Once again, Jesus is exposing the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. He heals a man with dropsy on the Sabbath, right before their eyes, knowing they believe such an act violates the law of God. Then He challenges them with a simple question: Who among them would not violate the Sabbath to rescue their own child if that child had fallen into a cistern?
We see this pattern repeated throughout the Gospels, alongside Jesus’s command: “Stop judging, that you may not be judged.”
I suspect many of us recognize that the mentality Jesus confronts in the Pharisees is alive and well in parts of our Church today. If it looks like a duck and sounds like a duck, it must be a duck—and ducks cannot receive the Eucharist. Too often we do not take a moment to see whether it actually walks like a duck?
We have to remember, for intents and purposes, sin involves actions. Simply having a condition or inclination associated with a particular sin does not, in itself, constitute a sin.
Consider Sally Jo, who struggles with alcoholism. Willful drunkenness is mortally sinful, and deliberately choosing to become intoxicated can constitute mortal sin. But Sally Jo is in recovery. She still has the condition of alcoholism. She still identifies as an alcoholic. She may occasionally fall to the temptation to drink. When she does, she repents and received the Sacrament of Reconciliation. By the grace of God, she fights against the temptation to drink and works to avoid sin.
Should Sally Jo be denied the Eucharist simply because she has an inclination toward sinful behavior? Or can she receive the healing grace of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist because she strives to turn away from sin and is desires to live faithfully?
I think most of us would agree that Sally Jo should not be denied the Eucharist simply because she struggles with alcoholism.
This is where I believe the Church could benefit from speaking with greater clarity and precision about other areas of sin.
Consider Ben, who experiences gender dysphoria. He may look or sound a little different from what we expect, or something about his mannerisms may strike us as different. Should Ben receive the Eucharist?
Obviously we cannot determine his spiritual state simply by looking at him. If he is engaging in actions contrary to Church teaching, those actions must be evaluated in light of that teaching. Our role is not to make assumptions about his soul based on his appearance or circumstances.
Our role is to get to know Ben, to love him, to be the light of Christ to him, and to support him in his journey of faith. We should encourage him to make life affirming choices and help him avoid sin so that he can receive our Blessed Lord in the Eucharist worthily.
Let me preface my next point by saying that I am not a fan of Father James Martin. I often find his commentary confusing and, in general, not particularly helpful. At the same time, when hear of Father Martin controversy brewing, sometimes I’ll read what he actually said (as opposed to what someone on the Internet told me he said). I often find he raises a valid point or two.
I try to give Father James Martin the benefit of the doubt believing he—much as Pope Francis was—is ultimately trying to draw attention to the mentality of the Pharisees that can shape our attitudes toward the LGBTQ community.
First, let's establish the moral question. There are several issues we could discuss, but I am sure one of the first that comes to our mind is sexual activity outside of marriage. As you know, Catholic teaching is clear that sexual relations belong within a valid Sacramental marriage, no exceptions. This teaching applies to all of us, heterosexual and homosexual alike.
That being said, the distinction matters: Simply identifying as LGBTQ is not a sin. Meaning that experiencing same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria, in itself, does not constitute a sin. Actions must be evaluated on their own merits. Sexual activity outside a valid marriage is mortal a sin; in fact, a sin committed by heterosexual and homosexual people every day. That is an objective moral reality.
We have to stop judging members of the LGBTQ community based on the condition in which they live. We need to welcome them, get to know them, love them, and be the light of Christ to them.
We need to see them as we would see a child of God who has fallen into a cistern—not as someone to reject and condemn from a distance, but as someone in need of our compassion and help. Through us, God wants to bring healing, just as Jesus healed the man with dropsy.
That healing does not necessarily mean a person will no longer experience same-sex attraction, gender dysphoria, or identify as LGBTQ. It simply means that, like every one of us, that person can strive to live as a child of God, avoid sin, grow in holiness, carry their cross, and participate in the sacramental life of the Church. We are called, not to judge them, but to help them in that journey.
Through each of us, how great are the works of the Lord!
Thanks be to God!
Live Stream Recording
No comments:
Post a Comment