**Combatting a violent culture**

**Combatting a violent culture**

Rev. Jerry J. Pokorsky

“Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1-2) Faith expands the horizons of our existence beyond what we see and touch. Faith gives us the reason for human reason. The increasing violence in this country is a wakeup-call to respond reasonably and reconsider the essentials of our faith.

Whether we believe it or not, God created us in His image and likeness. The Divine imprint includes the generosity of the Trinity. Selfless love is the highest virtue. “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) Regardless of our beliefs, we are all hardwired by God to be generous.

It is reasonable to connect human generosity to its source. This helps explain the command of Jesus: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.” The mandate is urgent: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:15-16) Saint Paul reminds us that preaching the Gospel is also self-serving: “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Cor. 9:16)

Salvation comes from Christ through the Church. We take Jesus at His word when He reveals Himself as “the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father” but by Him. (cf. John 14:6) We also know Jesus founded His Church on Peter, and the apostolic Deposit of Faith is handed down through all generations.

Jesus instructs His disciples to “baptize all nations.” Baptism is necessary for salvation. There are three types of baptism: the baptismal font; baptism by blood; and, baptism by desire. The Holy Innocents, murdered by Herod, were baptized by their blood, in witness to Jesus. Baptism by desire is mysterious and uncertain – known but to God. It includes those who, with goodwill, seek the truth according to their lights, provided the illumination is of God. But it is better to have the certainty that comes with the Sacrament of Baptism.

Consider this metaphor. The most reliable way to reach another city is the interstate highway system. We could travel the back roads, but there is an increased risk of getting lost. Baptism places us on the sacramental highway and directs us in the right direction. We can still take wrong turns, but the sacramental GPS brings us back to the right path.

The unbaptized may indeed be seeking the truth of Jesus, gradually forming an intuitive baptismal desire. But they are taking the back roads where it is easy to take wrong turns. God’s revelation provides a far more reliable roadmap. Nonetheless, we judge the quality of the highway networks, but it is not for us to judge a man’s soul.

Questions as to the state of another person’s soul are of concern, but only up to a point. The final judgment is reserved for God alone. “Judge not, that you be not judged.” (Mt. 7:1) Our job is to preach the Gospel, pray for conversions, and pray for the repose of souls of the faithful departed.

So there is a healthy tension in the Catholic faith. On the one hand, there is an urgency to proclaim the Gospel for the salvation of souls. On the other hand, we insist the definitive judgment of a man’s soul belongs to God alone.

The Ten Commandments help us with the obligation to judge right from wrong, grow in virtue, and receive peace of soul. To ignore evil -- or to excuse sin, or to call evil good -- is destructive. There is a pleasant bumper sticker that sums up the rewards of faith: “No Jesus, no peace. Know Jesus, know peace.” Everyone needs Jesus, from the ancient Romans to modern sophisticates like us.

Even priests and bishops need Jesus. A prominent American bishop, echoing several politicians, recently said that “thoughts and prayers” are not enough in reaction to the recent terrible acts of violence. Instead of reinforcing the practice of the faith and encouraging the laity, with God’s grace, to exercise the role proper to them, he presumed the right to teach a detailed political solution. (Perhaps he should give up his day job and run for President.)

Any social experiment that reverses centuries of Christian tradition is a perfect storm of evil. It will end badly without our pushback. Just as influential religious figures lose confidence in faith and turn to politics for solutions, secular leaders are emerging who detest traditional belief and God's law. Faithlessness, though, not only excludes God, but it also promises a breakdown of human reason.

The Bible reveals, “God created man…male and female he created them.” (cf. Gen. 1:27) Even a child gets that. But recently, an elderly politician said with comical conviction that there are “at least three genders.” Wickedness detaches human reason from faith, perverts it, and leads to madness such as “gender theory.”

Technology and politics cannot heal a Godless violent culture, a contempt for religion, and a love for evil. Faith purifies human reason, and reason fortifies belief. So be confident of your faith and be joyful apostles of Jesus. Speak to your sons and daughters – grandkids and great-grandkids -- about Jesus. Ask them if they are going to church. Tell them God loves them, knows them by name, and wants them to go to heaven. Tell them to strive for virtue so that they are happy in this life -- and bring happiness to others. Go to Confession and receive Holy Communion with devotion. Be at peace with God.

We are indebted to Jesus for everything, including our peace of soul. Proclaim His holy name because “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” (Luke 12:48)