Reason #15 Liturgical Cycle again

I am just completely amazed. I read the first three lines of today's first reading: "My beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling." It then goes on to say "For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work. Do everything without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life, so that my boast for the day of Christ may be that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. But, even if I am poured out as a libation upon the sacrificial service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with all of you. In the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me."

So 2000 years ago, the world was living in a crooked and perverse generation. Is there any hope of change or do we just alter the crookedness and perversion? Are we as Americans saving the lives of soldiers but negotiating the lives of the generation and children that will never be? There was no winning answer and there could not be a winner yesterday, either way we as Americans would loose. However, we are provided hope that through our sacrificial service we will share in the joy of heaven. Let us turn our eyes to the eternal Communion of Saints where the only true Ruler is in charge and remember what my newest close friend (St. Teresa of Avila) said:

Christ has no body now but yours
No hands, no feet on earth but yours
Yours are the eyes through which He looks
compassion on this world
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.