FROM THE SERVANT GENERAL
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
(Part 97)
MODERNISM
April 19, 2021
Today’s readings:
Acts 6:8-15
Psalm 119:23-30
John 6:22-29
Today’s gospel brings us to today’s modernist thought even within our Church. The crowds sought out Jesus, who said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled.” (Jn 6:26). Their physical and bodily needs were met, but they missed the signs, the significant meaning of Jesus’ miraculous act. Their focus was not really on Jesus, but on what Jesus could do for them. They were going all-out searching for and following Jesus, but only because he was useful to their needs (Jesus indeed was useful to their spiritual needs, but they missed this).
Today, there are those in our Church that look to the secular well-being of man but in so doing neglect or even abandon the truth and righteousness of God. For example:
- Bishops and priests insisting on blessing same-sex unions even in the face of the Vatican’s pronouncement that the Church cannot bless evil.
- Bishops and priests giving Holy Communion to public figures that are rabidly pro-abortion.
- Bishops and priests accepting and welcoming LGBT, and saying and doing nothing to get them out of sinful lifestyles.
- Those looking to an international fraternity of man but professing that all religions are valid and lead to the divine.
- Those seeking to accompany, welcome and embrace grave sinners without trying to get them out of their sin.
What actually is the proper posture for Christians? Jesus says it. “Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” (Jn 6:27a). We must be more concerned about the life hereafter than the life here and now. For what good is food now (and we are well satisfied bodily) if we do not truly receive the food that endures for eternal life? But the modernist postures and teachings leave Christians in their sin, and will be bereft of eternal life.
Jesus’ words made the crowd think, and they asked, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” (Jn 6:28). Jesus answered, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.” (Jn 6:29). Why did Jesus do his miraculous deeds? Was he just out to satisfy human needs or was there more? Was he just a great humanitarian or something more? Did he intend to just fulfill human desires or was he looking beyond these? Jesus did what he did so that people might put their faith in him, that they would ultimately recognize him as Messiah, and that they would be led to the God who sent him.
So what are we to do? Well, we are talking of Christians who have already put their faith in Jesus, which is the basic step. But if they accept Jesus, then they need to know what Jesus teaches. Their faith must be built on rock, and not human perceptions or worse, modernist thought, which puts forth untruths that are contrary to authentic Christian faith. Christians are being deceived, even by those in authority. So we say, “Lead me from the way of deceit; favor me with your law.” (Ps 119:29). How are we led from deceit? By knowing God’s law. How do we know God’s law? Our most basic source, especially in the face of false teaching from religious authorities, is the Bible.
We must first of all read the Bible, which many lay Catholics do not do. Then we not only read but we meditate on what we read. “Your servant meditates on your statutes.” (Ps 119:23b). We internalize; we study; we learn; we are taught by the Holy Spirit. Then we will be guided. “Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.” (Ps 119:24). What are truths about the word of God for us?
- As we reflect and meditate on the word of God, we will understand God’s ways. “Make me understand the way of your precepts; I will ponder your wondrous deeds.” (Ps 119:27). The crowd would have understood if only they focused on what Jesus was teaching them rather than how he was able to feed them. He was feeding them the word of God, but they missed that because of their focus on their own human satisfaction.
- As we are sinners still, God will teach us how to overcome our sinful ways. “I disclosed my ways and you answered me; teach me your statutes.” (Ps 119:26. The modernist teachings make us continue to be sinners, to be accepting and comfortable in our sin rather than rejecting it.
- As we face the impoverishment of our spiritual lives, we will experience true life. “My soul clings to the dust; give me life in accord with your word.” (Ps 119:25).
- As we face many challenges and sorrows in life, God’s word is what will give us new perspectives (especially the eternal one), comfort, confidence (no longer on ourselves but on God), and joy. “My soul is depressed; lift me up according to your word.” (Ps 119:28).
- As we learn of and from God’s word, we must then choose to be faithful to God’s laws and way of life. “The way of loyalty I have chosen: I have kept your judgments.” (Ps 119:30).
What then can we become? We can become like Stephen, the first martyr. He was filled with the Spirit and wisdom (Acts 6:3) and thus was “filled with grace and power” (Acts 6:8a). He debated with religious Jews such as “members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen” (Acts 6:9), “but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.” (Acts 6:10). Where did he get his wisdom? From the holy scriptures, animated by the Holy Spirit. Indeed, the sword of the Spirit is the word of God (Eph 6:17).
Not being able to win the argument, what did those who opposed Stephen do? They instigated some men to lie about him, they stirred up the people, they presented false witnesses against him (Acts 6:11-13). What can we then expect from modernists? They will twist scripture to suit their own narrative, they will tell untruths that contradict age-old Church teachings, they will malign those who oppose them, they will exclude authentic Catholics from positions of authority in the Church.
They killed Jesus. They killed Stephen. As of now, modernists, both within the state and within the Church, will cancel you (in effect killing you off from society). But Jesus did say that at the end of the age, you will be handed over to persecution and they will kill you (Mt 24:9a).
So what now? We go back to Jesus speaking to the crowd, and be firm in looking not just to this life but to eternal life.