Reflection - Utopia

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/051216.cfm

Acts 22:30, 23:6-11
John 17:20-26

This morning's reflection took me on quite a journey. Not exactly round-a-bout; but certainly lengthy. Moreover, it was a journey into an area which I had mistakenly thought I understood. It began with the text from John: "that they may all be one." One thing led to another and, in the end, I had to organize the haphazard path which my thoughts had followed. Here 's the result.

The willingness of individuals to aid and support their fellow man has a well established and ancient history. That distinguishing trait was around before the earliest civilizations were established and before the most primal cultures had developed. Indeed, the very notions of civilization and culture presume a degree of mutuality in behavior. Neither civilizations nor cultures would be possible without individuals who are willing to unite, cooperate, collaborate, be mutually supportive and make common cause. Certain types of supportive actives have even become institutionalized because of the training and skills they demand. Our society denotes them as the 'helping' professions; and the category includes, among others. doctors, teachers, nurses, therapists and certain social workers.

This amenability to cooperation, while useful in the creation of mankind's earliest civilizations was quickly recognized as inadequate once those civilizations were actually established; and structured proposals for a perfect society were soon offered by those with a more idealistic and visionary bent. Among the earliest recorded versions of those ideal societies was Plato's Republic. Here, the state was to be ruled by specially educated philosopher-Kings. The wisdom of these rulers would supposedly eliminate poverty and deprivation through a fair distribution of resources.

St Thomas More, who personally coined the term 'Utopia,' made it the title for a book in which he offered his own model for human paradise. While scholars have argued whether the book is a sincere proposal or a satire, linguists have pointed out that the Greek origins of More's fabricated word, 'Utopia,' carry the implication that the perfectly "good place" is really the same as "no place."

A new twist was added with the Age of Reason. This term comes to us by way of Thomas Paine, the author of the pamphlet entitled Common Sense, which reverberated well with Americans at the time of the American Revolution. A few years after the beginning of the French Revolution Paine published a book entitled: The Age of Reason; Being an Investigation of True and Fabulous Theology, in which he sets reason and revelation in opposition to one another. Here Paine states: "I believe in the equality of man; and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavoring to make our fellow-creatures happy." It was almost as if he were the precursor to those who claim to be spiritual but not religious.

In more modern times we have people called humanitarians. They are, more often than not, focused on a specific cause or perceived social ailment. Picking up on the principals of their predecessors, these people usually place emphasis on egalitarian principles of equality in economics, government and justice. In pursuit of their principles they have worked to eliminate slavery, to improve working conditions, to eliminate child labor, to allow only appropriate punishments, and other such issues.

Humanity seems to have an endless supply both of those who would dream about a perfect human order and of those who would actively work to create such an order. Some simply work to correct a specific problem which they see, such as homelessness. Others pressure existing institutions to incorporate practices which would correct perceived harms and injustices, such as providing equal opportunity. And still others, embolden by the power of the state seek to impose a specific version of perfection as they themselves define it. The idealism of youth is a persistent characteristic of many societies, at least in the West.

I remember clearly the attitude I adopted for myself fairly early in my adult years, namely, that I would do my best to improve my "little corner of the world." Christianity, and particularly the Catholic Church in which I was raised, had all the tools and principals necessary for me to accomplish the task: sound moral teaching, inspiring practices, numerous agencies, and so on. 

I remember clearly how I would respond when people were complimentary about the work that I was doing in the parish: "I'm just trying to make the world a better place for me to live in." Some might say the sentiment was noble; I'm sure God was laughing.

In any case, even in the most successful societies utopia has remained elusive. One social justice is minimized and another crops up. One social enemy is eliminated and another takes its place. Crime, corruption, greed, and every other anti-utopian evil continually evolve right along with the societies in which they exist. Nations cooperate and then go to war. Power --- political, economic, technological, and even religious --- come to the fore and fade, only to be revived again. Poverty and suffering persist. The news is sufficiently distasteful and depressing that nobody really wants to hear it.

This morning's reading from The Acts of the Apostles provides a telling and humorous insight into the fundamental reason why all these plans and ideals of men have fallen to nothing. Indeed, they tell us why they always will. In Luke's account a Roman tribune is attempting to unravel the elements of the dispute which has caused turmoil in the city. On the one hand there is Paul, who is preaching the good news of Jesus Christ. On the other, are the Jewish chief priests and the Jewish Council. This group has united with the common purpose of getting rid of Paul through whatever method they can find available. Anyone who says the Holy Spirit doesn't have a sense of humor needs to read what follows in Luke's story. Guided by the Spirit, Paul recognizes that the council opposing him is composed of those cemented in opposing theological positions; and he tosses the elephant into their midst. Immediately, chaos erupts. Immediately, their unity disintegrates. Immediately, God's will is done and Paul is set free.

The Gospel, on the other hand, tells what has been missing--- and still is in so much of mankind's planning. We find the key words coming from Jesus. 

"That they may all be one,
as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
that they also may be in us,
so that they may be one, as we are one,
I in them and you in me."

Human ideals and human plans are doomed to perpetual failure. Whether it's called The Republic or Utopia or one of the various philosophical '-isms', no matter how good or righteous, how just or true, every single one will perish in the trash bin of history. Why? Because they are not in God's plans, only ours. 

We have been told to seek first his kingdom, not ours.
We have been told that in Christ we are a new creation.
He has made known to us the mystery of his will.
He has set forth in Christ his plan for the fulness of time.
He wills to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and
things on earth.
         (Ephesians 1:9-10)

We have been told to pray "thy will be done." But it is our own plans we pursue.