20 July 2018
Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
During the 17th century, the Jesuits received lots of criticism for their understanding of casuistry. In brief, as if any theological position can be summarized briefly, the Jesuits were developing the consequences of the primacy of a well-informed conscience in light of a established law. Here, the Jesuits were attempting to help people navigate the delicate balance between a law, established either by the Church or by the State, and when that law can and should be broken. This question has a very modern feel to it and in fact these 17th century Jesuits paved the way for discussions concerning the relationship to the church and state that would shape conversations into the 20th century. Some critics, like Descartes, felt the Jesuits created a repertoire of distinctions and exceptions so that any immorality could be justified. Descartes took for his sources a few Jesuits who dealt with extreme issues, and in doing so, cast a shadow on the whole project. The purpose of these questions was to establish the correct relationship between conscience and God’s law.
Today’s gospel takes us to a similar issue when Jesus and his disciples break one of the laws by picking grain on the sabbath. Jesus admonishes his critics by noting that there is a greater law and this divine law must be followed. The gospel reminds us that there is always a delicate balance between conscience and law. However, the Jesuits always insisted that it is the informed conscience that provides the ground for a decision. Thus, we are obliged to form that conscience by all the means available, including with, as Ignatius would insist, the teachings of the Church.