Today we celebrate the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas. St. Thomas has been called the "Preeminent spokesman of the Catholic tradition of reason and of Divine Revelation." (Delaney, Dictionary of the Saints) Thomas Aquinas taught that faith and reason help us to arrive at certain conclusions. His best known work is the Summa Theologica, in which he 'dissects' salvation history and its application to the nature of men and women. Thomas instructs us that Jesus had to die for us to, first, save us from our sins, and secondly, teach us how to act.
The Vatican II saw a Church in which the clergy and the laity would continue to study and learn together. More so, the leaders at that time understood the benefit of a Church that reflected theologically on its relationship with God, and the world. We saw that somewhat with small groups and lay ministry and the like. But it has basically fallen short of the expectations of the Council. Aquinas recognized the value of 'doing theology' was so to expand our minds with an understanding and appreciation of God, but also to expand our relationship with God.
As a Pastor what I see sometime there is sort of a 'Christmas Card' relationship with God. We all have folks on our Christmas Card list who we never remove, but we also never communicate with them during the year. Failure to continue to study, reflect, and mull over the truths of our faith can relegate God to the Christmas Card list.
St. Thomas shows us this wonderful relationship between Jesus Christ, and God the Father. Through our participation in the life of Jesus Christ, our ongoing study and reflection, we begin to share in that same relationship with God. Again its all about conversion and discipleship. Our sixth grade understanding of the sacraments, Sin and Evil, or scriptures does not help us much with our adult scenarios.
We pray the opening prayer of Mass today, "May we grow in wisdom, by his teaching and in holiness by imitating his faith."
As a Pastor what I see sometime there is sort of a 'Christmas Card' relationship with God.
ReplyDeleteI read a funny story along these lines on another blog. A church had a bird infestation problem (replete with a "waste problem"). So the priest told his congregation one day during Mass that he'll baptize them, that way they'll only show up at Christmas and Easter. Sad but true.
Being Catholic is not like a gym membership, its a life.