Friday of the First Week of Lent
(Ezekiel 18:21-28; Matthew 5:20-28)
Perhaps because most Catholic adults were once Catholic teenagers, they have become minimalists. Teenagers wonder what is the least that they have to do to get to heaven. They will ask a youth minister, for example, how long one might kiss his girlfriend or her boyfriend before committing a sin against chastity. Or they may ask in Confession how many beers one can drink before committing the sin of drunkenness. This type of inquiry is more characteristic of the scribes and the Pharisees, whom Jesus discredits in today’s gospel, than of his true disciples. His followers are to be perfect; that is, they are to forego not only murder but also angry ridicule; they are to avoid not only adultery but also its fountainhead -- lustful thoughts.
Although it sounds neurotic in our therapeutic age, the quest for perfection is not intended to be a compulsive exercise. We have the Holy Spirit to gently point the way and to take up slack. Also, as the gospel today shows, falling short in the process is tolerable. But when we fail, we need to ask forgiveness and then resume the effort. Doing so, in fact, means that we are making progress toward the goal. Interestingly, Jesus indicates that seeking God’s forgiveness after we have offended another is not enough, whether or not we do so in sacramental confession. No, first we must reconcile with the people we have hurt; then we bring our sin offering to God.
Showing posts with label perfection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label perfection. Show all posts
Homilette for January 31, 2008
Tuesday, Memorial of St. John Bosco, priest
(II Samuel 7:18-19; 24-29)
Michael Sandel is a leading Harvard ethicist. Recently he has published a book with the curious title The Case against Perfection. By “perfection” Mr. Sandel does not mean the human attempt to be virtuous. Rather, he has in mind the idolatrous quest by parents to manipulate their child’s genetic makeup so that he or she would have apparently perfect attributes. That is, Sandel argues against the ever increasing possibility that parents may have their child’s genes bioengineered so that he or she is born with “perfect” intelligence, beauty, emotions, and the like.
Sandel uses the idea of theologian William F. May to make his case. He says that parenting must retain an “openness to the unbidden.” This means that parents must not try to control everything about their offspring. They are wise to leave genetic makeup and, as the children grow older, some aspects of their development in the hands of God or nature. Of course, parents might have a genetic defect corrected and should promote their children’s education. But these efforts should not turn into an arrogant quest to produce the perfect human being.
David in the first reading today demonstrates an “openness to the unbidden.” First, he humbly recognizes that what he has and done are not his work alone but the gifts of God. Then, he expresses his gratitude to God for the bounteous gifts. Finally, he asks God to bless his offspring that they may live up to the promise of greatness that God has made to him. Of course, David’s request is fully realized in the coming of Jesus Christ.
(II Samuel 7:18-19; 24-29)
Michael Sandel is a leading Harvard ethicist. Recently he has published a book with the curious title The Case against Perfection. By “perfection” Mr. Sandel does not mean the human attempt to be virtuous. Rather, he has in mind the idolatrous quest by parents to manipulate their child’s genetic makeup so that he or she would have apparently perfect attributes. That is, Sandel argues against the ever increasing possibility that parents may have their child’s genes bioengineered so that he or she is born with “perfect” intelligence, beauty, emotions, and the like.
Sandel uses the idea of theologian William F. May to make his case. He says that parenting must retain an “openness to the unbidden.” This means that parents must not try to control everything about their offspring. They are wise to leave genetic makeup and, as the children grow older, some aspects of their development in the hands of God or nature. Of course, parents might have a genetic defect corrected and should promote their children’s education. But these efforts should not turn into an arrogant quest to produce the perfect human being.
David in the first reading today demonstrates an “openness to the unbidden.” First, he humbly recognizes that what he has and done are not his work alone but the gifts of God. Then, he expresses his gratitude to God for the bounteous gifts. Finally, he asks God to bless his offspring that they may live up to the promise of greatness that God has made to him. Of course, David’s request is fully realized in the coming of Jesus Christ.
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