We Must Push Back Against the Darkness - Exultation of the Holy Cross

·24 min·2 clips

Fr. Ehrich claims tolerance is not a Christian virtue but a secular lie Satan uses to force acceptance of evil.

Fr. John Ehrich begins by describing how his intellectual journey started with C.S. Lewis's works after high school, particularly 'The Abolition of Man'. He highlights two key ideas: absolute moral norms and the problem of evil, which he studied extensively in Rome. He discusses how societies historically dehumanize others, using examples like human sacrifice, the slave trade, and abortion to illustrate this tendency. Fr. Ehrich then shifts to the reality of Satan, stating that belief in Satan is essential to Christianity because Jesus died on the cross to defeat him. He explains that Satan cannot create or destroy but twists God's creations, aiming to imprison human hearts. The homily references the recent murder of Charlie, a non-Catholic who worshiped at St. Bernadette in Scottsdale, and the shocking evil of people celebrating his death. Fr. Ehrich critiques the modern virtue of tolerance, arguing it is not found in the Bible, Aristotle, St. Thomas Aquinas, or the Catechism, but is a secular concept twisted by Satan to demand acceptance of evil. He contrasts this with Christian virtues like love and mercy, which involve speaking truth without abandoning relationships. Fr. Ehrich addresses how to fight evil, emphasizing non-violence and citing St. Thomas Aquinas's view that God allows evil to manifest His power by bringing good from it, as seen in the crucifixion. He encourages responding with love, mercy, and prayer, even in disagreement. The homily includes practical advice for pushing back against darkness in daily life, such as in schools or with family, using a personal anecdote about light in a dark basement. Fr. Ehrich calls for courage and unity in truth, concluding with an invitation to give one's life to Jesus and celebrate humanity together.

As heard by us

A hard-edged homily that moves from C.S. Lewis to damaged relationships and a call to courage.

Fr. John Ehrich structures the homily around C.S. Lewis, opening with absolute moral norms and the problem of evil before settling on The Abolition of Man as the text that carries the argument forward.

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Why you'd press play

If you want a homily that takes on evil without sanding off the edges, press play.

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