COLD-HEARTED CREATURES

What father among you would hand his son a snake
when he asks for a fish?
Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?

Lk 11:11-12

A backhanded compliment from the Lord in today’s Gospel (Lk 11:1-13). More to the point, particularly in today’s culture, is the last verse in which He calls man “wicked.”

What do I mean? Well, I hope that no parent would give his child a venomous creature instead of a meal. But are we not feeding children poison just be giving them a “smart” phone or computer? Without close supervision and restrictions, the filth that can be allowed in on these devices is staggering.

What about the awful agenda that would expose even the earliest school children to sexual perversion? Are we, wittingly or unwittingly, giving over our most vulnerable minds to these snakes? Parents must be tuned in to what goes on in their schools and even their local libraries and bookstores so that their children might be protected at such a vulnerable age. Not to mention the horror show that is the transgender movement that targets younger and younger children.

Isn’t it interesting that Christ uses serpents and scorpions in His example. Of course, we know the serpent from the book of Genesis and how his tempting led to the downfall of our first parents and, as a result, the rest of humanity for all time. As for scorpions, we read in the last book of the Bible, Revelation, about the fifth trumpet blast opening a bottomless pit from which

Locusts came out of the smoke onto the land, and they were given the same power as scorpions of the earth.

They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or any tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

They were not allowed to kill them but only to torment them for five months; the torment they inflicted was like that of a scorpion when it stings a person.

Rev 9:3-5

How can someone say he is sealed by God when allowing all manner of evil to infect his mind and the minds of those he is charged to protect and to lead to eternal life? It is vital to be aware that these are the end times, because Christ has come and we are in the period of awaiting His final return. Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour. (Mt 25:13)

Thus, parents and all those who have substantial interaction with our young people would be wise to carefully consider and steadfastly heed Jesus’ stern warning a little further along in Luke:

He said to his disciples, “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the person through whom they occur.

It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.

Lk 17:1-2

The activists, and even the simply neglectful, will suffer the most in eternity unless they convert and repent.

Jesus follows this admonition to those who are aware of the problem:

Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him…

Lk 17:3

So, we also have a responsibility to call out evil when we see it and actively do something to stop it. It is not easy. The repercussions in a world gone mad can be harsh. But it can be done, Jesus assures us:

Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you.

Lk 10:19

We have a responsibility to the truth. And, ultimately, the truth will set you free (Jn 8:32b).

HELPFUL BOOKS IN THE CULTURE WAR

All of these I recently obtained and am eager to get to. Each will be helpful in fulfilling the responsibility I just mentioned. Click through to read more about them and to purchase.

Sexual Identity: The Harmony of Philosophy, Science, and Revelation edited by John DeSilva Finley, from Emmaus Road (2022)

Made This Way: How to Prepare Kids to Face Today’s Tough Moral Issues by Leila Miller and Trent Horn, from Catholic Answers (2018)

Speaking for the Unborn: 30-Second Rebuttals to Pro-Choice Arguments by Steven A. Christie, M.D., J.D., from Emmaus Road (2022)

Persuasive Pro-Life: How to Talk About Our Culture’s Toughest Issue by Trent Horn, from Catholic Answers (2014); a second edition should be coming out later this year

God bless.