By Fr. Glenn Jones:
Well, here we are almost at the new year … gym operators gearing up for the onrush of many resolutionists, kids trying to get as much as they can out of the quickly waning respite from school, CPAs dreading long hours, weeks and months prepping tax returns.
Speaking of government stuff, while not really in this column’s purview, something very important which will affect many came up in conversation with my CPA (of 40 years’ experience), missed by media attention, yet having potentially devastating effects for many—especially small businesses, and perhaps many readers.
Called the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), it ostensibly combats money laundering, and requires disclosure of “beneficial ownership (re: “personal”) information” of people who own/control certain companies, and is estimated to affect over 32 million businesses. According to the CPA, “Domestic companies required to report include corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs) or any similar entity created by the filing of a document with a secretary of state (LLCs-single member or multimember, S Corps, C Corps) or any similar office under the law of a state or Indian tribe.” Larger companies are exempt, but you’d need to check the required conditions. CTA is not part of the tax code, so CPAs may (likely will) opt out of filing for those companies.
These entities are facing possibly a $500 fine PER DAY(!) and other penalties if they do not file certain information with FINCEN, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, possibly by early January. Many individuals incorporate as LLCs or similar entities for tax and liability purposes.
Not to be Chicken Little, this is certainly something to keep close tabs on if you or your business may be affected. Enforcement of CTA has been on again/off again in the courts and is currently under injunction (as of this 12/28 writing), but that could change rapidly. The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) is monitoring changes; check their website for updates, and your own accountant for verified information.
Well, now … let’s get back to more spiritual matters.
I pray you all had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. Having celebrated Jesus’ birth, in the Catholic Church, at least, the days after Christmas are then celebrated as feasts of some great witnesses to Him—St. Stephen the first martyr on December 26, St. John the Apostle/Evangelist on the 27th, and the Holy Innocents on the 28th—the children killed by King Herod in his attempt to slay the newborn Messiah (Matthew 2:16). St. Quodvultdeus (is that a great name or what?!) writes of them: “The children die for Christ, though they do not know it. … as yet unable to speak [they are] fit witnesses to himself … They cannot speak, yet they bear witness to Christ. They cannot use their limbs to engage in battle, yet already they bear off the palm of victory.”
“Oh, that’s horrible! Infants slaughtered mercilessly!” Yes, it certainly was … just as it always is when innocents die; all persons killed unjustly are tragic. Yet, we honor them in memory, realizing that, as the imprisoned St. Paul mused: “For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer … my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you.” (Philippians 1:21-23)
In the Christian faith we know that something much more wonderful awaits the faithful, yet the length of our lives is in God’s hands—life’s author and master. And so we live best simply in loving God and neighbor ardently, come what may otherwise.
Such was the attitude of the aforementioned St. Stephen—one of the first seven deacons assisting the apostles in their ministry (see Acts chapters 6 – 7 for his story). Martyred for the faith, he gave impassioned witness to Jesus and, in imitation of Him, begged God to forgive those who stoned him to death—even Saul who “approved of their killing him.” (Acts 8:1). This selfsame Saul would be rabid persecutor of the new faith, but would himself be converted (Acts 8), becoming “Paul” and the faith’s greatest evangelist save Christ Himself.
Not to overburden the reader with quotes, there is nonetheless a very moving sermon from Saint Fulgentius of Ruspe which bespeaks of Christian life and attitude toward even those who hate them—begging your indulgence for an excerpt at some length:
“…the love that brought Christ from heaven to earth raised Stephen from earth to heaven; shown first in the king, it later shone forth in his soldier.
Love was Stephen’s weapon by which he gained every battle, and so won the crown…
His love of God kept him from yielding to the ferocious mob; his love for his neighbor made him pray for those who were stoning him.
Love inspired him to reprove those who erred, to make them amend; love led him to pray for those who stoned him, to save them from punishment.
Strengthened by the power of his love, he overcame the raging cruelty of Saul and won his persecutor on earth as his companion in heaven.
In his holy and tireless love he longed to gain by prayer those whom he could not convert by admonition.
Now at last, Paul rejoices with Stephen, with Stephen he delights in the glory of Christ, with Stephen he exalts, with Stephen he reigns.
Stephen went first, slain by the stones thrown by Paul, but Paul followed after, helped by the prayer of Stephen.
This, surely, is the true life, my brothers, a life in which Paul feels no shame because of Stephen’s death, and Stephen delights in Paul’s companionship, for love fills them both with joy.
It was Stephen’s love that prevailed over the cruelty of the mob, and it was Paul’s love that covered the multitude of his sins; it was love that won for both of them the kingdom of heaven.
Love, indeed, is the source of all good things; it is an impregnable defense, and the way that leads to heaven. He who walks in love can neither go astray nor be afraid: love guides him, protects him, and brings him to his journey’s end.”
Editor’s note: Rev. Glenn Jones is the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and former pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Los Alamos.