A People for All Seasons

On Palm Sunday, we encountered the scene of the triumphant and celebratory crowd who gave vocal and public support for Jesus as he entered Jerusalem. We also know that just a few days later, many in this same crowd then turned their backs on Our Lord when He needed their love and mercy more than ever. 

Perhaps we know such "fair weather friends;" and if we are truly honest with ourselves, perhaps we have been a fair weather friend ourselves at some point. It's easy to come around when everything is going well in someone's life. 

But what about when things turn very dark, when there is real suffering or tribulations?   

Where do we stand when negatively confronted about our Catholic faith, about our beliefs, about Jesus Himself?  Are we "fair weather" friends then as well? Or, do we stand with Our Lord during these challenging moments?

In the great film, A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS, St Thomas More stands firm in his faith and does not back down, even when confronted by the King of England, even when his very life is threatened, even when his family is reduced to poverty, through imprisonment, and even unto his death by decapitation. 

One of the most poignant parts in the film is when a long time friend of St Thomas tries to tempt him to sign an oath of allegiance to the King (who has made himself head of the Church of England so he can remarry once again, thus abandoning the authority of the Holy Father and the teachings of our faith). Thomas's response reverberates through the ages: 

The Duke of Norfolk: Oh confound all this. I'm not a scholar, I don't know whether the marriage was lawful or not but dammit, Thomas, look at these names! Why can't you do as I did and come with us, for fellowship!

Thomas More:  And when we die, and you are sent to heaven for doing your conscience, and I am sent to hell for not doing mine, will you come with me, for fellowship?

Are we a people for all seasons? At the end of this coming week, will we stand with Our Lord at the foot of the cross?