Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Today we celebrate the birth of the United States of America. Not only has it been the most successful modern democracy in the world’s history, but it is a land that draws people to it. Why? Because, even with its faults, the U.S. is a nation of opportunity due to its many civil liberties. Liberty is attractive. Our nation’s founders believed that there were natural rights that individuals were endowed with by God, and the government’s responsibility was to preserve the free exercise of these. Thus, true freedom flows from God.
The Lord says in Isaiah that He will draw Israel out into the desert by alluring her. He will be attractive. The Catholic tradition tells us not only the good or true, but also anything beautiful, is sourced in God. It is not enough for the gospel or Church teaching to be truthful or moral, but it should attract us too. Christ Himself embodies all these aspects of the divine makeup.
It is no surprise, then, that the synagogue official and woman with hemorrhages reach out to Christ – they place their trust in His compassion, His authoritative words, and the way He has freed many from the shackles of demons and bodily suffering. They are drawn to Him. Interestingly, they do not even allow Jesus to volunteer help. The official says that if the Lord would lay His hand on his daughter she would live; the ailing woman in the crowd reaches out herself for Christ’s garment. Neither is presumptive, but their actions are based on God-given freedom being perfected in faith.
Some say that government itself, not God, gives us the rights we have. Others think that faith is mindless compliance to unknowable dictates. Our dignity in being created in the image and likeness of God is when we choose to participate in His goodness, truth, and beauty. No one can take away that dignity, but we can mar it by sin. Sinful freedom that does not choose goodness is actually license – this enslaves us. We are always tempted to seek selfishness or work for this-world ends. Faith, conversely, perfects our freedom, to act as sons and daughters of the Father.
Reflection by Fr. Pachomius Meade, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time