Radical Catholicism | Back to the Basics | Catholicism without the compromises

The Sword

As soon as he opened the door and began to walk into the classroom, we felt the dynamism and directness of him. Clad in the cassock and roman collar of a catholic priest, he walked erect and purposefully, but not hurriedly, toward the center of the classroom. When he turned and faced the class, we were able to closely observe him. He was relatively tall, slight of build, but yet exuding a physical strength, with a rough lined face, and piercing, though not threatening, eyes. In appearance he was very different from the stereotyped religion teacher. He looked like a warrior and, when he spoke, he was a warrior. “We are to face the world with a sword and fight with it. The sword is the truth of Jesus Christ, God,” was his opening remark to us. And he became more combative as his lecture proceeded. Everyone in the class was mesmerized by his dynamism and controlled aggression. Clearly his calling was to fight and fight hard for belief in God; no compromises, no passivity, no accommodations to the hesitant. The truth of Christ was safe in his hands; he would not back away from it….no, not one step backwards.

The question arises, “Where are the dynamic Catholic leaders today”? Where are the individuals with the fortitude to fight for the truth of Jesus Christ, to proclaim with loving forcefulness his truths? There are too few leaders, but there is no benefit in chastising others. The answer to the leadership issue is simple. It is that every Catholic must accept the challenge and inculcate himself/ herself with the truth of the Church and charge forward defending it against all opponents. Starting within the family unit, Jesus Christ and his Church must be taught, defended, and lived. Then as God guides each one of us we must expand our outreach to others in ways that mirror Jesus’ approach, with dignity, compassion, and understanding. Ask the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit in all endeavors. God will not abandon you; you are doing his work.

Some will urge caution and inquire, “Why do battle, why fight at all?” The answer is simple and direct, ‘We have no choice.” In the book of Job, the need for battle is clearly, succinctly stated, “The life of man on this earth is warfare.” Whether we like it or not, each one of us must engage in battle or submit to the forces of evil. Eagerly and enthusiastically take up the sword of truth and charge forward, listening to and following the promptings of the Holy Spirit!

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus Christ.

Justice and Mercy

A few years ago, there appeared on the Internet the following story about two friends who had not met for several years. It is a story about justice and mercy.

The two man had been the best of friends during their early years; nothing seemed to separate them. Then over a period of time, they gradually began to shape their lives differently. One attended college and law school, eventually becoming a lawyer and subsequently a judge. The other migrated into a life of crime; he became an accomplished thief and conman.

Eventually the thief was caught during one of his acts of thievery and brought into court for trial and possible punishment; his old friend happened to be the judge. The thief was immediately recognized his old friend. Although the judge wished him well, he knew that justice demanded that he had the obligation to render a fair and just verdict on his friend. Thus when the time came to render a verdict, the judge pronounced “guilty” as the judgement; he also placed a substantial fine as the penalty on his friend. Justice was served. Unfortunately, the thief did not have the means to pay the fine so he would have to serve a lengthy jail sentence. Aware of his friend’s limited finances, the judge stepped down from the judge’s bench and, as a private citizen, he proceeded to pay his friend’s fine, enabling him to avoid jail time. Both justice and mercy were served.

In his gospel St. John describes the incident of the adulteress who was threatened with stoning to death for her sin of adultery. The accusers of the woman prompted Jesus Christ to partake in the stoning of the woman; Jesus asks the assembled crowd if anyone among them was without sin and thus prepared to be the first one to stone the woman. When no one came forth to cast the first stone, Jesus announced to the woman. “Since there is no one to condemn you, then neither do I.” This story is quoted frequently as a reminder of God’s great mercy; His mercy seems to be unlimited. However, there is one thing that many people forget to mention in discussing the account of Jesus’ mercy; it is his parting advice to the woman. “Go and sin no more.” Jesus is magnanimous in his mercy, but he balances this mercy with justice. He seems to be saying, “I forgive you completely, but change your life to avoid sin.”

As a result of the sin of Adam and Eve, God’s justice demanded that they and all their descendants be denied access to God….a hellish separation. But God so loved humanity that he satisfied the demands of justice for the sin of Adam and Eve through the suffering of his son Jesus Christ. Both God’s justice and mercy were realized in the life and death of Jesus.

Justice and mercy are two sides of the same coin; they belong together. In addition, all mankind must vigorously avoid sin after receiving forgiveness.

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The Sword

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Justice and Mercy

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