FROM THE SERVANT GENERAL
MODERNISM
(Part 17)
GOD OR MAMMON
November 6, 2021
Today’s reading:
Romans 16:3-27
Luke 16:9-15
In his letter to the Romans, Paul greets many people. How are these people described? They are “co-workers in Christ Jesus,” they are “for Christ,” “in Christ,” “in the Lord,” “approved in Christ,” “the holy ones.” (Rom 16:3-15). They are to “greet one another with a holy kiss.” (Rom 16:16a). These are the authentic people of God, and they are those whose life and work are centered on Jesus, who strive for lives of holiness.
How about modernists, including pastors and hierarchs, in our Church today? They look to man and hardly to Christ. In fact, in accepting sinful man, they violate the righteousness of God. For example, they accept the sinner but do not talk of his sin, because they do not want to offend the sinner. Even the Pope can be faulted.
- In advancing climate change advocacy, he is aligned with globalists and depopulationists, who strongly advocate for abortion and LGBT, and he hardly mentions Christ or spirituality in this advocacy.
- He appointed notorious population control advocate Jeffrey Sachs to the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.
- US President Biden, a rabid pro-abort, says the Pope told him he is a good Catholic and should continue to receive Holy Communion.
Modernists talk a nice talk. They talk of love, acceptance, accompaniment, embrace, mercy, care for the poor, care for the environment. These certainly are important values, but if directed solely to human well-being while their actions violate the commandments of God, then it is not good. It becomes false mercy. Unfortunately, ordinary Catholics continue to be deceived. “By fair and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the innocent.” (Rom 16:18b).
This is why we are “to be wise as to what is good, and simple as to what is evil” (Rom 16:19b). We are to know and to discern what is truly good, and we are to reject what is evil.
Jesus tells us, “No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Lk 16:13). Man is oftentimes after mammon. That is why he falls into sin. He wants his physical and material well-being, and in looking to this, oftentimes sins against God.
Now modernists indulge man in this. They love the sinner but do not hate the sin. Thus pro-aborts and LGBTs are not confronted with their sin and are even given Holy Communion. And these grave sinners, able to keep indulging in their sin, love them for it. Jesus has this to say to them: “You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.” (Lk 16:15).
Paul tells us, “I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create dissensions and obstacles, in opposition to the teaching that you learned; avoid them.” (Rom 16:17). Modernists today have certainly created a deep divide in our Church, between conservative tradition-minded Catholics and those who have become liberal. Even the suppression by the Pope of the Tridentine Mass has led to a sharp divide. We must know what is authentic Christian teaching, what has been taught to us through the ages. We are to avoid those who teach otherwise, such as the modernists do.
So look to the authentic gospel. Look to what Jesus himself has proclaimed. Look to the prophets. Look to the age-old teachings of our Church that help reveal the mysteries of God. Obey the commands of God. Look to God’s and not man’s wisdom. All this is the true way of God and not mammon. “Now to him who can strengthen you, according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages but now manifested through the prophetic writings and, according to the command of the eternal God, made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith, to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Rom 16:25-27).
Looking to human well-being apart from God and continuing to love mammon is the way to perdition. It is part of the evil one’s trickery. So we must reject modernism in our Church. “Then the God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet.” (Rom 16:20a).
