Truth is a straight path which leads us towards God. So often we turn inwardly upon ourself thus closing ourself off from the mercy and forgiveness of God the Father. We thus no longer look out upon this straight path, but closed ourself off from the truth in which it present to our life. Our Psalm petitions that we may be kept: "blameless and innocent of serious sin." Through the action of sin we become closed in upon ourself and thus fail to give service to God and our neighbor.
We cannot allow ourself to lead others into scandal because through scandal we lead others away from the ability to faithfully live out the commandments. The Catechism of the Catholic Church even instructs us that laws and social structures are able to give rise to scandal. We as people of faith must always stand against anything that stands in the way of being able to serve the "common good." The "common good" is a universal truth that must always be upheld because at its core it respects the human person who was created in the image and likeness of God the Father.
If we paid attention to Pope Francis' address of Congress we would of time and time again heard him refer to the "common good" and thus how it must always be protected. Religion simply does not serve a political party and its political agenda. The pope is neither Democrat nor Republican, but instead is the loving Shepherd of the Universal Church. Therefore he spoke concerning many issues which must always be of concern to us because they are not political issues, but instead serve the common good. Therefore we must be concerned with the sanctity of human life from conception to a natural death, the need to protect the environment, the need to defend the family from harm, and thus the need to defend anything that respects the human person who was created in the image and the likeness of God the Father.
Our second reading from Saint James speaks concerning the rich and how they have grown complacent as they no longer see the needs of those who they are to serve. "The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts." I hope that our pope's visit to our nation will impact our life and thus that we will not simply remain complacent in our practice of faith, but instead may be sent forth from here to do whatever is necessary for us to serve the "common good." The "common good" which respects the pursuit of God and thus the flourishing of the human person as one who was created in the image and the likeness of God.
May we be sent forth from this place as true disciples who have been sent out into the Harvest of the Lord not to pursue one's own pursuit of worldliness. Instead may we be sent forth from here with the Christian desire to share our faith with all those whom we encounter and thus do all things for the greater glory of God.
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