Thursday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
(Romans 14:7-12; Luke 15:1-10)
St. Paul’s Letter
to the Romans ends with what is called a paraclesis. This Greek word
means exhortation. What we know as chapters 12 to 15 of Romans provides a moral exhortation on
how to live the faith so vibrantly expressed in chapters 1 to 11. In no way does Paul mean to separate morality
from faith in Jesus. Quite the contrary,
he wants to show how the former flows from the latter.
In today’s first reading Paul shows how Christians do not
live for themselves but for one another.
They all belong to Christ’s body and, therefore, should be wary of
making superficial judgments of one another.
They are further reminded that the Lord will judge them on the basis of
their fairness in judging others.
Often Catholics view Church moral teachings like the
prohibition of artificial contraception as rules imposed arbitrarily by bishops
to protect the people from flirting with evil.
This is not true. Of course,
pastors do not want their people to court sinfulness, but Church moral teaching
flows from its understanding of what God has ordained for His people. Once again, it is a matter of morality flowing
from faith.
