Pharisees and publicans

Discussing next Sunday's gospel with Sr. Marilyn at St. Joe, we looked at the Pharisee's bragging way of prayer, "O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity..." Sister Marilyn reflected that people today are not so likely to have that fault, being more likely to downplay their talents and needing to be encouraged to share their gifts in ministry.

That got us thinking.

I share that perception, but a light-bulb went off in reference to this huge demand for a Marriage Amendment (marriage=one man + one woman) -- which makes no sense to me, as it doesn't protect MY marriage, nor can I see that it protects marriage in any way for my children who are all of that age, nor can I see that it offers higher-quality lifestyle for the children of any marriage, which is one of the supposed reasons for supporting it.

No. But now I see what the Marraige Amendment does. It lets people (as a group, not individually) act as the Pharisee in Luke's gospel. After all, the Pharisees were basically good people, very serious about maintaining their relationship with God. The Pharisee was stating how he followed the rules, therefore justifying his relationship with God. The Marraige Amendment allows people to justify their goodness in terms of following a set of rules. What's more, they can define clearly those people who don't follow those rules as "other." This is simple. It is clear. And it is such a relief to be clear about things in this complicated world.

A legislation such as the Marriage Amendment clearly defines Evil in terms of biology, which is settled once and for all at birth, not in choices or decisions. It lets the majority point to a minority of others as the source of Evil. And it certainly avoids any need to look for Evil in one's own actions, lifestyle, or the unintended results of those actions and lifestyles. This seems to me to be a very Old-Testament way of looking at things.

I would hope that followers of the Way of Christ can take the more fruitful road offered by compassion. Can't we be inspired to recognise the goodness in stable, loving relationships? Can't we support caring people in their life-choices? Can't we see the fairness and richness this adds to our society? This is the direction toward which our governments and civil entities have been evolving. To me, it looks like the Christian choice as well.