“How can there be such a thing as justice or how can there be such a thing as mercy unless there is a moral absolute by which to set the standard?”

In reality, truth is often feared because it is not known. Truth, exactly as Christ revealed it, is a guarantee of genuine and full freedom for the human person. – Pope John Paul II

Scripture text: (1 JN 5:14-21)

Beloved:

We have this confidence in him

that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask,

we know that what we have asked him for is ours.

If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly,

he should pray to God and he will give him life.

This is only for those whose sin is not deadly.

There is such a thing as deadly sin,

about which I do not say that you should pray.

All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly.

We know that anyone begotten by God does not sin;

but the one begotten by God he protects,

and the Evil One cannot touch him.

We know that we belong to God,

and the whole world is under the power of the Evil One.

We also know that the Son of God has come

and has given us discernment to know the one who is true.

And we are in the one who is true,

in his Son Jesus Christ.

He is the true God and eternal life.

Children, be on your guard against idols.

In today’s world – public as well as private, invitations of God and temptations not-of-God can be deceivingly camouflaged.  

In the reading above we hear, “…the Son of God has come and given us discernment to know the one who is true.” Discernment as St. Ignatius of Loyola describes it is not solely a matter of making a decision – do this or do that.  Discernment is not a stand-alone decision.  Discernment is a commitment.  Decisions are made in light of the fundamental commitment to follow Jesus or not.

God, in giving us all free will, said to us: "Your will be done." Some of us turn back to him and say: "My will is that your will be done." That is obedience to the first and greatest commandment. Then, when we do that, He turns to us and says: "And now, your will be done." And then He writes the story of our lives with the pen strokes of our own free choices.