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Psalm 119:18 "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law."

 

A friend was telling me this morning about a recent homily she heard that really spoke to her. The priest was reminding the congregation that Church doctrine is unchanging, because it is from God. Church leaders, even the pope, cannot change doctrine because they did not establish it. It is not something that gets modified with changing times, or can be amended by a papal proclamation or vote of the clergy. Yes, there are nuances that the Holy Spirit reveals in God's time, but the doctrine itself will not change.

 

As Catholics, then, we have to accept the whole package. Many people bristle at that, thinking the Church is backwards, or out of touch, and they substitute their own understanding of God's law for that proclaimed by God through His Church. But if we really understand that God, as our Creator, knows what's best for us, and has nothing but our good in mind; that He sees all, every ramification of every thought word and deed, from the beginning of time to the end, why would we ever think ourselves worthy of questioning one iota of His law? What pride that is! And how foolish - putting our eternal happiness at risk because we think we know better than the Church!

 

Today's verse teaches us to ask God to open our eyes to the goodness of His law, rather than covering our eyes and ears while repeating our own law to ourselves. If we ask this in humility, we will indeed see wondrous things springing out of His law. They are all around us!