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Recently I have reflected on how a key aspect of the ethical framework proposed by the Catholic Church turned the world on its head. The moral judgment that the rich, powerful, and privileged should serve and care for the poor, weak, and underprivileged was a revolutionary concept.

Today, many secular and even anti-Catholic institutions advocate for the poor and needy. Quite a few fail to see that the poorest and most vulnerable of our world are preborn children, but it remains remarkable that they accept the basic premise that there is an ethical duty to assist the weakest of our brothers and sisters. It is easy to forget the fact that societies around the world used to have no special concern for serving the poor or alleviating their suffering until that message was preached. At the time of Christ, it was taken for granted that the poor should be exploited for everything that could be seized in taxes and other benefits that flowed to the powerful and wealthy.

This weekend I will be taking part in the Solemn Mass of Investiture of new knights and dames of the American Association of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta. This Catholic religious order, founded in 1099 in Jerusalem, has always included many noble and wealthy members. What makes this group so very Catholic is precisely the mission it has of being a vehicle for the privileged to serve the weak and especially the sick. It all began with a monk who founded a hospital. Blessed Gerard gave as his legacy to the aristocrats of the Order of Malta the command to work for “Our Lords, the Sick and the Poor.” 

This is but one of myriad examples of Catholic social thought and ethics in practice through the centuries. Jesus told his disciples and the crowds who came to listen a paradoxical saying. “But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.” (MT 19:30) He also told his apostles: “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (MK 10:42-45)

This is indeed a very difficult and lofty teaching that the followers of Christ are challenged to live. To voluntarily give up ease and comfort in order to embrace the suffering and needs of others is not the commonsense logic or ethics of the world. It is easier to grasp that one should not actively commit injustices than to feel an ethical obligation to help others who may even be largely responsible for their own misery through their bad choices and evil actions.

Clearly, most believers do not live up to the Christian or Catholic ideal when it comes to the ethics of service. It is quite true that we are sinners and frequently fall short of what we should do or be. I am reminded, however, of the advice of a wise coach. You have a much greater chance of making progress if you are striving towards a difficult goal. Even if you do not always win, you will at least be moving in the right direction. And if one falls or falters, there is an ocean of mercy for repentant sinners that Christ offers returning prodigal sons and daughters through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

If, however, one’s personal ethics is all about eating, drinking, being merry, and looking out for one’s narrowly defined interests, there is very little hope of altruistic actions that will serve the poor and vulnerable. Even worse are those sociopaths without a conscience who do not care a fig for what happens to anyone besides themselves. The ancient world, with notable but rare exceptions, lived by a very selfish creed.

It is good to take the opportunity to reflect on this basic Catholic ethical orientation that many take for granted. It was actually a very difficult and unevenly won triumph for civilization and one that must be taught again to each succeeding generation. Nietzsche and his philosophical followers, for instance, utterly rejected this “slave morality.” Serving our brothers and sisters in misfortune is not the first impulse of most people, even if they have generally accepted that they should do so.

Nevertheless, it is transformative when put into practice. The Roman Empire in the first centuries AD suffered frequent deadly epidemics. The richer pagans generally fled and left the sick and dying to their fates. The persecuted followers of Christ often self-sacrificially cared for them. Many of those showing compassion were infected and died, but they also saved many and inspired others. The end result was an increase of conversions to Christianity after every pandemic. I pray that will be the case after this trial of COVID-19, but I am not so sure that it shall come to pass.