Trans-Humanism

I submitted another Letter to the Editor today, which will not be published.  It dared to mention God, and not celebrate those who would make themselves gods.  So, I will publish and remember it here:

I recently read articles about chemicals being given to children to delay puberty, so they can choose their sex.  I read of selective abortions to eliminate the weak and might-be weak, and how Iceland celebrated “No More Downs Syndrome Children.”  And I read of plans to use artificial intelligence to create trans-humans, to better the human race.

But then I also read of how man MUST stop manipulating the earth, for he is ruining its nature.  Yet, why is it assumed that in man’s attempts to manipulate HIS OWN nature we will be successful?  Are the children today not taught in schools about man’s last attempt to create a master race, and its results?  Why do they not know that a government can’t love, which is what we all really need?  Why are they taught self is so important, versus family, community and culture?

I will spend my last days on this earth serving the weak and needy, and celebrate the beauty of their existence, not planning their destruction.  That is the Gospel, and why this country was founded.  Why have we grown so stupid?  We don’t need to better the human race, we need to celebrate the existence of each and every person.

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The Gospel today was about the lepers Jesus healed, the less-than-perfect human beings He loved.  That Gospel has many wonderful lessons to teach, but I especially liked the words reflected in The Better Part (Lesson 211), so I just repeat its words here:

“We are all moral lepers.  The human race was infected with mortal selfishness by original sin.  Christ saved us, not with a mere command, but by His Incarnation, life, suffering, and painful death on a cross.  How many of us render Him sincere, heartfelt thanks for all He has done for us?  Not to live with an attitude of gratitude towards God is more than being impolite --- ingratitude is ugly because it’s positively unjust.  Gratitude, on the other hand, is one of the most beautiful flowers in the whole garden of virtue.  It directly contradicts self-centeredness, self-indulgence, and self-absorption.  It builds bridges through discouragement and counteracts depression.  It opens the soul to the truth and releases anxiety.  It brings smiles and gladness wherever it blooms.  What a pity that it is as rare as it is lovely.

Jesus could not resist a cry for pity.  (It was) the motive for His coming to earth in the first place --- love simply can’t hold back when it sees others in need.  This truth about Jesus can be the source of our confidence in Him, but it should also be the source of our own activity in the world.  We who feast on Christ’s own body and blood in the Eucharist need to share also the beatings of His heart, His desire to do as much good as possible; otherwise, our hearts will beat in vain.”

The priest speaking of this Gospel referenced the faith seen there, the faith which we need.  He said we so often call upon God to fix things, the way we believe they should be.  (And for the faithless, they use their own efforts to change His creation to their definitions of perfection.)  But, the priest said, faith is not the power to change --- that is God’s power, if He wills --- but faith is the power to endure, to trust in God, to see His love exhibited in all of His creation, even that which we, in our ignorance, deem less than perfect.  And real faith is to love as He loves.   

On Being a Plow Horse

I’ve written on a number of occasions the importance of sowing seeds, my insights into that gospel on the parable of the sower.  I know I’ve stressed the importance of sowing God’s Word diligently, and letting God prepare the ground, water the seeds, and make them grow.  And I’ve written how most often we go through life and never know what happened to those seeds we’ve sown, crossing the life of another person, and tossing his way seeds of a new life.

But tonight, I’ve thought about that ground we toss those seeds on, those other people.  And I suddenly realized that my thoughts on being a sower were really somewhat prideful thoughts.  I “assumed” I had some good seed to provide another person AND that I was doing some “good” thing.  I just assumed I was the good guy in my story:  lead a good life, be a good example, tell of God’s Word --- and God will take care of the rest: whether people benefit from our seeds or not.  It’s His responsibility.

But is it?

Certainly, providing sun and rain --- grace --- to help any seeds I’ve sown grow is beyond me, but what of the soil I sow on?  What if the soils of the people I meet aren’t ready for the seed?  What if the soil is hard as a rock and hasn’t seen rain in years --- and may never expect it to rain again.  I know people who are so depressed with their lot in life.  And what if the soil is primed with the right nutrients to grow lemon trees, but I am sowing tomato seeds?

What if the soil of some people I meet isn’t prepared to receive ANY seeds I might sow?

This, I think, is something that I don’t think about, for a couple of reasons.  The first is that I don’t think it is my duty to change something so basic in a person’s life, his openness to new ideas.  And the second is that, truthfully, I know that doing so would be a very hard thing, perhaps totally unrewarding work, and work that may take many years of seeing no results.  I know many parents who feel the seeds of their efforts fruitless when scattered about their non-church-going kids.  I know dedicated employees who feel that way about their clueless bosses.  And I myself know of my neighbor who seems will never find Christ, nor ever stop needing my financial aid.  All of these sowers are very frustrated with seeing no results of their efforts, and sometimes think:  why bother?

But remember, St. Monica felt that way about her son, Augustine, too.

Remember the parable of the sower (Luke 8)?  Those who the seed did not flourish in were those who could not focus on receiving and nourishing the seed --- the cares of the world took away their focus.  That is where we might come in, to perhaps ease their cares, to take it as our burden to let them know they are not alone.  In some way, we need to focus on easing their worries so that they can focus on more important things --- like receiving seeds to grow their eternal life.

What we are talking about doing is not sowing seeds on these people, but being plow horses, tilling their soil.  We may feel like we’re going back and forth over old ground, back and forth, back and forth.  And for all we know all we are plowing up is rocks, which will never grow anything.  It is difficult to continue when we don’t see results.  But yet sometimes we feel that little prod, God telling us to continue.  And so, we must.  He has a plan for this field, everyone we meet, but we can’t see it.  And we may, in fact, never see it bloom --- because remember, we are not planting seeds, we are only plowing the soil.

And this is where trust comes in.  Trust that God wishes us to continue the hard work, no matter how useless it seems, AND, trust that He wishes this of us or a reason.

Seeing my responsibilities as being a jolly member of God’s family, tossing seeds for the benefit of others is a fairy tale look at a Christian’s life.  In much of our life we are meant to be plow horses, doing the hard work in the hot sun, and wondering if not us, then who will sow good seeds for this soil --- if ever?  And wondering if anyone cares.

We need to trust and recognize the blessings we have amidst these toils of our lives.  For even the most overworked plow horse gets fed, he gets watered, and is given rest, so that he can continue.  He is blessed.

In our lives, we need to be those diligent plow horses, who know they are blessed.  And even if it seems our burden is an endless one, for people who won’t appreciate our efforts, we must not forget the one who carried our burdens for us --- on a cross.  And He told us our yoke is easy and our burden is light, because He is with us.

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I began my prayers tonight as I usually do, meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary.  I only got into the first mystery, however, when the above thoughts intruded, strongly.  And so, I stopped and wrote most of the above, then continued with my rosary and the rest of my night prayers.  And it was only when I went to meditate on tomorrow’s gospel that I saw it was Luke 8, and then added the paragraph on why some seeds didn’t take.

I guess I wasn’t surprised to see that Gospel, after I had already meditated on it.  I think when God wants to tell us something, He tells us --- if we are listening.  I think I’m getting better at that ---- finally.

Review: The Light Shines on in The Darkness

Suffering Exists

I’m afraid your baby is deformed, and you should consider an abortion.

Your child’s cancer has spread; there is no known cure.

Mother, I hate you!  I hate you!  I hate you!

My name is Officer Smith.  I’m sorry to tell you there’s been an accident …

I regret having to inform you that your father is dying.

You’ve done a great job, however we had to give the promotion to someone else.

Your husband survived the blast, but the Army regrets that it has taken his legs.

We regret having to terminate your employment.

Why am I so ugly?  Why does no one love me?  Why does it hurt so much?

Why am I alone, God, when I need You?

Why is my boss, my sibling, my spouse so hateful?

Why do I have this pain?  I wish I were dead.

I’m sorry to say your mom has Alzheimer’s Disease.

I’ve fallen and can’t get up … will anyone come?

O GOD!  IT HURTS!  ARE YOU THERE?

This is the fourth --- and I believe most important --- book in a series by Fr. Robert Spitzer.  The first three talked about God, creation and love; they cite facts, studies and scientists to prove that this is all real.  But then this book says, in effect: “All that is well and good, but I’m living now, today, and life is hard.  If there is a loving God Who created all things for good, why am I suffering?  A truly loving God, an all-powerful God, would not let so much suffering exist.,” and everyone believes there is no suffering worse than theirs.  This book is about a key reality of life:  There will be suffering; suffering must be allowed, to help bring about a greater good --- one that, sometimes, only God can understand.

Fr. Spitzer sets out to prove this statement, and does it well.  I can’t begin to cite all the studies and facts and, yes, logic that he uses to prove that “The Light Shines on in The Darkness,” and after reading this book I think most people will put it on the shelf as a reference manual, kind of like a medical book: When you’re in pain, here are ways to ease your suffering.  The book’s subtitle is: “Transforming Suffering Through Faith,” but I assure you, this is not a “Trust me because the Bible says it is so …” book.  This book teaches the importance of suffering --- to you! --- to make your life better.  It teaches you as professor to student, as loving parent to a little child --- to a suffering little child:  it will be all right.

In your darkest hour, through your flood of tears, IT WILL BE ALL RIGHT.  When things are at their darkest hour, I can’t think of a more important thing to know, and believe.

If you do nothing else, read the 20-page Introduction to this book, even while you sit in the bookstore.  You will be stunned by one of its early statements: “Suffering is not opposed to love, --- it leads to it,” and Spitzer’s preview of how he backs that statement will intrigue you to read on.  “Intriguing” is a good description of this book.  Perhaps “Loving” is, too.  Despite all the pain you feel, this book helps you to KNOW:  You are not alone.  The Light shines on.

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Savior, who came to bring
On your redeeming wing
Healing and sight ---
Health to the sick in mind,
Sight to the inly blind ---
O now to all mankind,
Let there be light.

Spirit of truth and love,
Life-giving holy dove,
Speed on your flight;
Move on the waters’ face,
Bearing the lamp of grace,
and in earth’s darkest place
Let there be light.

-          By John Marriott