Way back in September, Bishop William Lori, of Bridgeport, Conn. celebrated a Red Mass at his Cathedral. The Red Mass is traditionally celebrated for persons involved in the legal profession. In using Luke's Gospel.Bishop Lori began framing his homily along the path of the 'Spirit of God.' Bishop Lori reminded the faithful members of the legal profession that we were indeed strengthened with the Holy Spirit at Baptism and Confirmation. This very action unites us more closely with the Paschal Mystery which we celebrate each and every time we do the Mass.
Lori used Cardinal John Henry Newman to demonstrate the connection between faith, and our obligation in seeking out the truth. Lori states, "Newman's witness to the fullness of Christian truth brought many to the Church and profoundly affected the culture of his day." Just as Cardinal Newman displayed a propensity to find the truth in all situations, in our own lives, personal and public, we are to seek out what is true and good. Lori reminded those present that this necessity had importance for our own moral character, and because of our public nature human life itself.
An important challenge that Lori gave his listeners is where he intones the late John F. Kennedy, "The rights of Man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God." In our post-modern society I tend to think that we have forgotten this very basic truth. God gives us every good thing, and maintains and sustains our lives. We like to believe that we can legislate morals and ethics. It is a mentality that believes that if it is legal, or we think that it is in the constitution, when then it must be right.
I have come to know our state representative for the DeKalb area. Recently there was some legislation which was supposed to help one of the many problems within the state. He did not support it, and even wrote an editorial explaining his reasons. He bristles at legislation based solely on emotions or good feelings. Something will happen which causes people to declare together, "There ought to be a law." But as Bishop Lori would suggest, and as our Gospels proclaim, how we guide our lives needs to be based on truth and right; something that will build up the common good.
Sadly today much of what passes for 'truth' is an easy answer for a complex and difficult problem. More so our answers today can tend to move us away from responsibility and ownership of Sin and brokenness in our world today. As faith-filled people we are guided by our faith and some basic truths. We apply the teachings of Jesus Christ and our tradition to the problems of the world today. The respect of life, human dignity, and freedom, and some of the foundational virtues of our life. It is the most basic of challenges of the Gospel which invite us to seek God first in all things.
May what God has begun in us be brought to completion.
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