Are we any better than those who came before us?

This is Joseph Oliver Russell. He is my great-great grandfather, and was a man with LOTS of stories. He was a prospector par excellence, and successfully mined gold in Georgia, California and Colorado before the War of Northern Aggression. He co-founded the City of Denver. He was also a very talented solo violinist and entertained at dances and pioneer campfires in the days before radio or recordings. After the War he moved to Texas where he fathered 12 children and brought civilization to the wilderness. He was described by his grandchildren as a quiet, humble, hen-pecked man in his old age, and they had never dreamed of all his brave accomplishments.

At Mass today we hear the story of God's anger at the Israelites for making a golden calf to worship after he rescued them from slavery. Moses intercedes in their behalf. Then in the Gospel Jesus says that he does not testify in his own behalf, but says that John the Baptist did truly testify in his behalf. He says his acts testify in his behalf and in fact are the testimony of his Father. The Jews do not recognise the Lord, so they will be accused by Moses for their failure to do so, since Moses is the one in which they trust.

Aren't we like the Jews? We turn away from God and his ways at every opportunity, even though his glory shines throughout his creation. It is really a good thing that we have the living Christ to intercede in our behalf before the Father. He knows well of human frailty, since he was one of us. Ask for God's grace when you go to examine your conscience. Find the truth about your own sinfullness, and offer yourself to divine mercy. Be silent and listen for the Lord. "It is in silence that he instructs the mind and instills compunction and remorse, softening the heart with tears, shedding his light, inflaming us with his love: and in silence he refreshes us and inebriates the listener with the wine of his love." Father John Justus Lanberg, a 16th century monk.

I hope only that my acts and accomplishments can vaguely measure up in theory to those of the good men and women who came before me. Pay close attention in your moments of silence. Since it is Jesus in whom we trust, he will be the very one who condemns us if we proudly refuse to acknowledge and repent of our own faults.