Memorial of Saint
Pius of Pietrelcina, priest
(Proverbs 21:1-6.10-13; Luke 8:19-21)
Contemporary philosophy makes a disturbing distinction
between doing what is right and doing what is good. It says doing what is right means acting with
a principled will. In another words, to
do what is right is to always obey the rule of law. Doing what is good, on the other hand, is to
act to produce the best possible outcome.
Both these ways of acting seem to miss the mark set in the Scripture
readings for today.
The first reading includes the proverb, “To do what is
right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” “Right” and “just” are synonymous, parallel
words; that is, words set alongside of one another that mean the same
thing. Both mean to give everyone his or
her due. This is not the same thing as
doing what is right in the modern sense of the word since following a particular
rule may be acting too rigidly. Nor does
it mean acting for the best possible outcome which sometimes entails doing patently
something wrong. For example, bribing
someone to vote in a particular way to get the better candidate elected. Rather, “to do what is right and just” is to
act prudently – to choose the best ethical action that will assure that everyone
receives a fair shake.
It is not always easy for us to “do what is right and
just.” Indeed, sometimes it will cost us
dearly. We do so anyway because in this
way we remain close to Jesus. As he says
in the gospel, we become his “mother and brothers.”
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