The Moral LIfe

We definitely get the wrong idea.  As soon as the world "moral" is spoken we think someone is going to tell me what to do.  Or maybe . . . what NOT to do. 

The moral life, however, means a life lived with a developed and developing conscience.  For some choices to be bad, there need to be good choices.  We wouldn't recognize darkness if we had never seen light.  It does seem to be human or one of our flaws to concentrate on the negative. 

As you journey in the space between adolescence and the full responsibilities of adulthood this  is the time you can be consciously developing that moral life -- the sense of what is good. 

This is both something that is shared and something personal.  As Catholics we share what we believe has been revealed by Christ.  So for us the moral life is one that is following the life Christ is showing to us.  I am also a moral person.  In my own life I have the chance to develop gifts that I have received.  Being moral also says that these gifts are part of the lives of others.  It is natural for me to think of sharing the good gifts I have received. 

While we are building a life it is good and necessary that we think about the things that will give us a job and help us to earn a living.  But there are more questions to be asked.  What is it that I am really looking for in this life?  How can I develop my gifts to be of service to this deeper longing. 

You may be thinking of couple life and parenthood in the future.  You may realize that you have gifts that can be transformative in some way for others.  You may have gifts that bring joy to our world, a deep joy of the heart. 

The moral life then has a great texture, one where we need God's word, quietly speaking as we listen and then respond in words and in our actions. 

Moral is good.  Taste that moral goodness that is the Lord's gift for you. 

Franciscan styled crucifix in the Church at Nazareth where Jesus grew up.