating illness? Why do they act like this? They would be cast out of the synagogue, if they showed any support for Jesus. So, they took membership in the synagogue to be more important than supporting their son. He is rejected by them.

This is what Jesus is telling us.

Many people of various languages and cultures recognize the signs that it will become harder to be a Catholic. Indeed, there are leaders that teach organizers how to use emotion to motivate populations for a cause. What is a strong emotion you can use: hatred.

Are you willing to follow Jesus knowing that people are being taught to hate you because you are Catholic? Are you ready to suffer as political organizers motivate people against the truths taught in Catholicism in favor of truths more conducive to political and economic agendae?

A recent statement supported and disseminated by His Excellency Alberto Taveira Corrêa Metropolitan Archbishop of Belém of Pará in Brazil and organized by the pro-life committee of the Southern Region 1 of the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops indicated that there is a strong political movement to make abortion through the ninth month a human right worldwide. Those putting forth this political agenda will see Catholics as an obstacle. If you are not ready to be considered an enemy of these groups or any group that seeks to silence our voice, you may not be ready to be Catholic. This is the type of warning  Jesus is teaching his people. There will be a time where even your mother or your father may embrace a hatred of you because of your faith. This clearly happened in the early days of Christianity and I know of people who have suffered that in our time. If you are not able to sustain that, you are not able to sustain your commitment to Jesus. He is giving a warning.

Many people will tell you that Catholicism is nothing more than going to Church and being nice. In good times that is true, but in bad times, it is holding onto and living

the truths of the faith while others seek to silence you. That is why our Church has martyrs. Indeed, a friend gives me the warning of another church that many have said has strong political leanings toward a communist government to which it was associated. “I am always wary of a church that has no martyrs.” he says.

What if those who are teaching people to hate you because of your Catholicism succeed in their plans. Do you believe enough to stand a severe persecution against Catholics such as was once seen in England, the same country at war with Ghandi?  This is a question asked the martyrs throughout the centuries it is the question Jesus is asks us today.

God Bless You,

Fr. Robert J Carr

Fr. Carr is an alliance member of the New Song Community (Canção Nova). He is an author of two books, the pastor of St. Benedict Parish in Somerville, MA and is the editor of this blog.

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