Come One, Come All!!! The Circus is Coming!!

     A week from today, on October 27, the Big Top will set up shop in Assisi, Italy.  The thought of it saddens me to the depths of my soul.  What in the world the Pope hopes to accomplish or portray is truly a great mystery to me and it is to many others.  Of course, this is not the first time the Circus has come to town.  This year's circus, in fact, is in commemoration of the original Big Top hosted by Pope John Paul II in 1986.  What a shame and what a scandal.
    The Master of Ceremonies at this year's Three Ring Circus is, of course, Pope Benedict XVI.  No.  I am not mocking the Pope.  On the contrary, I am faithful to the Pope but he is about to embark on a mockery of Our Precious Lord just as his predecessor did in previous years.  That, too, is a shame and a scandal.  My purpose of this blog, and probably another one, is to bring attention this mockery called Assisi III.
      Two days ago, the Vatican issued this press release.   Just like any good circus, this one looks to be great fun!  There seem to be quite a few animals and acts that are scheduled for this fine fall day.  The highlight of this event is the elephant  elephant in the room.  She's a big ole' thing and her name is Syncretism.  Synni, like other elephants in the circus, is slow and systematic.  She is sweet and does her tricks most of the time.  Everybody likes her, and everybody is willing to pay their dollar to take a ride.  Synni's job is to make sure everyone has a good time at the circus.  She wants to make sure that nobody feels left out.  And in case you don't like the other side-shows, you can always take a ride on Synni.
     And what are the side shows you might find upsetting at this Circus?  In the first ring, there are the various beautiful ladies all contorted in the various Yoga positions.  Sitting in the midst is a young man, cross-legged, meditating peacefully.  There are men and women carrying colorful banners with the words Peace, Equality, Kindness!  Oh, yes.  But when the blue Krishna comes by playing his flute, look away!  Laugh when the table comes by with Buddha so you can rub his belly!
     Get in line by the second ring so you can hear words of wisdom from the Confucius, attempt to get in harmony with the Tao, and learn to practice some Shinto rituals.  Don't forget to pick up some peanuts before you step in the "New Religions" booth!  Don't panic if you begin to feel a pit in the bottom of your stomach.  It's all good fun!  Oh, do you see that lovely elephant?
     Before you go, though, check out ring number 3, folks!  Get a really good look as the world's Imams and Rabbis gather together and offer you passages from their "sacred" texts.  No need to turn away if they read some passage that is offensive!  Eat some cotton candy!
     As you make your way back up to Synni, the big, beautiful elephant, don't forget to check out the lion tamers and the puppies on parade.  They'll be in the box to the side within the circle of hand-holding, cross-carrying clerics with big hats and bigger beards.
     And of course, no good circus would be complete with a little car packed full of clowns!  Laugh as the silly clown with big eyebrows gets hit on the head with Little Bo Peep Clown's staff!  Count how many little clowns can stuff themselves into shoe box!
     Before you leave the Big Top Circus, tip your hat to the Master of Ceremonies, Pope Benedict XVI.  Look closely.  You might not actually find him wandering through the rings.  He'll probably being talking sweetly to Synni, telling her how kind and peaceful she is.
     But while you are feeding Synni peanuts with the Pope, take you iPod out of your ears.  When you hear the thunder clapping, when you hear the wind howling, when you see the lightning strike, RUN!!!!  Run past the salt pillar of Lot's wife.  Run as fast as you can and get out of the Big Tent before it all comes crashing down.
     God will not be mocked.  Has the Pope forgotten the Holy Scripture, the words of God Himself when he gave the Commandments to Moses?  "I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.  Thou shalt not have strange gods before me.  Thou shalt not adore them, nor serve them; I am the Lord thy God, mighty, jealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and the fourth generation of them that hate me." 
    What good can come out of this "pilgrimage?"  Peace?  Perhaps the Pope has forgotten the words Our Lord spoke to the Apostles.  "Do not think that I came to send peace upon earth: I came not to send peace, but the sword."  How can there any peace, anywhere, without the One True God?
     Before He ascended into Heaven to be with the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ told his Apostles, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No man cometh to the Father, but by me."  His words were simple and explicit.  There is only one Truth.  There is only one God.  No man, not a single one, can know the Father, except through Our Lord Jesus Christ.  No matter how much good will any person has in their heart, it will merit him not one thing if he does not know Our Lord.  Period.
     So if you happen to drop into the Big Top Circus next week.  Don't forget your peanuts.  The elephant is hungry.