Most of you who read A Catholic Moment regularly are aware that my wife is Jewish. I need to restate this occasionally for new readers who believe they are getting on a Catholic blog and start reading about things like the Torah, synagogues and maybe an occasional bit on circumcision. It is hard though to avoid the tie in to our faith since Catholicism is so rooted in our Jewish heritage.
A few years ago, the rabbi at our synagogue led a study group on how Jews, at least how Reform Jews, view the New Testament. One of the interesting points he made during the talk was when he relayed a conversation, he had with a Christian minister friend. He had asked her if she had to choose one aspect or story of her faith that she thought was more of a made-up story rather than historical fact, what would it be. For him, it was the story of Purim. This is the story of Haman, the assistant to the king in Persia, who wanted to kill all the Jews in the kingdom, but they were saved by Esther, the Jewish Queen. The minister then told Rabbi that, for her, the story she did not view as being historical in Christianity was the story of the Resurrection of Christ. Even our Rabbi was stunned. After all, without the resurrection, the Christian faith is built on sandy soil. The bedrock of our belief system would be shaky or non-existent.
What would have motivated a learned minister, one with degrees in Theology, to deny the very foundation of our faith as Christians? Could it be that her years of learning had allowed her to lose sight of the very basis of what we believe? In a way it seemed that she was trying to be “edgy” and controversial in a way some academics do. To question and debate. Even fundamental principles. It is very easy, I think, to get so wrapped up in academic aspect of learning that it is almost as though the process becomes what is worshipped. Becoming almost a false god allowing faith to take a back seat.
Which brings us to the Gospel reading for today. Jesus receives the 72 disciples back from their successful mission driving out demons and healing the sick. He then tells them how fortunate they are to have experienced these things for they have been kept from the wise and learned but revealed to the child-like. Now I am not sure the disciples would have been happy to be referred to as the child-like but I am guessing that they did not get the point Jesus was making since they were, well, child-like! I think what Jesus was saying here is that they received the words Jesus was conveying, seeing the miracles being performed, through wide open eyes. Without being clouded by pre-existing schooling. As the Pharisees would have been. The law was their god and they could not open their hearts to Jesus’ teachings. Hearts of stone remained as chunks of concrete in their chests. They heard but would not listen.
Now this is not to say that learning is bad. We are told to study scripture, read good books on Christian teaching, read the catechism, attend retreats, etc. All to allow us to better know God and His Son. We are to become the best versions of ourselves. But all this learning should not take the place of the faith in the things that we cannot know. In today’s first reading we have the last chapter of the story of Job. If you recall, the devil challenges God to strike down all that God’s trusted servant Job has received and God would see Job deny Him and walk away. And at first this is what happens. But at some point, during the book, God tells Job that he cannot know His ways. That God’s ways are far above Job’s. There is no way for Job to understand why God does what he does. And in the end Job accepts all that had happened to him as part of God’s plan. He accepted in faith and God rewarded his faith.
So, continue to study and learn about our wonderful Catholic faith to the best of your ability. But never forget why you are doing it. Never forget at the center of it all is the Lord of our salvation who, yes, DID in fact rise from the dead.
