Meditation
Two Hundred Seventy Two
The
Third Week of May 2008
Results
of Disobedience
Begin
with prayer to the Holy Spirit
Readings: Romans 1:24-32
St. Paul
in these lasts nine verses writes about some
of the vices in relation to leading a life that worships the creature rather
than the creator. Some of these vices and areas of mans depravity are still
with us today. It appears that when man does not acknowledge the true God, his
loyalty and worship take on some idol of his own devising. Whatever this replacement god is,
meaning that
when man devises his own idols he will create ones that demand of him only
what he is already comfortable in giving and particularly geared to his
own desires. Once man begins to choose other gods the level of his depravity begins
to move in a downward pattern. Taking with it the quality of life that
God intended for them much like our first parents in the Garden. Mankind
has tried to hide from the true God only to serve many gods and many vices in
our constant rebellion against God.
The Apostle Paul seem to be sharing
with the Romans and all readers of this epistle
that as
man continues to deny the true God, there may be no limit to the levels of
depravity that he can reach, and increasing sinfulness leads to ever
increasing alienation from God. At some point in this downward
trend produces a hardened heart and scarred conscience to the point where they
no longer respond to God. We can never know when he could come
to that place where he is completely unwilling to yield to God, but we know there
is that possibility because Hell exists. But there appears to be a little bit
of Hell already here with us in the actions with which man chooses to
expresses his depravity. Today’s soap operas and tabloids read like
catalogues of the sinful lusts that Paul describes in verses 24 through 31.
In verse 27 Paul speaks about homosexuality it is understood to be unnatural and contrary to
God’s design for those of the same sex to share the kind of physical
intimacy that God has reserved for those of opposite sexes. Along with
this, Paul also writes that if such a pattern is continued, it indicates a base mind. The
Greek word for base (adikos) suggests a person who has fallen into a
mind according to the Greek word for base (adikos) is one that has fallen to
ungodliness, wickedness, and wrongful behavior. Referring to this pattern
of ungodly behavior, Paul states that the possibility of being filled with all
manner of wickedness once man finds himself in a pattern of resisting God.
It appears that our
society is progressively becoming more tolerant of the vices that
St.
Paul
describes in verses 24 through 31. It
is to the point where man
is encouraging them and forcing society to accept them as natural and
appropriate behavior. What Paul writes in the final verse of chapter
one could be a headline in any news venue today. "Though they know God's
decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them but
approve those who practice them." Look at what was written in the book of
Judges approximately 1100 years prior to Romans. "In those days there was
no king in
Israel
: every man did what was right in his own
eyes." (Judges
21:25
) In the process of writing from a
renewal perspective this writer feels the urgency of the times we are in and
to take heed regarding
St. Paul
’s admonition.
My challenge to the Oratorian and all
those who would read these meditations is taken from 2 Chronicles 7:14,
"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and
seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven,
and will forgive their sin and heal their land." This week let us
pray for renewal within our parishes, homes, and for the Catholic Church.
Quotation
for Meditation
For all Christians in the Western
capitalist nations the need for reform of personal life is imperative. To
ignore this call is dangerous and might leave one at the end of life to face a
charge of negligence and omission before the Lord Himself. This negligence
might lead to inestimable spiritual damage and immense suffering for the
generation that is being born right now. The frightening fact that large
numbers of young people find the Church irrelevant and totally unchallenging
suggest that the last chance of reform in the Church rather than reform of the
Church is passing before our eyes.
-- Father
Benedict J. Groeschel, The Reform of Renewal, Ignatius Press, San
Francisco, pgs. 189-190.
Quiet
Time and Then Discussion
Questions
for Meditation
1. When man does not acknowledge the
one true God what can occur?
2. What
is becoming more prevalent in
today's society?
3.
Why is the need for personal reform imperative?
Prayer