IC 2:11, 7th Sunday of Year B,
There is a little barb
concealed in this week’s pastor’s column–a rather common occurrence, as you may
know–a barb that reproves Catholics for their negligence in prayer, leading to
what I estimate
to be the source of our current international troubles. A rather simplistic view, as I myself acknowledge. The spiritual
world-view is not the one that most people, including many Catholics, will
likely find convincing. I find some consolation in the Gospel passage just read
wherein Jesus is chided by the onlookers for declaring a man’s sins forgiven. Since they could not see the invisible curing of his soul–which
they ought to have accepted in faith, Jesus proceeds to cure the man’s body.
Yes! ‘results’ is what they want: tangible signs,
visible miracles. As for the forgiveness of sin, well, that’s less impressive, and ?who knows if it’s true? Such is the attitude of the
skeptic, and it pretty well captures the frame of mind of many people today
about matters of faith: nice things surely, interesting things, but, even if
true, not of highest priority.
I recall that our Lord once
let out what seems to have been a little secret from His heart, almost as if it
slipped out unintentionally. He wondered whether, when He would return to earth
at the end of the ages, He would find any faith on earth. Now, of course, as
God He knew the answer to the question: it was a mere rhetorical device meant
to arouse in the souls of his hearers a little holy fear, lest they might lose
the precious gift of faith they had been given. At another time, our Lord
warned His disciples that, although they are the salt of the earth, should the
salt lose its taste, they would become worthless. In a similar vein, in the
Book of Revelation, one of the reproofs from God levels against the church at
We need to hear again the
words of Saint Paul today: truth is not at one time ‘yes’ only to be reversed
later as ‘no.’ God’s fidelity is His unchangeableness; our nature, by contrast,
is characteristically fickle. God’s commandments do not change; He is as
exacting as only perfect Justice can be. That He is also all-merciful (which
our readings today demonstrate fully) must not become a deceptive inducement to
presumption. We have to be reminded over and over to stay on the narrow way and
not gambol widely in the world. We have to practice devotion lest we lose the
sweetness of our conversation with God. We have to keep vigil over allurements
that are sinful. If we let go just a bit on the rope, we will slip and fall.
The Imitation of Christ
also has a word of admonition for today. Our religion should not be a veiled
form of self-love. If we love Jesus, not for our own pleasure, but for His good
pleasure, we have to take up His cross. When our religion is sweet and joyful,
we are willing disciples; but when Jesus ascends
Jesus
has many who love His kingdom in Heaven, but few who bear His Cross. He has
many who desire comfort, but few who desire His suffering. He finds many to
share His feast, but few His fasting. All desire to rejoice with Him, but few
are willing to suffer for His sake. Many follow Jesus in the Breaking of Bread,
but few to the drinking of the Cup of His Passion. Many love Jesus as long as
no hardship touches them; many praise and bless Him, as long as they are
receiving any comfort from Him; but if Jesus withdraw Himself, they fall to
complaining and utter dejection.
If this sounds familiar and
hits home, that is how it is with fallen nature generally. But our vocation is
to rise above native deficiencies and become purer in our love and devotion to
God who is not so well-content as we–to remain
ourselves “as we are”–but who want us to become saints.
We come to Mass to refresh our weary spirits; to receive the life-sustaining Bread of Life which is Christ Himself; and to renew our promises to be firm, resolute, faithful disciples of Christ and true Roman Catholic Christians.