I like to focus in my reading of the scriptures on the many hopeful, happy texts that predict a change for the better for society. In the First Reading today from the prophet Zachariah, "Thus says the Lord: Rejoice heartily O daughter Zion. Shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem. See your king shall come to you. A just savior is he, meek and riding on an ass, on a colt, the foal of an ass. He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem. The warrior's bow shall be banished and he shall proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion shall be from sea to sea and from the river to the end of the earth."

     All of that sounds real good and yet, as we look around us in the world it seems we have hit a glitch because the world is still in turmoil. We know Jesus has come, we know that he was executed unjustly, but we also know that he rose from the dead. On Easter we celebrated his risen life, and to this day we ponder its meaning for us and the world. I am sure that from time to time we all wonder why all that the prophet Zachariah prophesied or foretold, has not materialized. To find the answer, I believe that we as a society and individuals have to look in the mirror and reflect on why we as a human family have done little to implement the teachings of Jesus.

     I picked up a copy of the encyclical by Pope Leo XIII entitled, "Rerum Novarum" which was published on May 15, 1891, and the opening paragraph really caught my attention, "That the spirit of revolutionary change which has long been disturbing the nations of the world, should have passed beyond the sphere of politics and made its influence felt in the cognate sphere of practical economics is not surprising. The elements of the conflict now raging are unmistakable in the vast expansion of industrial pursuits and the marvelous discoveries of science; in the changed relations between masters and workmen; in the enormous fortunes of some few individuals and the utter poverty of the masses; in the increased self reliance and closer mutual combination of the working classes as also finally, in the prevailing moral degeneracy."

     I put the quotation from Zachariah next to this quotation and realized how society has been held captive by greed and self indulgence even until now. At times I like to think that most of us would prefer to focus on and reflect on the words of Zachariah rather than face the realities expressed by Leo XVIII. But we live in the world and so we are all impacted by what is going on around us. In the midst of all the greed and selfishness, self indulgence, etc. we can find the many individuals who counter the state of affairs with generosity, kindness and love of neighbor. Every time I read a passage of sacred scripture like that of the first reading of Zachariah, I find myself determined to focus on every sign of hope that I can find in the world around me, in news, in history, etc. I believe Chesterton said it all when he said, Christianity has not failed, it just hasn't been tried, and I like to add to the words of Chesterton, What would society be like if the teachings of Jesus were taken seriously by all and would be integrated into every level of endeavor?

     I would like to recommend any of you who might have an interest in the encyclical, to Google it and take time to read the many suggestions made by that pontiff to better the human condition.