Look Up

In my mind, I have been carrying confusion, grief, and anger. I just haven’t felt like I was on the right path. I have been on the “struggle bus” some may say. Struggling with my family, struggling with my heart, struggling with the world’s deterioration of good and defining good, struggling with death, and struggling with my Faith. I feel like I am a prophet of old talking about things in my Faith and everyone looking at me like I have two heads, one eye, and polka-dot purple skin. So I think, am I wrong? I am the ultimate BK Spoiler, Buzz Killer. I feel like I am crying out, “Turn to the good. Stop the arguments for the Left and the Right. Let’s talk about up. What are the rules to the game of life? How do we win?” Just mull that over while we take a little field trip.

When I woke up today, I couldn’t shake some recent homilies or sermons I recently heard. Pater Dan’s sermon took us to 740 B.C Judea. Prophet Isaiah is bringing the fire of truth to persecuted people talking about “renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint”encouraging the people of Israel to stay strong and not to worship the world of pagan gods, and a year of jubilee was coming with “The Dawn of the Coming of the Son of God.” Can you imagine? Wow! That message had me thinking about God’s plan was, is, and ever shall be. I know this but it is like playing connect the dots. The picture became 3-D in living color because it’s exactly what I have been feeling. I am seeing and witnessing the same stuff Isaiah did in 2025, embracing idols and moral decline. Rules? What rules of civility? Everyone for #1, m-e. Who or what rules are the ones that YOU will follow? The rules that give food, money, or the bright, shiny, and coveted things of our Western Culture? Or the rules that give you food for the journey, the Bread of everlasting life? Students, which one controls your final destination? 

Next stop, 303 A.D. On the banks of the Euphrates under the rule of Emperor Cesar Galerius Christians were persecuted. We know that Constantius (Constantine’s father) was Emperor in the West Roman Empire while Emperor Galerius ruled the Eastern Empire. I read today about St. Hipparchus and Companions who were magistrates, like police, in the East under Galerius. They converted to Christianity and were found celebrating mass, or church, at the foot of a wooden cross, thrown in prison, starved, and brought out and asked to renounce Christianity and Christ. Half-starved they were asked again and did they choose the feast of earth? No, so five men were hung up on five crosses. Did Cesar Galerius “nip it in the bud?” Well, remember God’s plan? In 308 A.D. On his death bed Galerius signed into law the edict stated, “Thus, in view of our clemency and our consistent practice of granting pardon to all men, we thought it right also in this instance to offer our concession most cheerfully, so that Christians may exist again and restore the houses in which they used to assemble, provided that they do nothing against the public order” (Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 8.17.9). Constantine came to the Emperor seat in the Western Roman Empire which overthrew the successor of Galerius and Christianity spread, Thanks be to God. 

Another sermon this weekend, it was about God. Does He get tired of forgiving us, does He? The priest, Father Patrick, gave Pope Leo’s answer from the Catholic Youth Conference. “He gave an answer from Pope Francis in 2014 as published by Catholic News Agency: ‘We all fall short of the Glory of God. God doesn’t get tired of forgiving; we get tired of asking.’

Even when God is strict in his invitation to convert, Pope Francis observed, his words always include ‘this loving longing’ which reflects the father’s words to the prodigal son, ‘Come back. It is time to come back home.’

‘This is the heart of our Father. God is like that: he does not tire, he does not tire. And God did this for many centuries, with so much apostasy… among the people. And he always returns, because our God is a God who waits.’

Recalling how ‘Adam left paradise with a punishment but also with a promise, ‘The Roman Pontiff explained that ‘the Lord is faithful to his promise because he cannot deny himself.’

‘He is faithful. And, in this way, he waited for all of us, throughout all of history. He is the God who waits for us always.’ “

Students, we have to be careful of who leads us and what they feed us and why. This is America and nothing is free. Think about the people who guide our government, are they being led by left ideals or the right ideals? Both? Neither? We all know about the darkness of man’s heart. We need something better, bigger, and greater than a human; we need a supernatural force that defies gravity and scientific laws. Look up. 

Sarah Anderson Alley 

Sal the Look Up Gal

Quotes of the Day:

“They will rise up on wings as eagles, they will run and not be exhausted, they will walk and not be weary” Isaiah 40:31

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” Isaiah 5:12-21

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”. Isaiah 41:10