Naming great evil

It is a sad reality that we humans much prefer to turn a blind eye to what we cannot change.  Sometimes that is because facing reality touches too closely on our own woundedness.  Sometimes it is because we feel powerless in the face of the threat our exposure will bring upon us and our loved ones.  Sometimes it is because we can’t see how we can make a difference to a problem so vast.  There are undoubtedly other reasons, but these strike me as the most common.

Added to that is the fact that humans are mimetic creatures, we do, say and think what we see those around us doing, saying and thinking.  This is a necessary thing if we are to live in harmonious communities.  It is this conventional wisdom that forms the bedrock of practical culture.  By itself this would be a great thing were it not for the fact of sin and evil.

Sin basically means two things, disobedience to the the rules by which men can best govern themselves and their communities and it means missing the mark, a failure to achieve that standard.  In like manner sin has two common but contradictory characteristics, seeks to validate itself by drawing others to participate in it and at the same time to hide itself from those who would denounce it.

Sin becomes embedded into conventional wisdom by a process described by Archbishop Chaput: “When it is weak evil pleads for tolerance, once it gains the upper hand its arrogance demands that it destroy the good that stand in witness against it.”  In my view this process has advanced greatly over the last sixty years in what was formerly Christendom, that is, Western Civilization.

Sin and evil have been with humanity since we were ejected from the garden, and will be with us until the end of the ages.  Ultimately there is no way to extirpate evil from our own hearts, let alone from the hearts – and societies – of our fellow man.  This is no grounds for complacency.  The rise of evil always and everywhere has provoked misery, horror and death.

So what is to be done?

It is an axiom of life that responsibility is with the one who sees.  That is, the who sees the problem is responsible for creating a solution.  This is not to say the the one who sees must solve the problem himself, but that he is responsible to bringing the problem to the attention of others who can, together with him, face and overcome the problem.

Some reasons for inaction were listed at the opening of this essay.  It must be remembered, however, that the Word of Truth is stronger than lies cloaked in silence or in sham virtue.  The Word of Truth creates everything, penetrates everything, reveals everything and will set everything to right.

Pentecost is coming up on June 8th this year.  It seems to me fitting to pray the Holy Spirit to stir us up with holy courage to address the evils of our day with wisdom and valor.  I mean each of us individually, dear reader, yes this means you.

“Come Holy Spirit, enkindle in me the fire of Thy love, I offer myself as vessel for Thy counsel and strength for the benefit of all those to whom You direct me, In Jesus’ name.”

Do I hear an Amen?