Abbey-Roads2

Today’s lectio.

“I have told you before and now I tell you again, even in tears, many conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their end is destruction.  Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their shame.  Their minds are occupied with earthly things.” Philippians 3

Today’s reading pretty much sums up contemporary society, don’t you agree?  An extension of Paul’s meaning is found in Romans 16:  “I beg you, be on watch against those who cause dissension and scandal, contrary to the teaching you have received.  Avoid their company.  Such serve, not Christ our Lord, but their own bellies, and they deceive the simpleminded with smooth and flattering speech.”

How can one serve one’s own stomach?  Immediately eating and drinking comes to mind - or “self-indulgence and worldly cares” which the Lord warned us against.  Our contemporary preoccupation with diet and fitness also comes to mind, that desire for the perfect body and rock hard abs, etc.  Which leads some to a kind of idolatry of the human body, accompanied by exhibitionism and seductive fashions - if one is wearing anything at all.  Nonetheless, this is a superficial reading of the text - I believe Paul is mourning those who have become anti-gospel, anti-Christ. 

Love of the world.

St. John cautions us here as well, “Have no love for the world, nor the things the world affords.  If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love has no place in him, for nothing the world affords comes from the Father.  Carnal allurements, enticements for the eye, the life of empty show - all these are from the world.  And the world with its seductions is passing away, but the man who does God’s will endures forever.” 1 John 2; 15-17

When we prefer our luxuries, our hedonistic pursuit of pleasure, and our egoistic pretensions of status, we end up becoming enemies of the cross of Christ.  It is easy to spot others who are at enmity with His cross, although it is sometimes difficult to see it in ourselves.  In our quest for material wealth and success, many of us idolize these things, along with those celebrities who have acheived them.  The rich and famous almost become cult figures for us.  We tolerate and excuse their bad behavior because we value their prestige and wealth, while we often imitate their excess.  Because of this, we can come to the point where we reject the cross and any notion of suffering or sacrifice it imposes.

New Age Religion.

This mindset is evident in the preaching heard at feel-good mega Churches - success equals God’s blessing.  The Gospel According to Oprah (I believe there is a book with that title) is directed towards achieving personal fullfilment and success, as well as a life devoid of discomfort or sorrow.  Every variation of new age spirituality has the exact same goal, which is ultimately anti-Christ, and in essence makes its adherents enemies of the cross of Christ.

In ”The Ascent of Mount Carmel” holy father St. John of the Cross almost cries out,  “Oh!  who can explain the extent of the denial our Lord wishes of us!”  Later he continues, “The journey,” (Our following of Christ.) does not consist in recreations, experiences, and spiritual feelings, but in the living, sensory and spiritual, exterior and interior death of the cross.”  Ascent, Bk II, chp. 7  (The entire chapter is an excellent read for Lent.)

The folly of the cross.

In 1 Corinthians, Paul writes of the folly of the cross, “The message of the cross is complete absurdity to those who are headed for ruin, but to us who are experiencing salvation it is the power of God.”  The cross is indeed a stumbling block for the worldly minded, an absurdity to those outside the faith, yet Paul continues on to affirm, “God’s folly is wiser than men, and his weakness more powerful than men.”  1 Corinthians 1

Yet who can understand suffering?  Again we need to consider Paul’s advice, “Endure your trials as the discipline of God, who deals with you as sons.  For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?  If you do not know the discipline of sons, you are not sons but bastards…At the time it is administered, all discipline seems a cause for grief and not for joy, but later it brings forth the fruit of peace and justice to those who are trained in its school.”  Hebrews 12

It is interesting that Paul, in the first reading from Philippians was not condemning the so-called enemies of the cross, rather he lamented their condition, even with tears.  I find this echoed in the words of John of the Cross where he also laments:

“From my observations Christ is to a great extent unknown by those who consider themselves His friends.  Because of their extreme self-love they go about seeking in Him  their own consolations and satisfactions.  But they do not seek, out of great love for Him, His bitter trials and deaths.”  Ascent II, 7:12

Pray for me that I may be worthy of the promises of Christ - for thus far, I have only gloried in my shame.