Playing by the Rules

Have you ever tried to play a game when every player makes up their own rules? That would be chaos. Or have you tried playing a game when half the players have one set of rules and the other half a different set? It not only would not work, it cannot, it is impossible. Why? Because rules tell you how to begin as well as how to play and, importantly, rules tell you how to finish the game. They spell out the purpose of the play, the desired outcome, the goal.

Like most people, I like to do things my own way. First thing every morning, I open the blinds to let in the sunlight and then I put the kettle on for my first cup of tea. Other people start their days in other ways. Most of the time it doesn’t matter much how we choose to do things.

Other times, we choose our way instead of God’s way. That does matter, very much because Jesus is the Way. He didn’t tell us he was one of several ways, of many truths or multiple lives. Not at all. And yet, so often we choose to live as if that is what He did say. We re-write God’s own words to suit ourselves.

I grew up in America where the rule is to drive on the right side of the road. Here in England, the rule is to drive on the left side of the road. That means I can’t let my concentration slip, just in case the old habit kicks in and I find myself driving against the traffic! Most of the time the way we choose to do things is not a matter of life and death. Much more frequent and vastly more important are the life after death choices we make.

Our souls are eternal and our lives on Earth are brief. When we receive the sacraments, listen to and study God’s word, and pray, the gift of Grace helps us choose the thoughts, words and deeds that guide us to follow the Way. Through God’s grace, our wills begin to conform to God’s will.

The rules are not complicated

Mother Church does not leave us to find our way in the dark or work out the rules on our own for how to get to heaven. She has given them to us in a way that is clear and easy to understand.

 "The first is this: 'Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:29-31)

Sometimes, we need things spelled out for us. We need very clear and simple directions. For that, we have been given the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy.

Four Spiritual Works of Mercy and all the Corporal Works of Mercy are considered an obligation for all the faithful to practice unconditionally when the circumstances arise:

The Spiritual Works of Mercy are oriented toward the soul.

• Bear Wrongs Patiently
• Forgive Others Willingly
• Comfort the Afflicted
• Pray for the Living and the Dead

The Corporal Works of Mercy are oriented toward the body. Again, we are obliged to perform these Works when their necessity arises from circumstances. Those damned in Matthew 25:41-46 were damned because they refused the works of mercy when they had occasion to perform them.

• Feed the Hungry
• Give Drink to the Thirsty
• Clothe the Naked
• Shelter the Homeless
• Visit the Sick
• Visit the Imprisoned
• Bury the Dead

What sort of world would we have if everyone played the Game of Life by God’s rules?