SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
HOMILY
2017
The underlying assumption of the Christian faith is that humans need
a Saviour to free them from their sins. But really, humankind with all
our knowledge, innovation, technology and skill is quite capable of
solving all the problems. Individuals don’t sin and no one should try
to impose that guilt trip on us.
For a start, it’s the Church with all its commandments and rules that
holds us captive and then tells us that we have sinned when we fail
to measure up. It’s the Church that imposes Catholic guilt on us. All
we have to do is, grow up, throw off the shackles of an authoritarian,
out of date Church and then freely decide for ourselves what’s right
for me. Sin and guilt are external constructs and impositions.
We understand more and more these days, that we are products of
our past experiences and determined by them. It’s our environment
that causes us to act the way we do. It’s a poor upbringing of tragic
family background that forces people into lives of crime. It’s in our
make-up, from our Genes or our DNA. Scientists are discovering
more and more the differences of the brain structure that dispose
people to drug, alcohol and gambling addictions. Lady Ga Ga tells us
in her song that we are, “Born this Way.” It’s natural and can’t be
wrong to follow all our feelings and inclinations.
There’s no more right or wrong in life. The prime value is one’s own
choice and one’s freedom to choose. It’s my right and of my human
dignity to choose my way in life and my lifestyle and whatever I
choose is right for me. No one should question that.
It’s the Church that imposes moral issues on us. There are no moral
issues, except for climate change, the great moral issue of our time.
Society can deal with all our social issues. We fix them by extra
resources, education, tighter rules, regulations and tougher
penalties. We’ll fix the problem of young people taking impure drugs
at rave parties by testing the drugs before they take them.
Governments can legislate for this and make it safe for our young
people to take drugs. Abortion is not a moral issue but a medical and
legal issue. It must be provided as option in our hospitals so that
women are free to choose. Society, with science and technology can
solve all our social problems. We must stop blaming individuals.
And Pope Francis himself has said “Who am I to judge?” He’s not
going to judge anyone, so why worry. Anyone who judges the actions
or lifestyle of another is a hypocrite and is discriminating against
them. God is a loving merciful God, and He won’t send anyone to
hell. Why worry and stress?
It’s so easy to rationalize personal responsibility away. It’s so easy to
think that personal sin doesn’t exist. This is a great temptation for us
today. But sin is real.
Of course we do accept that ignorance, and our backgrounds do
lessen personal responsibility and hence our sinfulness. But the
human spirit is never completely crushed and determined.
Sin is not imposed by others, the Church, or by an external authority.
The inclination is in us as humans. We are short sighted and only see
from our own limited point of view of what is good for me. We do
act impulsively out of fear, hurt, anger, jealousy or lust. We know
that this causes disharmony and divisions in our relationships. Guilt
or shame are just as much human feelings that can carry us away.
From the Bible the word for sin means “missing the mark.” It’s like
shooting an arrow at a target, you can miss it. The goal is sharing in
the fullness of the life and love of God. We easily miss this goal.
Without the possibility of failure, missing the mark, there’s no real
human freedom. If we are really free to choose, then one choice
needs to be better than others. If there’s no difference between right
and wrong, then there’s no real choose, because every option is of
equal value and of no consequence. Choice only makes sense if
there’s a real difference between the options. Sin is real because
human freedom is real. Take away sin, you take away human
freedom.
Yes, Pope Francis said “Who am I to judge?” But he believes as we all
do, as we say in the Creed, that God “will come to judge the living
and the dead.” Yes, we don’t judge others, but deep within our
hearts God has put the echo of his voice, the call to goodness and
love, it’s our conscience. It is this voice by which we must judge
ourselves and will be judged by God. Our conscience, the voice of
God within us, tells us when we have sinned.
In the transfiguration of Jesus, we are given a glimpse of the fullness
of divine life now the goal of every human life. Let us not loose sight
of this great goal. When we do miss the mark, let us know that we
are always forgiven and renewed by our loving God.