FROM THE SERVANT GENERAL
MODERNISM
(Part 57)
WOE TO SCHOLARS OF THE LAW
October 13, 2022
Today’s gospel: Luke 11:47-54
Jesus rebuked the scholars of the law. “Woe to you, scholars of the law!” (v.52a). Today these would be the theologians, hierarchs and teachers, who are supposed to be learned in the dictates of Christ and his Church. Today many of them have become liberal and modernist.
First, “You have taken away the key of knowledge.” (v.52b). The basic key of knowledge is Christ himself, with the Holy Spirit enlightening the Christian. But modernists today have moved away from Christ and the Holy Spirit to embrace the spirit of the age. They focus on man rather than God. They have become social justice warriors rather than pastors and spiritual guides.
Second, “You yourselves did not enter” (v.52c). Many modernists have become heretic. A heretic is on who contradicts or denies the revelation of God, through the authentic teachings of Jesus and the apostolic Church. Rather than entering more deeply in a life of faith and truth, they have embraced the zeitgeist. Many of them are not even truly Catholic any more.
Third, “you stopped those trying to enter.” (v.52d). They have misled many Catholics, especially the laity, with wrong teaching. In the Church in the West, they have prevented traditional and orthodox Catholics from entering seminary, preferring the homosexualists. They have attacked traditional religious orders, the traditional liturgy, conservative prelates, and orthodox lay groups.
The assault on Christ and his Church is severe and intense. All authentic Catholics (conservative, orthodox, traditional) must oppose such assault. But they must be ready to pay the price, since the rot in the Church is from the very top. And so it was with Paul and the hierarchy at the time. “When he left, the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.” (v.53-54).
Remember that Paul, as Saul, was the favorite of the religious authorities when he zealously worked to stamp out the new Christian sect. Now he was a mortal enemy, and they were even trying to kill him. Those faithful Catholics and Church workers who now speak out against the wrong that is happening can expect to be persecuted in the same way. The liberals and modernists are hostile to those who oppose their agenda, or who point out the wrong that they do or teach.
But keep this in mind. As far as Jesus is concerned, woe to such scholars of the law. And to those who are faithful and will stand up for the truth, what Jesus says stands: “I will send to them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and persecute.” (v.49).
Let us go forth as apostles, those who are sent, to proclaim the gospel of salvation in Jesus. Let us be prophetic in standing up for what is right and just and true. And let us be ready to be persecuted, even by our very own religious leaders.
