Memorial of Saint
Agatha, virgin and martyr
(II Samuel 24:2.9-17; Mark 6:1-6)
By most people’s standards the most challenging moral
teaching of the Church in recent times has been its condemnation of artificial
contraception. Married couples find it difficult
to see how using one pill to prevent conception violates the natural law while
using another to relieve a headache accords with it. The Church’s response to this apparent paradox
looks to the functioning of the body. In
the first case the pill interrupts normal functioning of the body while in the
second it enables it. With such a desirable
goal as sexual gratification at stake, the Church’s position does not convince
all people. Perhaps many will have similar
trouble recognizing David’s sin in the first reading today.
David wants to take a census of his people. Primarily, he wants to know the number of men
available to fight in his army. God would
be offended because knowing the number of available troops, David will likely become
more belligerent. Also, God recognizes
that David no longer looks to Him for strength but to the size of his army.
Trusting in the Lord does not mean abandoning prudence
which moves us to act in just ways to accomplish our purpose. Prudence also inspires prayer for God’s
assistance. Thus, whether we are an army’s
general staff preparing for battle or a family planning a family, we should proceed
in three ways. First, we want to pray
for help. Second, we will determine the
best way to achieve our goal within the limits of justice. And finally, we will move to carry out our
objective trusting that in the Lord’s favor.
