As promised, I'll be on the Son Rise Morning Show with Matt Swaim at about 7:50 a.m. Eastern/6:50 a.m. Central to talk about St. John Henry Newman's PPS (Parochial and Plain Sermon) "Knowledge of God's Will". Please listen live here; the podcast will be archived here.
On Friday, I left off just as Newman was counselling a repentant sinner who wants to convert, do penance, and obey God more than he has before. But he can't quite do it: "Here a man draws back. No; he cannot bear to lose the love of the world, to part with his present desires and tastes; he cannot consent to be changed." Newman further says that what he really wants is not change but to have "his conscience taken out of the way" so he can get on with his life.
But then Newman goes deeper: what about the person who really wants to change? What does she do?
But if a man is in earnest in wishing to get at the depths of his own heart, to expel the evil, to purify the good, and to gain power over himself, so as to do as well as know the Truth, what is the difficulty?—a matter of time indeed, but not of uncertainty is the recovery of such a man. So simple is the rule which he must follow, and so trite, that at first he will be surprised to hear it. God does great things by plain methods; and men start from them through pride, because they are plain. . . . Christ says, "Watch and pray;" herein lies our cure. To watch and to pray are surely in our power, and by these means we are certain of getting strength. You feel your weakness; you fear to be overcome by temptation: then keep out of the way of it.
With the words "Watch and Pray" Newman cites the other great event of Holy Thursday, Jesus's Agony in the Garden, which we normally commemorate by our vigil before the Blessed Sacrament in the Altar of Repose after the Mass of the Lord's Supper. Our Lord told the disciples to "Watch and Pray" while He prayed, preparing for His Passion. (They fell asleep.)
How do you keep out of the way of temptation? "Watch and Pray":
Avoid society which is likely to mislead you; flee from the very shadow of evil; you cannot be too careful; better be a little too strict than a little too easy,—it is the safer side. Abstain from reading books which are dangerous to you. Turn from bad thoughts when they arise, set about some business, begin conversing with some friend, or say to yourself the Lord's Prayer reverently. When you are urged by temptation, whether it be by the threats of the world, false shame, self-interest, provoking conduct on the part of another, or the world's sinful pleasures, urged to be cowardly, or covetous, or unforgiving, or sensual, shut your eyes and think of Christ's precious blood-shedding. Do not dare to say you cannot help sinning; a little attention to these points will go far (through God's grace) to keep you in the right way. And again, pray as well as watch.
Then Newman reminds us:
You must know that you can do nothing of yourself; your past experience has taught you this; therefore look to God for the will and the power; ask Him earnestly in His Son's name; seek His holy ordinances. Is not this in your power? Have you not power at least over the limbs of your body, so as to attend the means of grace constantly? Have you literally not the power to come hither; to observe the Fasts and Festivals of the Church; to come to His Holy Altar and receive the Bread of Life? Get yourself, at least, to do this; to put out the hand, to take His gracious Body and Blood; this is no arduous work;—and you say you really wish to gain the blessings He offers. What would you have more than a free gift, vouchsafed "without money and without price?" So, make no more excuses; murmur not about your own bad heart, your knowing and resolving, and not doing. Here is your remedy.
I know that all of us want to "come hither" to celebrate the Fast and Festivals of the Church in our parishes, but we can't--we have to observe them from home, either on-line or in private prayer--and all of us want to "receive the Bread of Life" but we can't--we must unite ourselves to Jesus spiritually.
We "literally" do not have "the power to come hither", but we can all still "Watch and Pray".
Image Credit: The Agony in the Garden by El Greco, c. 1590
No comments:
Post a Comment