In his article "Toll of Unbelief" in the magazine First Things, Dr. Brendan W. Case noted that, "...on a single weekend in June 2021, seven people died of drug overdose in Rochester, New York. On that Saturday morning, three adults were found dead on a front porch on a quiet, residential street. Inside the house were six orphaned children." The CDC estimates that 2020 saw ninety-three thousand drug overdose deaths, a 30 percent increase from 2019.
According to Dr. Case, these deaths are a response to a "long-term and slowly unfolding loss of a way of life," hastened by sharp decline in wages, marriage rates and community engagement among less educated Americans.
He says many lack hope that life shaped by a happy marriage, a fulfilling job, and deep friendships is out of reach. And far too many seek refuge in drugs, alcohol, or suicide.
In today’s first reading, God’s people face an earth-shattering crisis as the Hellenistic Syrian ruler, Antiochus Epiphanes, placed a statue of Zeus on the altar of sacrifice in the Jerusalem temple. The Jews were pressured to go with the flow, abandon their covenant with God and embrace Hellenistic culture and religion on penalty of death.
In today’s Gospel we hear a blind man, refusing to be silenced by the majority, continue calling out to Jesus with hope that Jesus would heal him. His voice was the only voice to be heard, but he used it effectively for his own recovery and healing. His situation was despairing, but he refused to give up hope.
Today, we must find a way to renew our hope. Isaiah the Old Testament prophet said, "those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength." (Isa. 40:31)
Dr. Case says, "If you want to flourish, go to church." He advises, "public health officials should explore efforts to encourage religious participation, particularly among the millions of believers who don't attend services."
Friends, we have a choice, either go with the flow and be desperate, or stand alone, be hopeful, and flourish. Will we give in to the challenges of consumerism, materialism, status, and success-at-all-cost as many do and take refuge in drugs, alcohol, or suicide as many do. Or will we call out to Jesus as the blind man in the gospel did, so we can hope to flourish with a happy marriage, a fulfilling job, and deep friendships. Attending church/mass is a good place to start.
.jpg "Father Pinto Paul, C.S.C.")