Recently I read something touting a "politically correct" (but unmistakably warned against in Scripture) lifestyle as being something Jesus would applaud.
I immediately thought: "Oh, really?"
Just who, I asked, is this Jesus of whom the writer is speaking? It's definitely not the Jesus quoted and taught about in Scripture and 2,000 years of the Church. The real Christ clearly taught against what the author was endorsing.
This is extremely important. Nothing in our lives could be more important. For those of us who want to respond to the world through the "grillwork" of God's will, a knowledge of the real Jesus is critical.
If I am going to see the world through Scripture and the teachings of the Church, I must have a working knowledge of what these are. I cannot make them up for myself. And certainly I can't invent my own jesus, one who will approve of everything I do.. even sin. The real Jesus loves me; He genuinely loves me. He cares enough about me to correct my missteps.
The real Jesus does not overlook the cliffs I'm blindly frolicking about on. He is not afraid of warning me about them lest He interrupt my fun. Because He loves me, He wants to protect me from the enemy of my soul
"We can make the mistake of trying to make hard truths so palatable," writes Dan Burke at Roman Catholic Spiritual Direction, "that we end up presenting half-truths or even worse, untruths (implied or actual).... Yes, we can and must say “come as you are”; but we must also proclaim that the God of Love who meets us where we are, loves us too much to leave us there. He calls us to union with Him where we will find the Truth that sets us free to know and live an abundant life in Him."
How do I get to know the real Jesus?
Ah, we have such a gift in the Official Catechism of the Catholic Church, which is clearly laid out and indexed. In this treasured resource, I can find out what the Church actually teaches on a specific subject. The Catechism is accessible, clear, and easy to understand.
Most importantly, I get to know the Real Jesus proclaimed in Scripture. For those who aren't accustomed to reading the Bible, I suggest beginning with the Gospel of John.... reading straight through, taking it slowly and prayerfully (definitely prayerfully). Matthew, Mark and Luke reveal more and more of Him. And in the epistles, I learn what St. Paul and the other writers teach about living totally (not just partly) for Christ.
"When someone comes preaching another Jesus than the One we preached, or when you receive a different spirit than the one you have received, or a gospel other than the one you accepted, you seem to endure it quite well." (2 Corinthians 11:4)
May such a thing never be said of us.
Painting: Carl Heinrich Bloch, Jesus Tempted
Yes indeed!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Patty.
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