Devotion for today: Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom: continuing study guide on Lumen Fidei

1 Corinthians 1:18:31: For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.  Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,  but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God;  for the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Let us take a look at yesterday’s questions regarding the first three sections of Lumen Fidei and some possible answers: refer to yesterday’s blog if you did not read the first three passages.

In today’s world, do you think many people see the Catholic faith as a light in the darkness? Or do you think most people think that Catholics are in the dark?

 My husband says that many people do not see the Catholic faith as a light in the darkness. Otherwise there would be more people pursuing the faith as a way of life. He feels the world today sees Catholics as being in the dark. They are inconsequential in the least and a bit ridiculous at best. I think St. Paul addresses this fallacy of the “intelligent progressives” in any age in the above passage, where he states that the foolishness of God is wiser that human wisdom. It seems that in today’s world, if we do not drop the teachings of Christ and conform to the age, we are looked upon as outdated and out of step with the world, which in reality is living and operating in the dark of an evil and spiritually life-threatening darkness.

How does the Light which is the Son of God differ from the light which is the sun of the physical world?

My husband says that the Son of God leads us to goodness whereas the sun of the physical world sheds physical light. It doesn’t show us the way to lead our lives; it just keeps our lives going. I am drawn to the scripture passage where Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). They physical sun will keep us physically alive. It will illumine our physical paths as we travel the roads of life. It can do no more than that for us. The Son of God, however, will lead us on the path to heaven, to eternal life. When society decides that there is no afterlife, that only the earthly pleasures and successes are necessary and that we need not pay any heed to an accountability with God when we die, then you see a return to the pagan worship of the sun god: one who can insure earthly needs and no more.

  

What are some arguments against faith that the Pope mentions?My husband points out that the Pope suggests that the “enlightened” see our religion as being of no use for  our new times, that people have always been anxious to explore the future in novel ways, so once again the faith appears to mankind to be outdated. Of course, we are told, if we are anxious to explore the future in novel ways, then our Faith would just be the illusion of light, an illusion which blocks the path of a liberated humanity to its future. I agree with my husband. I think St. Paul refers to this again in the above passage when he states, “Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” As the saying goes, there is nothing new under the sun. Everyone who feels he has discovered a new way of truth, a new way of life, a new set of morals and standards, is only doing what generations before us have tried to do and failed: prove that God is wrong and man is right. God is never wrong and all “great” societies that did not follow God were destroyed. When will we ever learn?

How would you respond to Nietzsche’s argument against Christianity, especially that it is an illusion?

As St. Paul stated above, “For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.’” In truth, belief is nothing but seeking. We are not born with the knowledge of Christ sufficient for an adult faith. We must constantly seek to find God, to know Him and grow in His ways. We must read, take classes, discuss with others, listen to wise and learned theologians, and pray, pray, pray. Faith is a journey, and not one for the faint of heart. We must be strong and brave as we travel against a culture who says we are wrong. But remember the above words, “The Cross is the power of God.” If God is for us, who can be against us, and win?

We can see the “light of faith” explained by mankind in several ways”: as part of the world of reason, the last resort when all else fails to explain, an emotional response to a need for comfort. Yet, what truly explains the light of faith? In your opinion, what does it really do for mankind?

Faith erases the fear of the unknown. We have no fear because we know Christ. Man says; let me follow the paths to financial success, to pleasure at every turn, to constant gratification, no matter what the cost to my soul. This is how we find our societies today. How many people have created their own definitions of  truth, have no real definition of good and evil, have no path to follow, and are going nowhere fast? As my husband so succinctly stated, “Faith give us direction and hope.”

Prayer For Healing
Lord, You invite all who are burdened to come to You. Allow your healing hand to heal me. Touch my soul with Your compassion for others. Touch my heart with Your courage and infinite love for all. Touch my mind with Your wisdom, that my mouth may always proclaim Your praise. Teach me to reach out to You in my need, and help me to lead others to You by my example. Most loving Heart of Jesus, bring me health in body and spirit that I may serve You with all my strength. Touch gently this life which You have created, now and forever. Amen. http://www.ourcatholicfaith.org/prayer/p-healing.html