Challenged-Corrected-Cleansed

5/9/2020

If we think of our childhood prohibitions that we deliberately violated we will find, “Don’t tell me what to do!”

I remember one incident when I was six-years-old when my father was at work. My mother had an appointment in the afternoon, and she specifically told me to stay home. As soon as she left, I went to see a friend of mine so we could go fishing; neither my mother nor my father would know. Well, as I watched him cast his net into the water, I made the mistake of standing a few meters behind him: the fishing hook landed in my arm where it got stuck. I was brought to emergency to remove the hook; what was supposed to be an “unknown” fishing trip my parents found out about. I still remember the event as a punishment from God for disobedience. It was so very clear. Disobey, and you will be punished.

I mention childhood disobedience because deviant behaviour is not only learned. It’s already a capacity within us. We are morally formed by six-years old, to say, “Yes, I will.” Or, “No, I no I won’t.” This is why a child at six-years-old is prepared for the Sacrament of Confession. So, why does a child or adult disobey? From childhood we make choices based on what we think is best. Underlying, of course, “You don’t need to tell me,” and “I know what is best,” there is pride. We can see this pride already present in the child whose first word of negation “No!” -- to refuse to listen. The first man and woman refused to listen to God, their loving Creator (Genesis 3:1-6). We are born with original sin, cleansed of original sin at baptism, but the affects of original sin remain throughout our life.

Ezekiel 33 teaches about the responsibility of “correction.” Something we find difficult today knowing the reaction we can expect: “Don’t tell me what to do…” We find two common social reasons for not correcting others: 1. Who am I to tell someone else what is right and wrong (implying what to do)? 2. It’s really none of my business (meaning I shouldn’t get involved); and two psychological reasons: 1. we want to be affirming and supportive; 2. we want to create positive thinking. The psychological motives stem from the “I’m OK, you’re OK” psychology of the 1970s that has been a moral disaster: everything is OK. We are reaping the errors today of this moral relativism. But Ezekiel makes it clear: we have a responsibility to correct others, “…if you warn the wicked person to turn from their ways.” Yes, Ezekiel is a prophet and at baptism we are also baptised into the prophetic ministry of Christ. Correct actions presuppose someone teaches what is right and wrong which is the role of parents, and the Church community. Teaching/instilling values has also been traditionally the role of Catholic schools and educators. But today with social pressure and government ideologies Catholic valuesare being increasingly challenged.

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