Truth Has to be Repeated Constantly

Truth has to be repeated constantly, because Error also is being preached all the time, and not just by a few, but by the multitude. In the Press and Encyclopaedias, in Schools and Universities, everywhere Error holds sway, feeling happy and comfortable in the knowledge of having Majority on its side   Goethe (1749-1832).

Some people seem to think that Catholicism is a ‘pick and choose’ religion.  This way is much easier because you can believe the things you like and don’t need to bother about believing the things that you don’t like or that make you feel uncomfortable (translation = guilty).

This sort of attitude is all around us. Not long ago, I heard a woman say that since she had not had children she didn’t feel she could express an opinion about abortion. This was bad enough to hear from a practising Catholic, but this woman is also living as a consecrated layperson. 

Other examples of ‘pick and choose’:

F. and M. were raised in the Catholic faith and accept all of it – except for one thing they cannot accept and won’t even think about – the crucifixion. Both explain that, as mothers, it just seems too awful. But the resurrection of Jesus is meaningless without the crucifixion. Their faith is reduced to rituals without meaning.

P. ‘has a brain of her own’ and doesn’t need to hear what the church teaches. Unfortunately, when someone asks her about Catholicism, she has no answers.

M. is a stickler for the rules. During private prayer, in a church ‘built backwards’ with the altar on the west side, he stands facing east ‘where the altar should be’ – and prays with his back to the tabernacle and ‘hidden Jesus.’

All of the above tick the box Roman Catholic. They attend mass and take communion regularly. And yet, in these four families, none of the children practise the faith and none of the grandchildren are even baptised. It is no mystery why. It is not possible to break Truth into pieces, leave the bits you don’t care for, and only believe the bits you like. 

Jesus stated clearly, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)  Jesus taught us the truth and his apostles continue to learn and teach the truth. Ours is not a Gnostic religion full of secrets meant for only a few to learn. Our faith has no secrets kept for the few because we are all meant to get to heaven. 

The passing thing can never be the ultimate purpose of immortal beings [F. Sheed (1897-1981].

We are already living our eternal life. It is not going to be something different that begins after we die. Right now, right this minute we are eternal souls on our way to heaven. In the early years of Christianity, we called ourselves ‘the Way’ and  ‘followers of the Way’.  Our way is to follow Jesus, to walk His path, and obey His commandments. He taught us exactly how to follow Him and how to make our way through this life to eternity with Him in Heaven. “You know the way to the place where I am going.” (John 14:4)

Remember Jesus said,  “My way is easy”. The road is narrow but is not difficult in itself. Rather, it is difficult when we forget to look where we are going and where we place our feet. 

We walk with our eyes closed, self-contained, and shut off from everything except the space and pattern of our own days. We walk constantly turning our heads, our attention caught randomly by one thing or another alongside the Way, we are distracted away from our destination and wander off the path. We toss away our map, shut our ears to the directions given us by Jesus; instead, we use our wits, use our brains to guide us. The map shows left, but we heard there’s a shortcut and go another way.

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it (Matthew 7:13-14).

We shut our eyes and stumble over old habits and step off into thorns and nettles.

We look to one side and the other and are tempted off the path to chase the mirage of false doctrines and quick fixes.

We shut our ears and throw away the map Jesus drew for us to find his father’s house. We wilfully step off the path and walk purposefully in the wrong direction only to find ourselves walking through the valley of death with no one to guide us.

Much of the time we are simply too clever for our own good. We water down the commandments. Prayer becomes good thoughts. Almsgiving becomes shopping in a charity shop. Fasting becomes shunning donuts and eating fruit instead. There is nothing bad about good thoughts, charity shops, or eating healthy foods. But these are not the same as prayer, almsgiving, and fasting.  These are diluted practices, only partly-penitential acts, and as such “will never make your voice heard on high.” (Isaiah 58).

If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—  the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you  (John 14:15-17)