Friday 23 May 2008

Laodicea-dead and gone


In the book of Revelation there are seven churches that Christ the Just Judge has messages for. It is one of those strange little facts of life that the one we all seem to remember is the church at Laodacea.
Their lukewarmness and apathy was a sin so vile that Christ said he would vomit them out.
And He did.
Neither the town nor a church exist in Laodacea any more.

What did the Laodacean Christians do that was to terrible?
I think they did nothing.

They saw the pagan culture around them and simply lived as part of the culture, going to Mass but comfortable with the increasing horrors of the society they lived in. No one spoke up, no one sacrificed themselves.
We know that killing the elderly, the disabled and abandoning babies to die were common. We know that there were abortions- the Didache (written around 80AD) condemns abortion and potions for contraception.
We know there were Roman cults that included sacrificing children to gain wealth and happiness.
We know that women were treated as a commodity and that they and children could be bought and sold as slaves.

All of this happens today. Just about all of it happens here in the UK.
And there is a church here in the UK- a church in England, in Wales, in Scotland. It seems a liitle cool.
Every single person from the moment of conception has an inate dignity and rights that go with that dignity. The right to life, the right not to be deliberately denied a mother and father, the right to freedoms with responsibility, the right to do what is right.
The Church will be until the end of the age-but Christ NEVER said churches in each city, town or even country would survive.
Where is the church of Laodacia, Corinth or many other places we read of in Scipture?
We live in a country that puts the wants of adults above the rights and needs of children and the Church seems oddly quiet. Why aren't we fighting? What are we afraid of?
I am afraid sometimes. I know a disabled woman threatened with prison for saying a rosary outside an abortion mill.
Whenever we speak up the rights of the unborn or children we are attacked and threatened.
St Michael the archangel, defend us in battle.

3 comments:

LizzieD said...

Yes, it's the deafening silence from our Church leaders in this country - the idea that it's ok to be part of this culture, the establishment, and we can quietly say one or two prayers on our own, but not rock the boat. Tony Blair is publicly received into the Church, Cherie publishes a book where she admits little Leo is due to a failure in her contraception - 2+2= it's OK for Catholics to contracept!! So of course, it's ok when the contraception fails and poor mumsie has to get an abortion instead...

gemoftheocean said...

Great post!

Joyful Catholic said...

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us SINNERS now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

I've been silent at times. Probably due to fear of what others might think, or where the conversation will go, and will I be able to argue intelligently? That is a fear I have. But, what I have to get over is, "it's not about me" and fear is paralyzing and that's just what Satan wants. To paralyze us and keep us silent.

I dont' have to know every answer and argue with superior knowledge, which I don't have. But if I have the faith of a child, a "mustard seed" the mountain of fear will move. It might get ugly. I might become too emotional or passionate...but is that worse than not speaking up? No. Better to be Hot or Cold. There are times, when silence will speak louder than words, but there are times when words need to be spoken.I pray to become wise to know those times, but to not be silent out of fear/pride.

I ask forgivness now, from Our Lord and Our Mother...may we all be moved to pray more, "for the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world. Amen. Great post!