Distinguishing False Pipers from True Prophets

“See to it that no one captivates you with an empty, seductive philosophy according to human tradition, according to elemental powers of the world and not according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:8.)  Authentic love of wisdom conforms to Truth as fully informed by the Magisterium of the Catholic Church; then, it extols freely given love (a perfected charity through the Cross); and emanates knowledge and understanding of fallen human nature in need of Divine grace, and as modeled by Saints or as evidenced and forewarned by sinners through the ages.    

 
Recently, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a wealthy Shia Muslim with Hindu influence,  boasted about his latest utopian project, a state run store model.  One had to endure the drone of unexplained costs and questionable logistics before learning that the first store will not open until the end of 2027 and the other in East Harlem is projected by 2029.  Pipe dreams by a false piper.

 
Perhaps it is my senior age, my international and trans American experiences as an Army dependent during the Cold War,  or that I learned to investigate all of history and the foundations of the Catholic faith, but I cannot understand the appeal of the current  arrogant politicians or their odious proposals being advanced across the nation.  Obviously Mamdani and his cohorts are openly anti-Christian, wholly ignorant of and oppositional to Jesus Christ and how God’s  Divine Will resounds through history.   They horde their own possessions while demanding others be compelled to forfeit theirs.  Without exception emerging front runners in races across the nation pay homage to each other and the false gods of eons past while inciting rebellion and libeling the virtuous and thwarting genuinely good works at every turn. We need look no further than the religious sisters extraordinary missions that have been destroyed by evil lawsuits trying to impose insidious manmade laws.

 
The communists’  lofty plans overlook—I believe intentionally— the incredibly successful endeavors of such long term charities as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and endeavors like “Loaves and Fishes”, often a church based ministry providing hot meals and extra staples.  Major chain grocery stores give generously to these efforts!  You know, the ones Mamdani denounces as greedy capitalists.  I have personally witnessed consistent and genuinely “supportive distribution of foods” (and other goods and services) on a regular basis, over many years, in several states, borne of the generosity of those who consistently and persistently give from the heart.  Manna now, not mañana.  These donors include the wealthiest Catholics among us.  Some, like the poor widow in Scripture give from their own pantries.  

 
Critically, these are gifts freely given, not legislatively confiscated  or manipulated by bureaucrats who have set themselves up as municipal gods over the backbone of an economy to placate and control the masses.   As CatholicVote President Kelly Reinhardt observed this is “communist faith rooted in state power and class conflict.”

 
Sadly, though, the Mamdani’s “fail grab” at playing god is only the tip of the iceberg, as ignorant personalities are multiplying everywhere with the wackiest ideas about ideal governance.  Despite any outward appearance, these are essentially atheistic based.  At the very least, they are spawned in gross ignorance about virtuous  governance as a prerequisite for pursuing elected or appointed positions.  The signs have been visible for anyone with sight to see for at least three generations but seeded many prior to that.  These social justice advocates know neither Faith nor Tradition, have a skewed and limited knowledge of history, and are peppered with narrowly impassioned slogans about the state of the world.  To them, wisdom is found in poll numbers, temperance is constricting wealth (capitalism), courage is living “personal identity” in outrageous public displays, and  justice is getting even with perceived enemies from the past in the often vain hope of also expiating “white” guilt.  Yet, for actual sins, there is no awareness, let alone examination of conscience.  Self actualization trumps humility.  Anger (rage) and envy are celebrated for “acceptable causes.”  Sloth and theft are excusable to satisfy past unfair labor and prejudices.  Physical pleasure becomes a right.  Nothing truly noble is safe from these tyrants.

 
As an educator since the late 1980s, I saw this in curriculum and instruction, often through a “slow drip” and gradual modification of religion and history, and as propagandized by mass media.  I had hope for an awakening by now.  However, perhaps due to the diabolical COVID shut down, today’s youth has been denied—robbed-of the wholeness of the past.  It is unlikely that the duped, fledging Democrat National Socialist knows the plight of many White persecutions through the ages.  They assume all slavery and oppression was from light skinned exploiters against those of color, and to the dismay of persons like Cardinal Arinze, may think Africa as one country.  Having been negatively indoctrinated about Christopher Columbus, how many are aware that there were two tribes he encountered, one that was cannibalistic sodomites (Caniba) who persecuted the friendlier Taino whom he loved.  Similar slanted biographies have been instilled in students about many of our founders and heroes, albeit subject to human faults.

 
Still, glaringly absent for our spiritually poorest children is the knowledge of  hundreds of holy and sacrificial figures, like St. Josephine Bakhita whose early abduction and enslavement was due to a rival African tribe; the original Servants of Mary, founded by seven wealthy Italian merchants who surrendered their privileged lives in the 13th Century to serve Our Blessed Mother, through prayer and penance; the Holy Hobo, St. Benedict Joseph Labre, who bristled at the least dishonest act; St. Maximillian Kolbe who gave his life in a concentration camp to save a man with a family; and St. Carlos Acutis,  the extraordinary young man who could have succumbed to temptation of a technical world but instead used his talents to spread devotion to the Holy Eucharist; and so many more.

 
By their words and actions we should know who are the false pipers from the true prophets:  Do they believe in the one, true God, or do they elevate themselves as ”deliverers”?  Do they lead people to the true, good, and beautiful, or do they incite the worst in human nature?  Do they respect that which is holy and try to emulate the saints, or do they mock the genuinely pious?   It should be an easy test, but it will take many true prophets to share the answers.