Last week, I wrote about the “precepts of the Church.” They are a list of five things that all Catholics are to do to remain in communion (in good standing) with the Church. Even as I type these words, I get a cringing feeling. Did you notice that I didn’t say “mandate” or “have to do?” It isn’t that the precepts aren’t mandates. They are. It is that my many years of ministry have taught me that “mandates” just don’t “sell well” in today’s society. Most often, we are a culture of people who think our adulthood means that we are free to do as we please, and that whether it is the Church, or anyone else, doing the talking, we are entirely free to choose to comply, or not, with no negative repercussions, as long as we aren’t breaking the law. (I believe that I have written about free will and moral decision making before. Contact me if you want to hear more.) Today, I just wanted to take a moment to say that these precepts are rooted in what the Church, and most of us, consider to be “universal truths” or “natural law.” Getting past the cringe, and recognizing that there are things that we can say that apply to all of us, because of who we are as humans, is our first step. For example, whether church goers, or not, it is fairly safe to say that most of us would agree that life and living things are foundationally good; that humans are built with a desire to be loved; and that there is a higher power that somehow provides a world where there is structure, organization, and support for life. If we can accept those principles, we can connect the dots between them and the, aforementioned, precepts.
For example, the first precept that requires Mass attendance on Sundays and Holy Days can be seen as beneficial to us as humans because fulfilling this precept allows us to step aside from our usual grind to take time to exhibit gratitude to our Higher Power. So much has been written about the benefits of a grateful heart, but recognizing the enormity of our blessing allows us to grow in our awareness that our world and our life are not accidents, and gratitude can and should be directed to their Creator.
The requirement to confess serious sin at least once per year, is rooted in the fact that we are sensory creatures. We can have knowledge that God forgives sin, but the actual experience of voicing the words, having a prayer of absolution prayed over us, praying a prayer of sorrow ourselves, and completing an act of penance allows us the opportunity to feel that forgiveness in a deeper way. The Church, in her wisdom, wants us to experience that forgiveness, most especially, so we can grow and learn from it in order to avoid it in the future. That desire is FOR US, not for the fulfillment of an arbitrary rule! This experience allows us to live our best life, freeing the burden of guilt that is often part of the human condition.
Reception of the Eucharist and providing for the needs of the Church can be grouped under the understanding that we are social creatures, and that Jesus saw value in the preservation and growth of the community that he founded—the Church. This community, with its message of Divine Mercy, love for each other, and communal support for one another is Jesus’ gift to us. Doing what we can to maintain that gift, and share it with others is life giving for all involved. In a way, the observation of days of fasting and abstinence are connected as well. While they may feel dissimilar, these practices allow us to learn self-control and provide recognition and solidarity with those who suffer unfulfilled needs. (Good for those living in any society).
So much more can be said, but I’ve already run long! Suffice it to say, when the Church has a “rule,” it isn’t there just so some curmudgeon-like bishops can be mean. These “rules,” ultimately, allow all in our community to recognize our place and role in this world, in solidarity with our neighbor. They are in place because they allow us to flourish in this life, and in the next! All are rooted in love: God’s love for us, and our love for each other, which is Jesus’ ultimate message.