"A certain man gave a great supper, and he invited many." St. Luke, 14:16.
"I believe in the holy, Catholic Church." The Creed.
A priest in a parlor car was joined by three well-dressed gentlemen. One of them asked the padre: "Do you think a man could get to heaven without joining the Church?"
"I think he could," the priest replied.
They laughed, patted him on the back, and called him broadminded.
"Now let me ask you a question," said the priest, "and I want you to answer me just as quickly as I answered you. Why do you want to go to heaven that way?"
They stared at one another speechless.
"Why don't you ask me another question," suggested the priest. "Why don't you ask me if a man could get to England without going on a boat?"
This time they found words, and blurted out: "Well, what is the answer to that one?"
"I see no reason a man could not get to England without going on a ship," the priest admitted, "provided he was a good swimmer, tied some food between his shoulders to eat on the way, had strength to buffet all the waves, and, provided a shark did not get him or a floating log knock him out. And suppose you did get to England without a ship, do you think you would get there much faster or in a much better condition than the man who did take a boat?"
There is part of your answer to the question we hear so often today: "Why religion? What is the use of religion? Do we really need religion? Religion is all right for those who need it, but not necessary for strong souls who can do without it."
In answer to all this we want to state and prove that religion is necessary for all.
We need to be clear about the meaning of religion. It means the tie or bond or union between God and man. Subjectively, that is, as religion exists in the mind of man, it means the continual disposition to recognize God by faith, hope and charity. Objectively, that is, apart from man's thoughts, religion means the sum of beliefs and practices by which man admits his dependence on God. What is the need for such a disposition? What is the need for such a group of beliefs and practices:
1. Man's happiness demands religion, A watch is made to tell time, a knife is made to cut, a bird is made to fly. Man is made to honor God. The most primitive people admit some sort of Supreme Being. To acknowledge Him is religion. Unless man recognizes God, he is like the watch that never tells time, the knife that never cuts, the bird that never flies. Reason tells us that we must live according to our nature. Reason also tells us that there is someone far superior to us whom we must honor. Reason demands religion.
2. Secondly, justice demands religion. Justice demands that we give to everyone what belongs to him. That is a thought at the bottom of every man's thinking. Likewise, at the foundation of every man's thinking is the truth that there is a God. God is superior, supreme. We must honor Him.
3. Thirdly, gratitude demands religion. The same thinking which tells us that we must give every man what is due him, also tells us that we must give every man thanks for favors he has done for us. It is a rockbottom requirement of reason. Who has done more for us than God? We saw in the beginning of this series that God made all things. He is the Author of all good. Everything we have comes from Him. We must thank Him. Outside religion, where and when do men thank God?
4. Order requires religion. Reason demands order; reason detests disorder. A disorderly desk, a disorderly workbench, a disorderly grocery store, make us impatient and unhappy. Thought tells us that man is inferior to God. We must recognize that rank or arrangement; otherwise we will be unhappy. Being superior, God knows better. Reason tells us to follow the plan of the One who knows better. In our case that is God's plan.
5. Honor demands religion. Honor and respect are due to anyone who is above another in whatever field it may be. The highest political honor in the United States is due to the president. The highest religious honor in the world is due to God. Call it worship, call it adoration, call it religion, we owe God the highest respect.
6. Society demands religion. So far we have spoken only of the individual. Religion is necessary for groups of individuals, for the world, for society. The purpose of society is to protect the rights of man, to secure justice, to promote the happiness of its members, to maintain order. Just as the individual cannot be just, cannot be happy, cannot be orderly, cannot be reasonable unless he practices religion, so the state, which is merely a group of individuals, cannot be just and happy unless it acknowledges God.
A world without religion is a world at war - at war with itself, with its neighbors, and with its God. Look at the nations where religion was suppressed and imprisoned in recent wars. What cruelty, what misery, what disaster, what unhappiness! Look at Russia where God not only was given a back seat, but He was shoved out the door. What poverty, what ignorance, what suppression of individual and state freedom!
Religion is as necessary for man as a ship or a plane is for crossing the ocean. You might struggle along without it, but it will be difficult, dangerous, wearisome, and certainly not the best and most reasonable way of getting to heaven.
Today we should renew our commitment to thank God for the one, true religion. We should thank God for inviting us to the great supper. We should thank God that we can thoughtfully, whole-heartedly pray: "I believe in the holy, Catholic Church." I believe in religion. Amen.
__________________________
Adapted from Talks on the Creed
by Fr. Arthur Tonne, OFM (© 1946)
No comments:
Post a Comment