Go First and Be Reconciled

March 2, 2007

Friday of the First Week of Lent

Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked? says the Lord GOD. Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way that he may live? And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil, the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does, can he do this and still live? None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered, because he has broken faith and committed sin; because of this, he shall die. Ezekiel 18:23-24

Go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:24

Piety

Dear loving God, In the battle between virtue and evil, you give us no choice. There is no either-or decision when we must choose to do good, to love our neighbor, our enemy and even members of our own family. Help us to live up to this standard so that you can be pleased when we convert from evil to virtuous ways. Remember always our virtuous deeds so we can be with you in Paradise. Amen.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/030207.shtml

Today we again encounter a Biblical admonition that is easier to study than it is to live out. Who has not held a grudge against a brother or sister or neighbor? Out of envy, pride or foolishness, we have competed for the love or honor, property or attention of parents, friends or partners and lost favor.

We don’t want to let it go. So we give them the silent treatment. We gossip with others to win them to “our” side. At any cost, we want to win. Such behavior can last for years within families, friends and neighbors. It drives people apart, it cuts down and it hurts.

But wait…such personal victory is not the end. Love and reconciliation instead are our aim. To lose self and let go is the path to reconciliation. Settle your grievances before the judge rules on your behavior.

Action

“The new evangelization calls for followers of Christ who are unconditionally pro-life – who will proclaim, celebrate and serve the Gospel of Life in every situation. A sign of hope is the increasing recognition that the dignity of human life must never be taken away, even in the case of someone who has done great evil. Modern society has the means of protecting itself, without definitively denying criminals the chance to reform. I renew the appeal . . . for a consensus to end the death penalty, which is both cruel and unnecessary.” Pope John Paul II, Mass in St. Louis, 1999.

During the Civil war, President Lincoln was once asked if God was on his side. His reply was, “It is not is God on my side, but am I on God's side?” It is not always as important to be right as it is to do the right thing. That thinking could help Virginia’s governor.

For political reasons, Governor Tim Kaine has painted himself into Pontius Pilate’s corner with death penalty advocates. During his campaign, he pledged, despite his Catholic faith, to uphold Virginia’s laws on execution of prisoners condemned to death row. Most of the time, Governor Kaine has done exactly that when faced with signing the death warrant for prisoners, rather than commuting their sentence to life in prison.

Now we have a different decision. The Virginia General Assembly has passed several bills that would expand the circumstances under which the death penalty could be used. These bills, opposed by the Virginia Catholic Conference, now await the Governor’s review.

Currently, only the actual perpetrator of a capital murder (the “triggerman”) is eligible for the death penalty. SB 1288 and HB 2348 eliminate the “triggerman rule,” so that others involved in a capital murder could also be sentenced to death. SB 1116, HB 2750, and HB 2347 make it a capital offense to murder a judge or a witness subpoenaed in a criminal case for the purpose of interfering with the judge’s or witness’s official duties.

While the offenses contemplated by these pieces of legislation are very serious indeed, our Church teaches that the death penalty cannot be justified when non-lethal means are adequate to protect society from an unjust aggressor. (For more information, please see statements from Pope John Paul II, the U.S. bishops, and the Virginia bishops that appear below.)

As soon as possible, please take action here to contact Governor Kaine and urge him to veto these bills, which could bring even more executions to a state that already carries out the death penalty more often than any other state except Texas!

Time is running out on asking Governor Kaine NOT to expand the death penalty.