Daily Reflections - March 15,2013

CONFLICT WITH THE AUTHORITIES

 

One of the aspects of Jesus’ ministry, around which John structures his Gospel leading up to the Passion, is Jesus’ conflict with the authorities of His day. It is a telling reality as He finds it more and more difficult to move around freely, knowing that the authorities are looking to arrest Him.

While we may not face the possibility of arrest if we disagree with our religious leaders, it is still a difficult thing to stand up for truth when the majority around us are content with the status quo. However, we should not allow injustices to stand unanswered and unopposed. We cannot allow the question of popularity or ease of life to silence our arguments against injustice. We all have a responsibility to speak out against injustice and to do our best to ensure that justice and truth prevail.

The Church has taken very public stands on issues such as gay marriage (ultimately an oxymoron as far as the traditional definition of marriage stands), abortion, in vitro fertilization, and many other moral issues of our day. Do we understand why the Church teaches as it does? If not, then it is our personal responsibility to seek the correct understanding of the issues. This is part of our responsibility to form our consciences well, especially in the light of the teachings of the Church.

I am not saying that we all have to march on the streets against abortion, but we do have to make a coherent argument as to why abortion is wrong. When it comes to moral issues, we live in a particularly difficult and complex era where many new practices that have moral implications arise. Before we get involved in them as doctors, nurses or patients, we should first seek to understand their moral implications. This can and probably will take a considerable amount of time in order to arrive at our best understanding of the matter. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you have questions of morality in some practices that you are involved with? If so, how well do you seek to form your conscience judgment responsibly?

 

Holy Spirit, guide my heart and mind as I seek to make moral decisions. Help me learn the