Daily Retreat 09/03/08
2008 Sep 3 Wed: Gregory the Great, pp, r, dr M
1 Cor 3: 1-9/ Ps 32(33): 12-13. 14-15. 20-21/ Lk 4: 38-44
From today’s readings: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth.... Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be His own.... At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place....”
Milk instead of solid food
While the heart of the Gospel is truly simple enough that it can (and should!) be taught even to little children, at the same time, it is so profound that not even the wisest or holiest man alive would dare claim that he has sounded its depths. This is, in fact, part of the universal appeal of undiluted Christianity - there’s always more to bite into, enough to feed a lifetime of spiritual hunger whet with a sharply rational appetite!
So obviously, the fullness of Christian dogma cannot be conveyed in one serving. Paul bluntly remarks to the Corinthians that he’s had to feed them only the doctrinal milk of beginners since they have not yet advanced past the infant stage of their faith. Note that Paul does not “water-down” doctrine to accommodate it to beginners; instead, he feeds them with the milk of Christianity, the rich, nutritive, concentrated kernel of faith formula, but he does insist that there is more than just that, for in time, all disciples should advance to solid food.
Too many today are satisfied with simple milk, or, worse still, watered-down portions of the fullness of Christian faith. While physical fasting can indeed feed the soul, there’s never a good reason to impoverish our religious regimen with spiritual fasting, malnutrition, or a diet limited to baby food!
1 Cor 3: 1-9/ Ps 32(33): 12-13. 14-15. 20-21/ Lk 4: 38-44
From today’s readings: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth.... Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be His own.... At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place....”
Milk instead of solid food
While the heart of the Gospel is truly simple enough that it can (and should!) be taught even to little children, at the same time, it is so profound that not even the wisest or holiest man alive would dare claim that he has sounded its depths. This is, in fact, part of the universal appeal of undiluted Christianity - there’s always more to bite into, enough to feed a lifetime of spiritual hunger whet with a sharply rational appetite!
So obviously, the fullness of Christian dogma cannot be conveyed in one serving. Paul bluntly remarks to the Corinthians that he’s had to feed them only the doctrinal milk of beginners since they have not yet advanced past the infant stage of their faith. Note that Paul does not “water-down” doctrine to accommodate it to beginners; instead, he feeds them with the milk of Christianity, the rich, nutritive, concentrated kernel of faith formula, but he does insist that there is more than just that, for in time, all disciples should advance to solid food.
Too many today are satisfied with simple milk, or, worse still, watered-down portions of the fullness of Christian faith. While physical fasting can indeed feed the soul, there’s never a good reason to impoverish our religious regimen with spiritual fasting, malnutrition, or a diet limited to baby food!
posted by FrPitstick | 8/31/2008
<< Home