This is the commandment we have from him: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
All Christian people and all Christian churches struggle to balance fidelity to God's word with fidelity to God's commandment to love.
On the one hand, we must receive the Truth and understand the doctrines which convey the Truth to us. They use ordinary human words and concepts and they often sound strange as we try to understand the way in which we use them.
We find answers to satisfy the mind in the practice of faith; that is, in our liturgies which comprise sacred rites, scripture, homilies, songs, and so forth. We understand, in a manner of speaking, but it's still hard to explain; and impossible to those who are predisposed against our personal testimony and our belief. However, a receptive audience is eager to know the truth, and we are eager to share it with them.
That's one hand.
On the other hand, we have a passionate desire to share our faith with our family, friends, and strangers who may not be so disposed or eager. We want them to come into our sacred communion. But we cannot alter our doctrines to fit the demands, expectations, and sometimes bizarre beliefs of their world. We cannot share communion, for instance, with people who support abortion, assisted suicide, or transsexual medical procedures. We cannot share our Most Blessed Sacrament with those in "gay marriage" or with unrepentant adulterers.
These unfortunate people might quote Saint John saying, "Whoever loves God must also love his brother," and think they have scored one against our self-righteousness. But God does not love us on our terms, nor can we love them on their terms. We cannot risk betraying ourselves and our God. We must faithfully imitate the One of whom Saint Paul said, "He cannot deny himself." (2Tim2:13)
As a priest I am like the state patrolman watching the highway. I cannot say to my good buddy, "Go ahead and speed and I'll look the other way." If I do so, when he is arrested by another law enforcement officer, he will not be excused by invoking my name. Or if he dies as a result of his own reckless driving, he will not be raised up to eternal life in my name.
And yes, moral issues are that serious! The increasing deterioration of American social norms is directly related to Roe v. Wade. As a method of birth control, it is never acceptable. Nor is medically assisted suicide or gay marriage. These things have consequences because every human act, good or bad, alone or in company, is irrevocable and has consequences beyond its brief moment in time.
No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13
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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.