Baptism of the Lord - Homily 3

Homily 3 - 2011

For over forty years the Church has observed New Year’s Day as the World Day of Peace – not really an enlightened choice of days for us in the Southern hemisphere when most people are trying to make the most of the holidays and the warm weather.  Each year the Popes have published statements on particular issues relevant to the broad question of peace in the world.

This year, Pope Benedict wrote on “Religious Freedom – the Path to Peace”.  Towards the end of it, there is a brief paragraph on the question of moral truth in politics and diplomacy.  With Wikileaks in the news, his comments have struck a sensitive spot – particularly his call that nations act responsibly on the basis of the real facts.  He also mentioned the importance of being alert to and countering, as far as possible, the ever-present tendency in our modern world to supplant truth and human dignity, under the pretext of peace, development and human rights.  He also urged nations to be committed to base positive law on principles of the natural law.

A current topical issue here in Australia is that of Gay Marriages.  The Federal Government has asked parliamentarians to canvass the opinion of their electorate during this holiday break as to whether committed relationships between people of the same sex may come under the general banner of marriage.  It would be a good idea for you to make contact with our local member and to tell him what you think – as citizen and as Catholic.  As I see it, there are three issues that would be worth discussing with him.

The first is what you think personally about committed relationships of people of the same sex.  The Church has made its position clear.  But party machines also know that what the Church teaches and what individual Catholics believe, particularly on moral matters, are not always the same.  Let the local member know what you think.

A second issue is whether the issue is simply one of individuals’ rights, or whether society as a whole is involved.  If people are not obviously hurting anyone, should they be free to do what they want? Or could it be that the issue is more than simply individual rights.  Could it be that society as a whole is involved? Would calling such relationships marriage affect other people? Would it undermine the relationships of people presently married or have a negative effect on future ones? Does the issue also involve the common good? Let the member know your thoughts on that matter, too.

The third issue is the question of legislation, and the relationship between morality and law.  Whatever about how people behave, is the issue sufficiently important to warrant either legally extending the definition of marriage or maintaining the status quo – which some feel to be hurtfully discriminating? Such matters perhaps are ones of discernment, and therefore of conscience – and that calls for reflection and prayer.  Fill your local member in on where you stand on this question, too.

As disciples of Jesus, we face the imperative always to spread the Kingdom.  A question that constantly troubles me is: Do we do that best by attraction, and conversion or by imposition or by legislation? Depending on the situation, both approaches may call for courage .. and both could be compromise: in matters of the Kingdom of God, as St Thomas å Beckett declared in T.S. Eliot’s play, “Murder in the Cathedral” …the ultimate treason is to do the right thing for the wrong reason.In Thomas’s case, his decision led to his martyrdom.