by Father John P. Cush
Robert Bolt, author of the famous play, “A Man for All Seasons,” about the life and legacy of Thomas More, was a fascinating individual. As much as Thomas More is the hero of the piece and is clearly a saintly character, the play’s author was himself not a believer.
Bolt was an atheist and a member of the Communist party who rejected his own Christian faith and his strict Methodist background. However, he was fascinated by Thomas More – not so much because of More’s explicitly Catholic faith but because of the courage and conviction that the Lord Chancellor possessed and how he held to what he knew was correct.
In the play, Thomas More confronts another character, Sir Richard Rich, who basically has sold out to the whims of King Henry VIII to advance in the Tudor court. More rebukes Rich, stating: “Why Richard, it profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world…but for Wales?”
This echoes the words of the Lord Jesus in today’s Gospel from the Evangelist Matthew: “What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” Whether the one who reads these words from the Gospel is a believer or an atheist, these words are a challenge to change, to grow, to become a truly authentic person.
The words of St. Thomas More in the play and the words of Jesus can serve as a reminder to fix our eyes not on the things of this world but on the things of the world to come. They serve as a reminder to give ourselves over to what truly matters.
There is nothing wrong with being ambitious. There is nothing wrong with using the gifts, talents and abilities with which we have been blessed. If you have a talent, use it. Appreciate it when you receive the accolades, titles and honors that come from being recognized. But realize, above all else, that all good gifts come from God alone. Everything that we do, everything that we are, is a complete and utter gift from our good and gracious God. We need to use these talents, these gifts, for the good of others, never just for ourselves. It’s not about us; it’s never about us; it’s always about God, and it’s always about others.
As quick as the honors come, as rapidly as the positions of prestige are granted to us, just as quickly they can disappear. There will come a day when a “new Pharaoh” will arise who does not “know Joseph,” and we can go from “hero to zero” in a heartbeat. We can’t do things for the sake of being recognized. We have to do the right thing because it is the right thing to do, even when it’s not popular. There’s a right thing to do and a wrong thing to do in all situations, and by and large, it’s usually easy to tell the difference.
Need to Be Recognized
The desire for titles, honor and prestige can be a particular difficulty for the secular priest. This need to be recognized by the world has been addressed by Pope Francis. In his homily on the feast of SS. Peter and Paul, the Holy Father said:
“I wonder, dear brother bishops, are we afraid? What are we afraid of? And if we are afraid, what forms of refuge do we seek, in our pastoral life, to find security? Do we look for support from those who wield worldly power? Or do we let ourselves be deceived by the pride which seeks gratification and recognition, thinking that these will offer us security? Dear brother Bishops, where do we find our security?”
The shadow of the cross looms large in the life of everyone in the world, and we must not be afraid to embrace the cross for holding to what we know is right. This is why it is essential to develop a good, properly informed Catholic conscience.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes conscience as “…a judgment of reason whereby the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act that he is going to perform, is in the process of performing, or has already completed. In all he says and does, man is obliged to follow faithfully what he knows to be just and right. It is by the judgment of his conscience that man perceives and recognizes the prescriptions of the divine law.”
The formation of a conscience is a lifelong process. The Catechism reminds us: “From the earliest years, it awakens the child to the knowledge and practice of the interior law recognized by conscience. Prudent education teaches virtue; it prevents or cures fear, selfishness and pride, resentment arising from guilt, and feelings of complacency, born of human weakness and faults. The education of the conscience guarantees freedom and engenders peace of heart.”
Guided by right reason, practical common sense and objective truth, the Christian makes his or her decisions under the shadow of the cross, knowing that sometimes doing the right thing may not be appreciated and might be misunderstood.
Twenty-five years ago, Spike Lee released his film “Do the Right Thing.” He claims that before he had the plot or the characters, he had the title. Do the right thing – it’s a pretty easy thing to say; do the right thing – it’s a pretty hard thing to live.
Thomas More knew what to do, even when it meant eschewing the titles, honors and glory of this world. Inspired by his example, may we never choose to gain the whole world and lose our souls in the process.[hr]
Readings for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time:
Jeremiah 20:7-9
Psalm 63: 2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
Romans 12: 1-2
Matthew 16: 21-27[hr]
Father John P. Cush, a doctoral candidate in fundamental theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, is a priest in residence at Immaculate Heart of Mary, Windsor Terrace.
