Tuesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
There is a subtle but insidious temptation (particularly in the context of popular secular culture) to dismiss the reality of good and evil as an outdated idea that is no longer relevant in the modern age. The past few popes have consistently and emphatically cautioned against the dangers of moral relativism, which reduces the concept of good and evil to mere subjective personal preference.
The Gospel today reminds us of the reality of our human existence: we were made by God to enjoy his friendship and infinite love forever. That is the ultimate created purpose of the human person. But in order to truly love, one needs free will. Love that is not given freely is not love. While God loves each and every one of us with an indescribably passionate love and desires our highest possible good, He will not coerce us. He will not violate our free will. He allows us to choose whether to love Him or not.
So while today’s passage might seem challenging, it provides a critical reality check. We are heavenly citizens making an earthly pilgrimage. Our true home is in Heaven with God. And we need to remain vigilant and alert because evil is real. The devil and his minions exist and are tireless in their efforts to lure us away from God in order to destroy us. The good news, however, is that the Lord is always faithful to his promises. If we remain close to Him, He will guard and protect us against every danger, though all the powers of hell be arrayed against us.