These Live in the Human Heart

In Veritatis Splendor, Pope John Paul II, quoting St. Paul, discusses how the Gentiles, even though they do not have explicit Divine Revelation or the Law as did the Israelites, often manage to follow the Ten Commandments nonetheless, because they have the benefit of the natural moral law. “When Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, they … show that what the law requires is written on their hearts …”(1)
Footnote:
1. Romans 2:14-15;cited in Veritatis Splendor, #57

These Live for All Time

In one of Sophocles' greatest works, Creon and his brother, who is King, are involved in mortal combat for the rule of the kingdom. Creon defeats and kills the King, his brother, in the battle, leaving his dead body in the fields for the birds to consume and devour. Now, the King’s sister, Antigone, is a decent maiden who has the natural moral law written in her heart. Therefore, she attempts to remove the King’s body from the field and give him a decent burial. In response, Creon, the usurper king, makes a law that it is a capital crime to bury the King. This is—of course—an unjust law since it violates the natural moral law. Indeed, Saint Thomas Aquinas taught: Mala lex, nulla lex, which translated is rendered: “A bad law is no law.” In other words, no human authority can make a law that contradicts the natural moral law. If such a law is made, it has no binding force whatsoever, and ought to be resisted. This, it seems, is what Sophocles was trying to say when he wrote Antigone. In Sophocles’ marvelous work, Antigone, a courageous and noble maiden, tells Creon that his laws, even if he were a legitimate king, can override neither the eternal law nor the natural law. For "these live, not for today and yesterday but for all time." There is a message here for the elite and politically powerful of our day who legislate in favor of abortion, same-sex unions, and other atrocities that go against the natural law. And naturally there is a message for the humble person who tries to follow the natural law, which is written in his heart. It is the message of Saint Paul to the Corinthians: Do not lose heart, “For God has chosen what the world considers weak and foolish to shame the ‘wise’ and the powerful, that no flesh may glory in God’s sight.” Be of good heart; fight the good fight. Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of the natural, eternal, and divine law, is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Jesus is the ultimate Victor. To Him be glory and power and dominion for all ages, world without end. Amen.