31st
Sunday in Ordinary Time – November 5, 2017
I
–You have turned aside from the way, and have caused many to falter by your
instruction.
R
–In you, Lord, I have found my peace.
II
– We were determined to share with you not only the Gospel of god, but our very
selves as well.
A
– You have but one Father in heaven and one master, the Christ.
G –They
preach but they do not practice.
+ Our readings today are very timely. They
speak to us about the true and significant difference between objective and subjective reality. Objective reality simply is, “it is what it is;”
subjective reality is what I make it to be, which may or may not be coherent,
viable or trustworthy – as I could never have all the information I need to
make an airtight, sound case in my defense.
An example of this dichotomy
in the world is the current state of affairs of our national government. Our
country was founded on the objective, eternal and always present and
trustworthy principles of the values of life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In every case, these apply, therefore
they are objective and not dependent on what I think about them, or how I feel
about them.
Subjective reality is the
convoluted, deceptive and manipulative activity of many in government,
beginning with the president himself, and spreading over to those in congress,
and in any kind of governing roles in states and cities throughout the land. A
false and fanciful “reality” is thus created by these people, and their main
task appears to be to convince others that “what they say really does go” and
that when they change their minds, there will simply be a new reality to adhere
to. This of course is not only nonsense, but it is dangerous, and threatening
to the very security of all in the jurisdictions.
The first reading today tells
of those in kingdoms who go it their own
way, who divert from objective truths and realities that were once laid
down by God himself, and their forefathers. It leads to contemptibility and baseness among the people.
The second reading shows St.
Paul commending the Thessalonians because they have stuck to the unchangeable,
unalterable, always true and trustworthy words and laws that come from God, and
receive them as they are “the words of
God, rather than the words of men.”
The gospel passage today tells
of Jesus exhorting his hearers to “do
what the duly appointed leader tell them to do, but do not do what they
themselves model and demonstrate.” And of those things, only those
discerned to be kindred to objective truth and reality need to be incorporated
and acted on. An unjust law need not be obeyed. But be sure first that it is
unjust and counter to the common welfare.
Yes,
this is meant to be a time of great reason, discussion, prayer and discernment
– for individuals, for families, for business, schools and social clubs. No one
is exempt from staying on top of things and participating in their own
destinies and community and national welfare.
This is election week in our
country, and by our rightly formed conscience choice, we can make a loud and
clear statement, by casting our vote for those on the side of objective,
constructive, and community building service – who are called by God to do
their work – whether they realize it or not!
Let our HOPE come from the
Word of God himself, who is Jesus Christ the Lord! Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment