
Yesterday there was a story about abortion on NPR and it is
quite newsworthy alone to note that they actually used the “A” word. The piece covered whether a new law in Texas
was too burdensome on women seeking an abortion. The new law would close a number of abortion
centers because they did not meet the standard of an entity that medically
treats people. The burdensome aspects
that were pointed out in the segment were three:
ü
Some women would have to drive further within
the state.
ü
Those women would have to take more time off
from work.
ü
They would also have to find childcare for the
children they decided to keep.
The legal question asks is this law such a heavy burden that
this new law must be thrown out.

So why does societies laws seem so pastoral and Christ’s
seem so burdensome? Because Christ is
concerned about tomorrow and society is worried about today. Society wants to solve your problem or need
right now. Christ wants you to
experience freedom and joy in the long run.
Here is a silly yet pertinent example: The last piece of pizza!

Now, you certainly have the right and license to take that
last piece. You have the desire. You have the support of the gathering. So you go ahead and eat it and it is every
bit as wonderful as you hoped. But
within minutes you ask yourself, “Why didn’t I stop? Now I am stuffed to the gills. I feel terrible.” You go to bed on an overly full stomach and
the next morning it is still sitting there and the thought pops into your head,
“I’m going to have to work that off today.”
OR
Let’s say you take your faith seriously which means watching
out for yourself mentally, spiritually, and physically. You exercise your freedom from having to eat
that last piece and put it in the refrigerator.
In an hour you will not be thinking, “Darn! I wish I had eaten that last slice of pizza.” In fact, you feel comfortably full. You wake up the next morning appropriately
hungry for breakfast AND there is a slice of pizza in the refrigerator for
lunch.
That is the freedom and joy God wants for you. That is why His ways are not burdensome even
when they seem that they are.
3 comments:
That is the most wonderful analogy ever!
Father Valencheck wants to change the Ten Commandments. . . . Forget the "don'ts" . . . do the do's
Simple, thus effective, analogy! I so appreciate your consistent endeavor to present the truths of our Faith as good and beautiful.
(I beg to differ with your use of the word "pastoral" describing society's laws as if "pastoral" meant "easy", "lax", "nice", "gentle" It frustrates me when the upholding the moral teachings of the Church is seen to be at odds with a watered-down understanding of what it means to be "pastoral". A shepherd worthy of his wages is not going to let his sheep walk into grave danger, and he will be firm with them, as needed, in order to keep them safe. )
Post a Comment