Lectionary: 516A
Hear me, O coastlands,
listen, O distant peoples.
The LORD called me from birth,
from my mother's womb he gave me my name.
Today the Catholic Church remembers the tragic Roe v Wade decision of the United States Supreme Court to annul every federal and state law that banned abortion. That decision invited a Pandora's box of plagues, including child abuse, drug abuse, and suicide.
If you click on the link above to the Catholic Bishops' web site and its recommendations for readings at today's Mass, you'll find a large assortment of readings from the Old and New Testaments, from Isaiah to Maccabees, and Matthew to Revelation. The Scriptures are saturated with the Gospel of Life; the practice of abortion has no place in a Christian spirituality or tradition.
My reading in the last several months has explored racism in the United States and around the world, the epidemic of drug addiction, and the horrific exploitation of the seas. Despite the frequent occurrence of heinous crimes, the careless waste of human life and the unimaginable suffering of millions of people, I have found few criminals. Most prosecutions of serious evils result in acquittals, and convictions settle only on the least offensive actors, those who could not afford lawyers. These little ones are more often sinned against than sinning. Abortion, like environmental pollution and poverty, is less a sin of guilty individuals than a universal violation of God's sovereign law; we're all engaged and we're all responsible.
I don't know whether the polarization of our society began with racism and our historical investment in slavery, or with the abortion debate. I find it hard to believe it's about socialism versus capitalism, since neither major party wants the extreme of either philosophy. Republicans do not want to dismantle all government services and turn streets, parks, and law enforcement over to private companies; nor would Democrats espouse total government control à la North Korea. While accusations of "socialism" abound, it's only idle mudslinging. How to manage an economy is clearly not the polarizing issue.
Demonizing one's opponents will not restore reverence for human life. There are evil persons but they're usually law abiding, and most criminals are not bad people. The convicts I visited in Louisiana jails loved their children and agonized when they could not celebrate their birthdays. Most people scoff at some laws; they risk speeding tickets and parking fines. But few are criminals. When the president speaks of some people as "bad people" he is clearly catering to immature minds, perhaps the next generation of voters. Adults don't think like that. I am often astonished that good people I know vote for Donald Trump; and they are equally surprised that i do not. Neither party is bad. Nothing is gained by holding willfully ignorant beliefs about one's opponents.
The ethic of life espoused by our Catholic Church begins with the humility of God. The Lord inclines his ear to save his people, bowing before our divine likeness. Saint Francis urged his disciples to, "Look at the humility of God!"
O humble sublimity! O sublime humility! that the Lord of the universe, God and the Son of God, so humbles Himself that for our salvation He hides Himself under a morsel of bread. Consider, brothers, the humility of God and "pour out your hearts before Him, and be ye humbled that ye may be exalted by Him. Do not therefore keep back anything for yourselves that He may receive you entirely who gives Himself up entirely to you.
Unfortunately the teaching of God's humility has been treated as spiritual rather than theological; it usually appears in treacly tracts about the Lonely Jesus in the tabernacle. Meanwhile, the world knows nothing of God's humility, and the Church rarely mentions it.
Clearly, polarization is failing. It will not serve the cause of life. Rather, the imitation of Christ invites us to regard our enemies and political opponents with the same deference of Jesus before Herod Antipas, Annas and Caiphas. We can speak modestly as Jesus did to Pilate, reminding them they would have no authority were it not given from above. We can let Truth speak for itself without threats of harm or retribution. We can demonstrate kindness, patience, and respect to those who seem to worship an alien god.
Americans, and the world, should have learned from Prohibition that creating unpopular laws against sinful behavior invites illegal behavior. If one demon is ejected, he will return with seven worse than himself.
The United States is a consumer-driven society and consumers believe they have the right to purchase whatever they want; be it alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, firearms, or abortion. Not many prolifers would readily surrender their consumer rights, but that's where the change must begin.
When he took on human flesh, the Lord surrendered many divine prerogatives. But God's kenosis teaches us to stay in the game, to practice integrity despite scorn and ridicule, to respect the most disrespectful opponents, and to anticipate a Savior who will establish the Kingdom of God. We don't know what that Kingdom will look like but we're sure the Lord will do what we cannot:
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.