3rd Sunday of Lent 4.3.18 Purity
Do not even mention such things as fornication and all uncleanness, says St Paul in today’s epistle
(Ep 5, 1-9). However, these things are ‘mentioned’ a great deal in our current
society.
The world is swimming in impurity, with indecency of every
sort on the increase – such as internet pornography, and generally outrageous,
defiant behaviour such as in the Mardi Gras procession (Sydney), or blasphemous
festivals such as we have here (Adelaide).
Many Catholics, influenced by this public acceptance of
indecency, think that the goalposts have been moved; that somehow, what used to
be condemned is now alright with God. Who is going to tell God that His
commandments have changed?!
No, if it was a sin back then it still is. Whether it is
2018 or 1918, some things are wrong in themselves, and just looking at the
calendar cannot suddenly make them right.
Nor can any amount of public opinion change fundamental
moral values. Even if a majority of people approve something (such as
homosexual ‘marriage’) it cannot suddenly become alright.
What has changed is that it is now a lot easier to commit
the same old sins because public acceptance has never been higher.
So things which would have been ‘shameful’ once are now
taken for granted (such as ‘living together’). This does not, however, make it
any less sinful.
Fortunately, it can all still be forgiven, if only people
will recognize the sin and ask for God’s mercy.
Someone will say: Catholics must live in the real world, and
cannot live in a ghetto; cannot be cut off from the surrounding culture.
No, but Our Lord did say, that if your hand should cause you
to sin, cut it off (Mt 5,30)! This means that we must take whatever steps to
ensure that we do not sin.
If we live in a culture which is immersed in impurity, then
fairly strong measures are required from us to stay faithful to Christ.
In everyday life, we exercise care if there is a danger
around. If we were walking along a rough uneven path we walk slower. Just so,
with the moral life – we are careful where we look, where we go, whom we mix
with.
We just have to find our way and hold firm. Many are losing
their way, even people whom we would have expected to be stronger.
How are we going to hold firm? By observing the disciplines
of our faith – prayer, fasting, self-denial, good works. Just the basics over
and over. It is the only way to stay sane.
We reaffirm the truths we hold, and we constantly reset our
behaviour to make sure it matches those beliefs.
It was not meant to go the way it has. The Church was
supposed to take over the surrounding society, not give in to it. There would
be no ghetto, because the whole town would be Catholic. That is still the plan,
whether or not we can manage it.
In such a world there is no room for sin. It is this kind of
world envisaged by St Paul, and in today’s Gospel, where the demons are kept at
bay.
Purity is not just avoiding bad things. It enables us to appreciate
the spiritual nature of each person. We are not just bodies but souls, each person
having a unique identity and infinite value.
New ways, old values. Keep the technology, but use it for
good.
People look for antiques, yearning for things that remind
them of the past. Well, let’s go back to when sin was sin, and people still
called it that.
And God, ever ancient and new, will deliver us from all that
would harm us.
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