This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.
How we pine for a truly Christian society, one where by and large, the powers that be favor the Christian life. So much so, that sometimes we can lose our peace when, fully or partially, we find that they do not.
It is interesting to observe the political and cultural context of today’s first reading and gospel, indeed, the overall context in which Jesus lived and died, and in which the first Christians fulfilled their vocations.
The first reading tells us, “God will judge the immoral and adulterers.” Bear in mind, the culture of the world within which this was written hardly favored this teaching. The marriage bed was not held sacred, and adultery was rampant. The Hebrews to whom the letter is addressed, in fact, had long been entirely exceptional within the surrounding world, in their striving to follow the Ten Commandments.
Nor, as we see in today’s gospel, were world powers particularly favorable to the mission of John the Baptist who, as it happens, was decrying their ongoing commission of the very same sin mentioned in the first reading: adultery. He wound up losing his head for it.
But since then, we have had a taste of a Christian society. Jesus Christ Himself, without intermediaries, converted Constantine in the fourth century. He Himself thus set in place the development of Christendom, that is, an entire European empire that espoused and favored Christian principles–even though its leaders many times strayed gravely from those principles.
Vestiges of Christendom persist until our day. But as the world around us becomes more and more secular, it recognizes those cultural pillars for what they are: They are structures based on Christian principles and philosophy. Even though ultimately they are discoverable through the natural law written on every heart, their value is difficult to discern, except with the help of Christian revelation. Thus, the secular mind feels free to dispense with them–even though they were held non-negotiable as recently as a generation ago.
It is good, even important, to work for a society that favors Christian principles, because indeed in doing so, one is working for the common good. But when their deterioration threatens our peace, we must hearken back to the cultural context of Scripture–and realize that the world at large need not favor Him, for Christ to work in it with His grace.
Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Ask Jesus how He managed to work good in the world in the midst of a society of evil. Ask Him what His plan is for grace to prevail in the hearts of people, even in the midst of evil realities in our society. Pledge to Him once again your trust in His sovereign power and loving will toward us, and offer your life to Him to help Him realize His plan of good.
Follow the Author on Twitter:Follow @mvhaywilliams