Gospel: John 16: 12-15
The law of stone tablets and written decrees were replaced with the law of love written on the hearts of every human being. It is therefore fitting that we are led to truth not by books, manuals, and institutions but rather by the Spirit of God dwelling within our hearts, leading us to the truth of love. In love the Spirit was given to lead all people to the way of love, for God is love and the sole commandment of Jesus is to love.
We have been provided an image of the Church as some repository of all truth, an industrial factory that manufactures truth that should be heeded in all things. We have come to see this image as misguided, but we have replaced it with an equally erroneous and more dangerous substitute in political ideology that has become the source of all truth for so many people. When both religion and the political are simultaneously given this mantle, destruction is sure to result.
The role of the Church and religion is like that of the prophet Eli: to help others hear the Spirit of God in their lives, to discern the path of love for them in their lives, to encourage others on the path of love and mercy. It is the task of the faith community to help others cultivate a relationship with God that is their own, that animates and nourishes the inner life of every human being.
No comments:
Post a Comment