A Christian knows when it is time to speak of God
and when it is better to say nothing and to let love alone speak. He knows that
God is love and that God's presence is felt
at the very time when the only
thing we do is to love. --- Pope Benedict XVI
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Wow! Many people today are saying those words after the
ending of an intense election in the States. Those “wows” don’t just come from
one side but all sides for many different reasons. There are those who are
joyful, some others painfully disappointed and still others unsure and
questioning, “Is this what we have become?”
As many of you who know me, I am a quiet and observant. Not
quick to judge or to make my voice heard. I like to pause, reflect, and then
speak. Always praying and hoping my words may not be just my own, but that of
the Gospel, which I strive to live. I know I do not always perfect the Gospel
in my own life, but I only pray that I never grow weary of striving towards its
fulfillment each day.
As I have watched and listened over the many months, both up
close and from afar, I could not help but to think, “Is this what we have
become?” From the bickering and complaining, to hurtful and ungodly Facebook
postings, to the media who no longer seek the facts nor the truth but their own
version of it, “Is this what we have become?”
On a personal note, something more disappointing then the
decisiveness in the country is the division within the Church. Catholics
arguing amongst Catholics, blame, judgment, and finger pointing towards one
another, not to mention the very little time taken to neither listen nor learn.
I truly believe this is where the problem lies. We have
stopped listening and learning. We tend to think we have our truth and if we
shout it the loudest everyone else will have to accept it as the truth.
This past Sunday, I was reminded by Jesus in the Gospel of Mark of
the words first spoken to the
Israelites in Deuteronomy 6:4-6. It reads, Hear, O Israel! The
Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all
your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and
with all your strength. Take to heart these words which I command you
today. These same words Jesus reiterates in Mark 12:29-31, with an additional
command: the
second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. For Jesus, these two commands sums up
the totality and basis of the Law.
Something worth noting is said before the commands
are given, it reads, “HEAR, O ISRAEL.” To first hear, we must stop to listen.
Not to argue, nor assume, not give our personal opinion, nor put forth our own commands, but
first to hear!
I am in all in favor of civil discourse and even
disagreement, but something I cannot favor is never taking time to listen and
learn. And yet before we even can position ourselves to listen to one another, we
must first listen to God. God lays forth the commands. God gives us the ways
for moral living. Humans don’t make them up, society cannot pick and choose
which ones we would like to live by and others we feel like casting aside. My
professor a few days ago told his students, “for justice to work we need moral
absolutes which are the backbone for every civil code and society.” I recently read
an article that said,
“Many
of the people in the world around us embrace divergent worldviews, and many of
their views contradict the Christian perspective. As a result, it’s often
difficult to get people to even consider the Christian version of moral
accountability. In fact, many resist the notion that there is an absolute moral
code that comes from a source higher than themselves. When considering the
existence of moral truths, the questions are simple: “Does morality come from
people or does morality come from God?” “Does our society shape our moral beliefs,
or are they handed down to us from God?” If we, as people, are the source of
moral truth then we can simply follow our own path. But if morality comes from
a source greater than ourselves, we have an obligation to that source and we
ought to at least make an effort to identify the source of all moral truth... Transcendent
moral truths have great value in that they provide protection from
irresponsible behaviors that ultimately hurt each of us (individually) and hurt
our relationship with God. It’s been said that “good fences make good
neighbors” because fences allow each neighbor to know his or her boundaries. In
a similar way, “good fences (moral codes) make good people” because they
delineate the moral boundaries that ultimately protect us from doing wrong.
It’s not enough for us to embrace and accept a particular moral code. We first
need to think clearly about the SOURCE of that moral code. If the source is
transcendent and unchanging, we will come to recognize that moral truths are
not trivial and transient; they are as fixed unchanging as their source. If
this is true, then we are less likely to exchange them whenever we please to
meet our human desires.”
Every person, family, community or society has a
system of rules that governs its living. For a person to deny this would be
foolish. But what governs your system of rules? Where do you learn your values,
principles, rights, and wrongs? Are they universal or particular? Do they
change with the latest poll or popular opinion? Should it be left to an individual
or group to determine today what is wrong and tomorrow what is right?
Or should it be left to a SOURCE that is transcendent and unchanging? A SOURCE,
which is not looking to change with the latest polls nor is interested in the
popular vote. A SOURCE, which creates order out of disorder and brings
redemption from suffering. A SOURCE that perhaps we should all take a little
more time to spend with, listen to and learn from!
Only from God does true
revolution come... the definitive way to change the world.
- Pope Benedict XVI
