My dear parishioners,
Peace! In other bulletins (4 December, 2016-11 June, 2017) we have considered the teaching of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on “conscience.” We then turned to Saint John Paul II’s encyclical letter Veritatis splendor (6 August, 1993) which addresses fundamental moral issues, including “conscience” more than one hundred times. These reflections were begun earlier (6 April, 2018-30 May, 2018). Here we now consider a passage from Veritatis splendor, 56.
Saint John Paul II (+2005) when warning against any “double status of moral truth” highlights the “separation, or even an opposition” which is “established in some cases between the teaching of the precept, which is valid in general, and the norm of the individual conscience.” The result being foreshadowed in Genesis 3:5 as the Serpent tricked Eve. We can know what is good and evil, right and wrong. If the precepts of God, His Commandments, the Natural Law are “valid in general” (and they are), then their consequences should follow. Surely none of us would be happy on our better days to follow the lead of the serpent deciding what is good and what is evil on our own, apart from God. It is one thing to be deceived by the Devil, it is another thing to deceive ourselves. 1 John 1:18 reminds us of this important truth: “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.” For the truth to be absent is to be apart from Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life (cf. John 14:6).
Earlier a list of various sins was presented as examples of precepts valid in general, based on Sacred Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Here, we can examine a few different aspects of the 7thand 10th Commandments, (“You shall not steal; You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods” cf. Deuteronomy 5:19, 21; Exodus 20:15, 17). To steal and to covet are consequences of greed more often than not. Greed and covetousness are forms of idolatry (cf. Colossians 3:5; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Chad Hovind in his book Godonomics(Multinomah 2013) identifies four subspecies of greed: hoarding; overspending; comparison; and entitlement. While proper prior planning can prevent pitifully poor performance, we are to rely on the providence of God. While it may be prudent to keep supplies on hand (toilet paper during Covid?/!) we are reminded of God’s providence in Sacred Scripture (cf. Matthew 6:28). The Lord warns against overspending in Luke 14:28 when considering the cost of building a tower and whether or not there was enough to finish. Envy (which is also a vice like greed) is often a consequence of comparisons. Are we “keeping up with the Jones?” As for entitlement, Luke 17:10 helps to give us some perspective “When you have done everything you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless servants.’” These are all valid precepts which have also have consequences.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr