Dear Parishioners:
The other day at lunch we were discussing some rather strange combinations of words we often use in the English language. These words, while common, don't really make sense. Such expressions as, free rent - rent is never free, it always costs; negative impact - an impact is always positive, although it can have side effects that are negative; downward growth - it's impossible.
I realize that these expressions are understood, but on their face they are words that never should go together. Another expressions that is often used, but should never go together is, cafeteria Catholic.
We do not, as Catholics, have the right to choose what we will believe or not believe. We absolutely do have a right to question, argue, disagree about many things in the Church. Church disciplines and procedures are the matter of great debate. We must draw the line, however, at those matters on which our faith is based. Some of these matters include, our Church's teachings on racism, bigotry, artificial contraception, sex outside of marriage, homosexual behavior, biblical interpretation, divinity of Jesus, His conception, birth, death and Resurrection. These and other such are matters of faith.
We are not free to pick and choose those which we will support and those we will ignore. But some might say that we do have free will and freedom of conscience, and freedom of choice. Yes and no!
First of all, in the realm of truth, there is no freedom of thought. If something is true, it is true. This has nothing to do with one's holiness or personal sanctity. Saying, "Well, it's truth for them," is meaningless. After all, human beings used to say the world was flat. They were absolutely wrong, good people, but dead wrong.
We do have free will, but that does not equate to free choice. In fact, as St. Paul writes, Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal 5:19-21). If we make the wrong choice, we will suffer the consequences.
Freedom is the power to do good. In this definition we are always free. No one can ever take away our power to do what is right. They can make it very difficult, but we are always able to do God's will. Our true freedom is to develop a correct conscience.
We have the Catechism, our Catholic education, our homilies, Catholic reading, etc. to help guide us in the ways of faith. God will judge you and me according to our talents and background. To us who have been given much, much will be expected. When we have known better and followed advice which we knew was questionable, He will have an especially harsh judgment.
There are many words which do not go together, pick and choose, Catholicism, rank right at the top of the list.
Fr. Bill
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