Title: Unraveling the Rich Young Ruler’s Dilemma: Jesus’ Commandment Conundrum In the saga of the Rich Young Ruler (Matthew 19:16-22; Mark 10:17-22; Luke 18:18-23), a youth of wealth and position sought the path to eternal life. Politeness led him to call Jesus a “Good Teacher,” unwittingly acknowledging Jesus’ divinity. Responding, Jesus pointed to the commandments as the guide to eternal life.
Now, brace yourself for the divine comedy:
Thou Shall Not Murder, Commit Adultery, Steal, Bear False Witness: Jesus listed these classics, ensuring a solid foundation for moral living. It was like God’s greatest hits playlist.
Do Not Defraud (Mark): Sneaking in a lesser-known track, Jesus dropped this gem, akin to a bonus feature on the DVD of divine commandments.
Honor Your Father and Mother: Standard protocol, a commandment to keep family ties strong – because even divine beings know the importance of a good family dinner.
Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself (Matthew): The golden rule made an appearance, confirming that Jesus’ playlist had a theme: relationship management.
Jesus, being the ultimate DJ, customized his setlist to emphasize interpersonal relationships, hinting that the young ruler’s stumbling block was in his connections with others.
However, the ruler, eager for a more personalized commandment, sought specifics. Enter Jesus, the life coach:
“If you want VIP access to heaven, sell all your possessions, give to the poor, and join my exclusive disciples’ club.”
Jesus wasn’t advocating a fire sale for everyone, just pinpointing the young man’s Achilles’ heel: his love affair with wealth.
Now, the tragic punchline: The young ruler, torn between eternal life and earthly possessions, couldn’t part with his treasures. Even though promised heaven, he couldn’t part with his beloved belongings.
Lesson for us all: What’s our prized possession? Would we sacrifice it for a golden ticket to heaven? (Matthew 10:37-39).
In this divine sitcom, Jesus showcased that sometimes, the best comedy has a serious undertone – or, in this case, an eternal one.
In the echoes of a dream, where freedom rings, A melody of justice, where each heart sings. Martin Luther King Jr., a beacon so bright, Guiding us towards a world, bathed in light.
“It’s about character over color,” he declared, A vision of unity, a dream we’ve shared. Beyond the hues that paint our skin, Let character’s radiance truly begin.
No shackles of bias, no chains of strife, But a celebration of the essence of life. In the tapestry of humanity, colors blend, Character’s the thread that binds, my friend.
Let judgments be not based on shade, But on the kindness in actions displayed. For in each soul, a unique story unfolds, A tale of character, a narrative to be told.
May the canvas of perception be ever clear, With understanding and empathy near. No divisions by color, no lines to sever, In unity, we cherish, in character, forever.
So, let the legacy of Martin Luther King endure, In the spirit of love, equality, and more. A world where character triumphs over the hue, For in unity and justice, dreams come true.
In a quaint town nestled among rolling hills, there lived a trio of friends: Sarah, David, and Emily. They were inseparable, often seen wandering through the town’s cobbled streets, sharing laughter and adventures.
One breezy afternoon, while lounging in the park, their chatter turned to deeper matters—the meaning of life and the existence of something greater. Sarah, the thoughtful one, gazed at the sky and whispered, “The Father reigns in heaven’s height.”
David, the jovial jokester, grinned and exclaimed, “And the Son, our Savior, brings us light! That’s what my grandma always says!”
Emily, the quiet observer, nodded knowingly. “The Spirit moves, unseen, yet near, guiding souls with love sincere.”
Their conversation led them on a quest for understanding, seeking wisdom in the words of the Scriptures. As they journeyed, each encounter seemed to mirror the verses they discussed.
At the town square, Sarah paused to help a struggling elderly woman. Quoting Matthew 25:40, she said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” The woman’s face lit up with gratitude.
Meanwhile, David found himself in a local eatery, sharing a meal with a lonely man. With a smile, he recited John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” The man’s gloomy countenance transformed into hope.
Emily stumbled upon a group of children playing by the riverbank. She knelt and shared, “Psalm 139:7 says, ‘Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?’ God is always near.” The children’s innocent giggles filled the air.
Their encounters deepened their understanding of the divine presence in everyday life. As they continued their journey, they stumbled upon a charity event where they witnessed generosity and compassion. Quoting 1 John 4:9, they realized, “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.”
Their experiences bonded them even more, reaffirming their faith and friendship. With hearts brimming with gratitude, they returned to the park, where they first delved into their spiritual quest. Looking at each other, they recited Jeremiah 29:13 in unison, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Their journey had taught them that the message on their t-shirts wasn’t just words—it was a revelation. With smiles and a newfound sense of purpose, they vowed to continue spreading the love and light they had discovered, one verse and one act of kindness at a time.
And as they laughed and teased each other under the setting sun, they knew that the divine presence they sought was always with them—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—guiding their souls with love sincerely.
John Rziha’s The Christian Moral Life offers a Christian overview of the good life for which God created us, along with the virtue-forming habits through which we may attain it.
The theology is faithfully within the Catholic tradition, and the use of terms and concepts is decidedly Thomistic. The book is divided into two parts. In Part 1, Rziha outlines a framework for thinking about the Christian moral life. Using the analogy of a journey to God, he points out the travelers must know three things: (1) their beginning point; (2) where they are going; and (3) how to get there. Our beginning point is our human nature and the subsequent inclinations we all experience.
Part 2 covers the three theological virtues – faith, hope, charity – and four cardinal virtues – produce, justice, temperance, fortitude. Each chapter on an individual virtue includes a discussion of sub-virtues, which are aspects of the broader cardinal or theological virtues under consideration. And here, there are some especially thoughtful connections. Yes, fortitude obviously requires patience and perseverance; but it also requires meekness.
As we practice justice, we will of course be aided by gratitude and honesty, but also be aided by industry and stewardship. By bringing out the connection points among all the virtues, Rziha helps reinforce a central theme of the book: that the virtues are all intended to serve the ultimate purpose of cultivating our love of God so that we may enjoy eternal fellowship with Him.
Throughout the book, Rziha offers a framework for moral theology that is unswervingly teleological (as opposed to deontological). While most discussions of justice focus on respect for others’ rights, within Rziha’s teleological framework, “the most important aspect of justice is that it perfects the ability of humans to love others” (224). In his discussion of Natural Law theory, the “eternal law” is simply God’s “plan directing all things to their proper end” (102). I myself find it a great merit of Rziha’s book that he frames his discussions in these terms. It is a sad fact that moral theology over the past few centuries has in may quarters not wanted to start with the kinds of questions Aristotle and Aquinas saw as central: what the good life consists in for humans, and how we may achieve it. Yet, it is the book’s staunch commitment to this tradition of Aquinas – including his terms and concepts – that potentially leads to certain types of difficulties. We are quite far removed today from Aquinas’ metaphysical commitments. Medieval scholars spend years studying how Aquinas and others would have understood such claims as the objects “tend toward” their natural ends. To those who are not Medieval scholars, can we retain Aquinas’ terms and categories, and still understand most of what he intended to convey? I am not sure.
This problem arises mainly in Rziha’s discussion of human action and decision-making, which would largely be covered in modern curriculum by courses in philosophy of action and the philosophy of mind. For those with backgrounds in these areas, it may prove frunstrating to read antiquated statements such as that “The will is naturally inclined to love the true good” (20). Or, it may seem too artificial to claim that prudence “perfects the intellect,” with justice “perfecting the will,” and temperance and fortitude “perfecting the emotions.” So, there may be a trade-off between a faithful recapitulation of Aquinas and a serious, modern proposal of the processes of human decision-making and intentional action. Nevertheless, Rhiza’s discussions do serve as a spiritual formative way of looking at the human condition and God’s resources for leading us to the good life of communion with Him.
COMING IN JUNE 2020
In sum, Rziha offers an extremely detailed, and laudably systematic, look at the connection points within moral theology: between one virtue and another, between virtue and the sins that undermine it, between virtue and the actions that cultivate it, between virtue and the grace that perfects it. These are faithful summations of the rich Thomistic tradition. Each topic presents the reader with challenges if seeking a deeper life with God. And if readers are indeed seeking to be spiritually formed, they will embrace these challenges, given the continuously attractive way Rziha presents the end of our journey: perfect happiness found in God. The book will work well as an introductory text for undergraduate students. More widely, for those interested in understanding the Catholic, Thomist tradition in moral theology, as well as for those already in that tradition who would like a framework for understanding how familiar themes of human telos, grace, law, and virtue all fit together, this book would be an excellent choice.
The Christian Moral Life written by John Rziha, Narrated by Andrew L. Barnes will be released in June 2020! This book takes listeners on a journey that requires the sojourner to know where they are, where they are going, and sets a our minds on the ultimate destination, happiness in the presence of God.
Moral theology examines the same three truths. The Christian Moral Life is a handbook for moral theology that uses the theme of a journey to explain its key ethical concepts.
“…the study of how humans attain eternal happiness through loving union with God by performing their proper actions with the aid of God’s grace.”
~ JOHN RZIHA
First, humans begin with their creation in the image of God. Secondly, the goal of the journey is explained as a loving union with God, to achieve a share in his eternal happiness. Third and finally, the majority of the book examines how to attain this goal. Within the journey motif, the book covers the moral principles essential for attaining true happiness.
Based on an examination of the moral methodology in the bible, the book discusses the importance of participating in divine nature through grace in order to attain eternal happiness.
It further notes the role of law, virtue, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit in guiding and transforming humans into friends of God, who participate in his happiness. Following this section on moral theology in general, the book analyzes the individual virtues to give more concrete guidance.
COMING IN JUNE 2020
The entire project builds upon the insights of great Christian thinkers, such as Thomas Aquinas, Thérèse of Lisieux, and John Paul II, to uncover the moral wisdom in scripture and to show people how to be truly happy both in this life and the next.
This book will be of great interest to undergraduate students of moral theology, priests and seminarians, parents and teachers seeking to raise and to form happy children, and anyone interested in discovering the meaning of true happiness.
