Thought of the week

High light
(1) Can U do what ever U want? Is it freedom?
(2)Though Ur independent with other,can U live alone? Do U need a society to live? Are U interdependet?
(3)Why certain countries drive motor car in left side, while others right side?. Why cannot they all agree to one side?. Is it easy to manufacture & use the vehicles?
(4)Why can't we have religious and Government laws same? Will it not be easy to live?
(5)Law enforcement for Government there is police & judiciary. Why can't we have religious police for spiritual law enforcement?. Is It possible?
(6) Religions & Governments both support to enjoy Ur life peacefully, why can't we combine these 2 together?
(7)Why Jesus says"give back to Caeser what belong to Caeser & to God, what belongs to God? Why God wants to differentiate these 2?
Pl listen for 10 mins:

http://www.sinhalagospel.lk/sundayreadingAudio/29SunOrdseasonfreecath22-10-17.html



Reflection for 22th october 2017, celebrating 29th Sunday of ordinary season,of cycle 1. Today church invite us to analyze the difference between church and Gvernments(2) what is your freedom(3) how we short circuit internal freedom to external freedom when church or clergy rule the country?(4) why church took 1870 years to undertand this?


To day we are invited to understand the difference between politics to religion!

'no servant can serve 2 masters, either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise other' (luke16:13).

Let us first Analyse difference between Religious law and Government law

Always freedom is subject to law. Since Freedom is WHAT YOU OUGHT TO DO not what you want to do.
Human freedom can be distinctly separate into three parts.
External Freedom, internal freedom and personal freedom.
External freedom is governed by Government laws. There, another human with,evidence, will try to judge you, whether you have gone against the rule. This system is not ideal, as human is prune for many errors!.
Even if you make a mistake(illegal act), similar to sin in a religion, you are innocent, so long you are been proved as guilty.

Internal freedom: is your religious laws. 10 commandments for christians is the basic law and avoiding 7 vices. God has given you freedom subject to these laws. Even if you think to break these laws is called Sin.
You and only God knows, whether you have committed a sin. In this case, understanding the law, clearly help us to have a dialogue with God. No third party involves to find whether you are wrong or correct. This is the real application of finding where you have gone wrong and with dialoge to God, you can correct it.

Your personal freedom, lies between these two: internal to external.

Your external freedom is earth bound (going with gravitation),as how to live in harmony on earth or in a given country with regard to Money,power and earthly desires. Always the systems introduced are error prune.
Your internal freedom is Spiritual bound, going against gravitation, where you have a dialogue direct with God and is ideal analysis.

Combination of external freedom to internal freedom, lead to short circuit, your internal freedom, where your ability to judge by yourself, whether you go against to your law, you allow another human to decide!.In this case you tend to forget, the actual implementation of religious law. IN OTHER WORDS YOU TRY TO COMBINE EARTH BOUND WITH SPIRITUAL BOUND WHICH IS OF TWO OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS:

Today's reading:
Prophet Isaiah(45:1.4-6) says" I have taken cyrus by his right hand to sub due nations before him"
Paul says to Thiolonians.(1 Th 1:1-5) "we contantly remember your faith, your love and your hope"

MT(22:15-21) saYs" Give back to casear what belongs to caear, and to God what belongs to God".

The relationship between faith and public life is perplexing. In some societies even today,there is virtually no difference between the two. In other more secular societies, any expression of religious conviction is unacceptable in public. It is true of course that there is an appropriate distinction and even separation to be made, as indeed Jesus had made today in the Gospel. But on at least in 2 issues, there is bound to be some cross over Religious faith informs our values and in society today policies and laws must be grounded, not in a particular faith certainly, but in values never the less.


 Examples from the catholic church
Thomas Becket at the age of 37,became the most powerful figure in UK.In1161 he became the Archbishop of Canterbury, nominated by his friend king Henry II . But friction started between king and the church. In 29/12/ 1170, king's nights killed Thomas. In short period he was raised to alters.

In the recent past, St John paul II, took stern action, against priests who were involved in politics & holding office in the Governments:ex Jesuit father Earnesto Cardenal/1983.


 Difference between external Freedom and internal Freedom: treatment for breaking the law!
Making laws from one country to another country is different!. For example in US, you drive your vehicle on the right hand of the road while in UK,it is opposite!.purpose of making  Laws of a given country, is to allow it's citizens to live in harmony.( It depends upon climate,culture etc). But the religious laws (Ex 10 commandments in Christianity) is independent to such conditions. It has to be universally implemented without any ambiguity. Catholic means Universal(in latin). That is why, you have no reference to food in 10 commandments!.

 What is the present church view on Governments
Pope francis in His "Joy of the gospel" 3rd encyclic written 24/11/2013, chapter 240 and 241 "requote"
240: It is the responsibility of state to safeguard and promote the common good of society. Based on the principles of subsidiaries and solidarity, and fully committed to political dialogue and consensus building. It plays a fundamental role, one which cannot be delegated, in working for the integral development of all. This role,at present, calls for profound social humility.
241: In her dialogue with state and society, the church does not have solutions for every particular issue. Together with the various sectors of society,she supports those programmed which best respond to the dignity of each person and the common good. In doing this, She propose in a clear way the fundamental values of human life and convictions which can then find expression in political activity.


 Difference of Vatican city with a earthly Government?

But how about Vatican?

This city state is 108.5 acre tract of land(compared to 485 acre of Monaco or 843 acres of New york central park!),plus other churces & buildings outside it's walls!. Their currency is Euro & they mint their own coins & stamps. It has it's own news paper,postal system,radio & television stations & rail road.Although there is no vatican army,the swiss guards were protecting pope since 1506. It has it's own flag & national anthem & issues it's own passports & citizenships. It has the oldest diplomatic corps in the world,with embassies more than 180!. Pope has to manage the universal church along with Vatican City!

Vatican city there are no instruments to control power, such as Police,Army,Navy, it has no Judiciary system etc. This catholic headquarters is a good heavenly example of how to lead catholics spiritually!

 Baltimore decisions:
It appears church played vital role in the activities of the governments until 1884, where all bishop agreed at Baltimore, that church should not involve in politics. This clearly shows clergy to refrain from political activities. This does not refrain catholics to do politics!. The catholic politicians should clearly know the difference of religion to politics, and try to make government laws, which has to be error less!.


Conclusions:

Today's  message clearly remind us that God,the beginning and end of all things,can be known with certainty from created reality by the light of human reason(cf Rom 1:20); but teaches that it is through His revelation that those religious truths which are by their nature accessible to human reason can be known by all men with ease, with solid certitude and with no trace of error, even in this present state of the human race.

Until 1884, Baltimore, the church might have sailed with certain errors by combining religion and politics. Good example is when emperor maximinan II, tried to have ecclesiastical celibacy abolished during pope pius IV in 1557.

This kind of actions might have cause for the separation of our other religious denominations!. Though the wrong actions has been properly addressed in a reasonable time by the church, the reconciliation process of unity appears still slow. Nevertheless, we should not forget, the strong process with respect to implementation of Jesus message, that catholic church has followed up to now. Specially to provide rulings to upheld social values(ex abortion, euthanasia, marriages etc). Similarly the study of Role of Holy Mary is appreciable. Today church is equipped to safeguard all Catholics, in advising on various trivial issues that stemmed from modern scientific developments!


Finally,  WHAT WE OUGHT TO DO not what we want to do,hence is always subjected to Law.External freedom is governed by Government Laws,for ex:another human will evaluate evidence to judge whether U hv gone against law.Until judge prove Ur guilty,Ur innocent.Internal freedom is how U follow10 comms(+avoid 7vices).ONLY God&U know sin committed.Though dialoge with God,U can correct Urself(no other will judge whether ur guilty&U,urself judge& correct it-CONFESSION).Personal freedom lies between these two:external freedom is earth bound& is based on how U live in harmony on earth wrt money,power&desires. Internal freedom is spiritual bound& is based on direct dialogue with God. Combining external &internal may demote Ur ability to find Ur own fault by Urself(hiding)&pretend to show ur innocence.ie U TRY TO COMBINE EARTH BOUND WITH SPIRITUAL BOUND WHICH IS OF 2OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS

Thank you!

GBU

For more pl visit:
http://weeklycatholicreflection.blogspot.com Or
http://www.sundayreading.net/
Or
http://holymaryreflection.blogspot.com