Redeem the Time

I can provide you with some of my primary texts, however.

I.

I would talk about the usual lukewarm droning of liberal Catholics—as well as the nay saying grumbling of conservative Catholics—all in the context of today’s so-called “social issues.”

Abraham Lincoln, American President, who was assassinated:

In any case that arises, as for instance, the promulgation of abolitionism, one of two positions is necessarily true; that is, the thing is right within itself, and therefore deserves the protection of all law and all good citizens; or, it is wrong, and therefore proper to be prohibited by legal enactments.
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If slavery is right, all words, acts, laws, and constitutions against it, are themselves wrong, and should be silenced, and swept away. If it is right, we cannot justly object to its nationality – its universality; if it is wrong, they cannot justly insist upon its extension – its enlargement. All they ask, we could readily grant, if we thought slavery right; all we ask, they could as readily grant, if they thought it wrong. Their thinking it right, and our thinking it wrong, is the precise fact upon which depends the whole controversy.

Elijah, the prophet, who was taken up into heaven:

Elijah appealed to all the people and said, “How long will you straddle the issue? If the LORD is God, follow him; if Baal, follow him.” The people, however, did not answer him.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified:

Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.

Notice a pattern? These are words signifying wisdom.

II.

But we are not great men—our voices are dry and cracked and we are hollow. What can be expected from us? What shall each and every one of us say about ourselves? Why should we bear blame for the sins of others? What duty do we have to the city of man?

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified:

You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

Well, OK, but we don’t want to be persecuted needlessly, do we? Shouldn’t we remain “prudent” according to the ways of the world, perhaps working in comfortable obscurity and avoiding giving serious offense to others—the better to keep our saltiness; the better to ensure our light remains aflame? Don’t we need to keep ourselves safe? And what about “throwing pearls before swine”?

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified:

A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household!

So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

III.

Any fear or hesitation we have in present times is pathetic in comparison with what those who have gone before us have faced. We are soft and weak with freedom and resources that we waste even as we blame our faults on this same liberty and prosperity. Yet we are still called by the rousing words of the Apostle to be more than any Ceasar was or ever could be—to be unified with God; to fully possess and reflect His image; and to lead others to the same—no matter what is going on around us. Many act as if hope isn’t a virtue “in such evil times,” counseling irresponsible retreat or the solace of the lukewarm.

St. Paul, the Apostle, who was martyred:

…in all these things [tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword; being killed all the day long, being regarded as sheep to be slaughtered] we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

On that basis, we are always called to salt and to shine. The title of this blog is taken from the words of St. Paul the Apostle as they are translated in the King James version of the scriptures. St. Paul repeats the phrase in two passages that could give the sermon a fitting end. The times are always evil—and we are always called to redeem them. We can only do this to the extent we become wise.

St. Paul, the Apostle, who was martyred:

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
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Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.