Religious reflections explore spiritual law and social activism

Religious reflections for the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time explore the relationship between spiritual devotion and societal laws. The Gospel of Luke features Jesus addressing questions regarding fasting, using parables of new wine in fresh wineskins to illustrate the necessity of new perspectives.

In connection to these themes, reflections on the activism of the Catonsville Nine highlight the tension between following religious principles and adhering to man-made laws. The discussion references Daniel Berrigan’s play regarding activists who protested the Vietnam War, suggesting that true following of Christ may require a freedom that necessitates acting outside of established legal frameworks to serve a higher moral purpose.