Word to the Wise
Friday, August 31, 2007 - Twenty-first Friday in Ordinary Time
[1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 and Matthew 25:1-13]This is the will of God, your holiness; that you refrain from immorality......For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness.
New Orleans, LA, is much in the news because of the second anniversary of the Hurricane Katrina disaster. The tourist bureau is anxious to point out to prospective visitors and convention planners that the "naughty" part of New Orleans, the French Quarter, was relatively untouched by the hurricane/flood. That "naughty" secton arose in no small part because of New Orleans' historic role as a major port. Port cities attract all kinds of folks and a bit of the naughty part was known as Storyville, famed for prostitution and other common port city vices. As one wag once put it, the motto of the area was: "It is a business doing pleasure with you!" (Needless to say, the good citizens of the Lakeview, Gentilly and 9th Ward areas - the hardest hit - are not amused by the lack of attention to their plight - beyond the political posturing and media-event anniversary hoopla.) Part of the attraction of New Orleans to visitors is the vicarious feeling of "naughtiness" (or more) that is part of walking down Bourbon Street. I doubt St. Paul's admonitions to the Thessalonians are foremost in their minds. Yes, Thessalonica was a port city and had all the features of port cities and very few inhibitions. The Christian emphasis on responsible and marital sexuality was a minority view, to put it mildly, yet that is what St.Paul is urging. In addition to some very non-Christian attitudes about morality, there were many different varieties of religious expression and idolatry was common. Earlier in the letter Paul reminds the Thessalonians how they had turned from idols to worship the true God. Holiness means a right relationship with God and with neighbor. We cannot "compartmentalize" God to one part of our psyche and then act as if we've closed the door on that part so that our relationship with God can't interfere. It's like a spouse acting as if he/she isn't married and has no responsibility to be faithful or committed. St. Paul reminds us that faith brings responsibility and discipline, whether we be a Thessalonian or a visitor to New Orleans or anyone else! AMEN
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