“Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?” Luke 14:6
I’ve heard it from teens and even adults many times: “Why does the Church have so many rules?!” Thou shalt not do this, thou shalt not do that either. Kneel here, stand there. To those on the outside, sometimes it can feel like we are all about rules and procedures. And for those of us on the inside – let’s be honest – it is very easy for us to judge when someone is not following the rules. She doesn’t do this or that devotion, or he doesn’t live that teaching out in his life. How easy it is to silently judge others like the Pharisees in today’s Gospel, but such actions are not of God.
We believe that the Spirit is at work in the Church, and the Church’s beliefs, canon laws, and moral certitudes exist because of that same Spirit. We believe God has guided the Church to this point in history and has provided for us guidelines to help us live our faith – and we should try to live by them! But Jesus reminds us in today’s Gospel not to miss the forest for the trees. We should never get so bogged down by the rules that we forget to live with joy, love, and mercy. Otherwise, our faith becomes all about the rules and less about Christ, and our witness to Christ in the world is diminished.
Do I need to be reminded of the basic rules for living our Catholic faith, or do I need to remember the spirit of God’s law and show more mercy and compassion in order to be less focused on the rules?
Jesus, grant me the grace to be less scrupulous and more loving.
Today's Reflection is by:
Mike Buckler
Did you know...
A youth minister for 15 years, Mike enjoys a good cup of coffee, playing soccer with his kids, and always has three of four books "in progress." He serves in the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry and loves seeing God transform the lives of young people.
