Grief-stricken in Spirit

In today’s first reading, Tobit 3: 1-11a, 16-17, Tobit, “grief-stricken in spirit,…groaned and wept aloud,” acknowledging the sins of his nation:

We have sinned against you,

and disobeyed your commandments.
 So you handed us over to plundering, exile, and death,
till you made us the talk and reproach of all the nations
among whom you had dispersed us.”

He could be, and is, also speaking about the world of today and, in particular, the United States of America, which recently dedicated its “First Atheist Monument” (Newsmax).   This led me to the following dialogue with Jesus: 

“As a nation, Lord, we have sinned against You and disobeyed your commandments, worshipping the false gods of money, consumerism, materialism, hedonism; adoring power, pleasure, possessions and the “freedom” to do whatever the ego desires in asserting its power.  We’ve scorned justice, honesty and integrity. We’ve stomped on wisdom, prudence, humility and respect of humanity, male and female, and all of creation. Greed guides our steps, not wisdom.  So you handed us over to the consequences of our sinful behaviors, our idolatry, our abuse of each other and of the earth, our unbridled passions.  Our wars as well the earthquakes, tsunamis, tornados, hurricanes, floods, fires are a symbol of human nature’s unbridled use of “freedom,” its abuse of power, pleasure and possessions, upon which our loyalties and idolatrous pursuits are passionately linked.  Consequently, chaos exists in all segments of our society.

“Thank You, Lord, that darkness is not dark to You.  Wherever we hide, whether behind atheistic idols or other God substitutes, you are there.  Whichever addiction or idol we allow to take control of our lives, You are more powerful than that addictive or idolatrous behaviors. Whichever god we worship, You are still the only true God, who created the universe and all that is in it.  You alone sustain us in existence.  You alone secured our salvation by Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, destroying Satan’s power to destroy the Sacred, the Truth and the Way to You.  The gates of heal shall not prevail against the Church.  Satan has no power over believers, over us whom the Father entrusted to You.”

“Dorothy Ann, keep your eyes on me.  Come to me and I will refresh you.  Fear not those who erect false gods. Pity them; do not condemn them. They know not what they are doing. And remember that I am with you always until the end of time.”