By Fr. Charles Van Winkle, C.S.C.
In May, 1991, the following results of a Gallup Poll were published as a National and International Religious Report: (1) “Fewer than 10% of Americans are deeply committed Christians. (2) These are far, far happier than the rest of the population. (3) Most Americans who profess Christianty don’t act significantly different from non-Christians in their daily lives. (4) Overall the Sunday school and religious education system in this country is not working. Not being grounded in the faith, these professing believers are open to anything that comes along. (5) The churched are just as likely to engage in unethical behavior.”
In April, 2009, the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life published the following: (1) “American Catholicism has been losing members at a remarkable rate. For every person who joins the Catholic Church, four others leave. (2) There are 30,000,000 non-practicing Catholics in the U.S. (3) There are 19,000,000 new cases of STD each year; a pandemic. (4) 60% of marriages that fail today, fail because of pornography.”
“Between Dec. 23, 2009 and Jan. 4, 2010, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, a poll was conducted by the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion among 2,243 Americans between the ages of 18 and 29, the Millennial Generation. The following results were published in the Ap.,2010 issue of ‘Columbia’:
(1) Catholic millennials are less likely to attend religious services at least once a month (25% compared to 35% of all millennials. Overall, millennials have the lowest religious attendance of any generation.
(2) “Only one in five Catholic millennials said sexual relations between an unmarried man and woman are morally wrong, compared with one-third of total millennials, 29% of all Catholics and 39% of the general population.
(3) “The majority of Americans (56%) believe that morals are relative–that is ‘there is no definite right and wrong for everybody.’ Millennials are most likely to take this perspective (64%). An even larger majority of Catholic millennials (82%) embrace moral relativism … and want to deny that things ranging from premarital sex to drug use have moral implications.”
The Gallup Poll came to a very obvious conclusion: “The average Christian has a need for practical help in developing a mature faith.” And even more disturbing, it appears evident that the need is greatest among Catholics who have the fullness of the freeing truth available to us. In this regard, I believe the basic problem is not that most Catholics and other Christians are not of good will. Rather, they readily identify with St. Paul who cried out in anguish and desperation, ” … The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not. For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want … Miserable one that I am! Who will deliver me from this mortal body” (Rom 7:18b,19,24)?
Also, because of the prohibitions and obligations under pain of mortal sin, it is not surprising there are 30,000,000 and counting non-practicing Catholics, and many more joining other less severe religions that are less likely to promote scruples.
Particularly in the Catholic Church, we must accentuate the positive to enable all of good will to experience that “His commandments are not burdensome” (1 Jn 5:3b). That is, if we accept and apply what St Paul learned, we also will realize the commandments are not burdensome; rather, they are the GOD, the Good Orderly Direction that sets us free.
Accordingly, the practical help that St. Paul received and accepted was that of himself he could do nothing, but that all things are possible through childlike, steadfast faith in Jesus Christ: FAITH, Find All It Takes Here in JESUS, for Jesus Eternally Serves Us Salvation, for CHRIST, Christ Has Risen In Saving Triumph that we celebrate in the MASS, Messiah Always Serving Salvation.
Let us consider the Scriptural practical application for ourselves; what I refer to as the Faith-Love Principle. Our sins are not the problem. Rather, they are symptomatic of the problem all of us have to some degree, failing to do what Jesus says we must immediately do when tempted: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness … ” (Mt 6:33a).
To emphasize the importance of the immediacy of response when tempted, Jesus says, “Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it” (Mk 10:15). When a little child enncounters any danger, he or she does not hesitate, but is programmed immediately in faith to retreat to the protective love of a trustworthy person. Likewise, Jesus says when we are tempted, we must retreat with the spontaneity of a little child to him, because “Without me you can do nothing ” (Jn 15:5b). For “Your opponent the devil is prowling like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith … ” (1 Pt 5:8b, 9a). When failing immediately to take advantage of the grace of the present moment, we give the devil a commanding foothold. “He (She) who hesitates is lost.”
Three times in Scripture–Joel 4, Romans 10 and Acts 1–we are told that “Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” Therefore, in applying the “Faith-Love Principle,” at the very first sign of temptation, react as a little child in the face of danger; that is, when tempted, like withdrawing your fingers from a hot stove, immediately retreat to Jesus who dwells in your heart through baptism. And at that same moment, in your mind–not on your lips–one time say, “No, in the name of Jesus.” In the name of Jesus means with the strength of Jesus. “Jesus” means “Savior” and in Hebrew means “Healer.” The love you express by immediately rejecting the temptation through faith in Jesus enables you to be open to his saving, transforming love.
Therefore, after one time mentally saying “No, in the name of Jesus,” immediately to the rhythm of your breathing hear the word “Jesus” in your mind; that is, simply breathe in the first syllable and breathe out the second syllable. Continue this faith-breathing exercise until the temptation is overcome–until you realize the promise of Jesus: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest … For my yoke is easy, and my burden light” (Mt 11:28,30).
Since “Jesus” means “Savior” and “Healer,” as you make the loving act of the will instantly in the name of Jesus to reject the temptation and immediately begin breathing “Jesus,” not only are you being saved from the temptation, but you are also being healed. You are gaining increasing control of your fallen human nature and becoming more happy, free and confident about the present and the future. “For the love of God is this, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome … And the victory that conquers the world is our faith” (1 Jn 5:3,4b).
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