A sin we haven’t heard much about for a long time is detraction.  Maybe it’s because it is so easy to fall into and we prefer not to accuse ourselves of it.  Or maybe we believe we can justify it to ourselves because we find a person’s beliefs or attitudes so repugnant (objectively or subjectively).  If we are less “noble” maybe we just want to hurt that person — gain revenge — for a real or perceived slight or for no particularly good reason at all.  Let’s lay out this offense against truth:

 CCC 2477  Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury.  He becomes guilty:…

– of detraction who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another’s faults and failings to persons who did not know them.

CCC 2479  Detraction and calumny destroy the reputation and honor of one’s neighbor.  Honor is the social witness given to human dignity, and everyone enjoys a natural right to the honor of his name and reputation and to respect.  Thus, detraction and calumny offend against the virtues of justice and charity.

Certainly in our day it has become particularly easy to spread such gossip (for that is what it is) in the blink of an eye far and wide (and anonymously, if one so chooses) via social media.  Often the person exposing another’s faults becomes a hero for doing so, so the lure is there.

But the exposer is just lifting himself up for adulation at the expense of another.  Remember the story of the Pharisee and tax collector.  May the attitude of a Christian be that of the latter: “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.” (Luke 18:13).

And even if we eventually, even quickly, feel remorse for our actions, it is too late.  You may have heard the oft-told story, Feathers in the Wind.  Whether or not you have come across it before, check it out here.

A wonderful reflection on today’s gospel (Jn 21:1-14) in my daily missal from Pope St. Gregory the Great (604):

“A person might inquire: why did the Lord after His resurrection stand on the shore while the disciples were tiring themselves on the sea?  Before the resurrection He walked upon the waves in the sight of His disciples.  This mystery is easily solved if we look beneath for the reason.  What else does that sea represent except the present age — an age that spends itself in upsetting quarrels on the surging waves of this passing life?  But the solid shore — is that not a symbol of the land of eternal rest?  Because the disciples were still being tossed around by the waves of this mortal life, they were tiring themselves on the sea.  But because our Redeemer had already raised Himself up out of the corruptibility of the flesh.  He stood on the shore after His resurrection.”

The first doctrine is derived from Calvin’s teaching.  The second is a quote from Luther.  St. Paul, plainly, disagrees on both counts.

“Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal 5:19-21)

“Consequently, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Rom 8:12-13)

“Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor boy prostitutes nor sodomites nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Cor 6:9-10)

“Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones, no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” (Eph 5:3-5)

“I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Cor 9:27)

“So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” (Phil 2:12)

*****

The correct answer to “Are you saved?”

As the Bible says, I am already saved (Rom. 8:24, Eph. 2:5–8), but I’m also being saved (1 Cor. 1:18, 2 Cor. 2:15, Phil. 2:12), and I have the hope that I will be saved (Rom. 5:9–10, 1 Cor. 3:12–15).  Like the apostle Paul I am working out my salvation in fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12), with hopeful confidence in the promises of Christ (Rom. 5:2, 2 Tim. 2:11–13). (Courtesy of Catholic Answers)

The first gospel reading after Easter (Mt 28:8-15) picks up right after Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary” go away from the tomb after the angel tells them that Jesus is risen and that they are to go and tell His disciples.  Now they encounter Jesus and give Him homage.  He also tells them to go to His disciples.  Meanwhile, those who had “guarded” the tomb tell the chief priests everything that went on.  After the chief priests took counsel with the elders they settled on the line above to relay to the guards.  In addition, they tell the guards they will appease the governor if there is any trouble for them on that end.  The soldiers do as they are told, starting a false story that persisted to the day of the writing of the gospel.

Not only did the story endure for a few decades, in some circles it persists to this day, twenty centuries later.  More important for our reflection, consider the action of the Sanhedrin.  They had witnessed Jesus in action for three years, noting all the good He did, hearing Him preach, witnessing His miracles.  Nevertheless, they knowingly put Him to death unjustly.  Then, when He rises as He foretold, instead of finally coming around upon hearing this awesome, never before heard of, news, they double down and after taking counsel — this was not a hasty or knee jerk reaction but a well thought out plan — pay off witnesses to the event.  Their hearts only hardened as did their ancestors time and time again as we read in the Old Testament.

Unlike these Jewish religious leaders, may any hardness in our hearts soften upon the news of the risen Christ, transforming us into “a new creation” (2 Cor 5:17).  That Jesus is alive is not news to hide or deny but to proclaim boldly to the world!  The Lord has defeated death and He “was raised for our justification” (Rom 4:25).

This is good news.  Share it!

I suppose that I’m about six days early with this post, but a talk to which I was listening in the car this morning inspired me to write.

The subject was “the eighth day,” that is, the day of the resurrection of Jesus.  God began creation on the first day of the week (Sunday) and rested on the seventh day (Saturday).  Christ’s exit from the tomb signaled a new creation or renewed creation and thus was dubbed “the eighth day” by the early Fathers of the Church (and why Christians’ sabbath is on Sunday).

The connection between the first day we read about in Genesis (1:3-5) and the resurrection of the Lord (see Mt 28:1-10, Mk 16;1-8, Lk 24:1-12, Jn 20:1-10) jumped out at me like a flash, so to speak.  Matthew tells us an angel whose appearance “was like lightning” rolled back the stone of the tomb (28:2-3).  Luke tells us of two men in “dazzling garments” announced that Jesus was alive (24:4).  And who doesn’t imagine the scene when Jesus rose as one in which His visage was very much like that which amazed the apostles during the Transfiguration (see Mt 17:1–9, Mk 9:2-8, Lk 9:28–36)?

But, to make this connection, we need go no further than Jesus’ own words: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (Jn 8:12).  This same Jesus is the Word of God (see Jn 1:1-5) who effected creation at the beginning of time.  On the first Easter He effected a new creation by conquering death.  In doing so He calls us to reflect that light to others: “You are the light of the world…your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Mt 5:14, 16).

May the coming Easter season see a renewal of that light and may it start with each and every one of us.

For the first time in this blog the headline’s quote does not come from the Bible.  Rather, it is referred to in a commentary on Deuteronomy I’ve been reading (the Navarre Bible; read Deut 30:11-14).  It is from the Council of Trent’s document De iustificatione.  The full quote:

God does not command impossible things; when he makes a commandment he is telling you to do what you can to ask (his help) as regards what is beyond, and he helps you to fulfill it. (11)

Reading this, I immediately thought of the most challenging statement Jesus ever uttered:

So be perfect, just as your heavenly father is perfect. (Mt 5:48)

It is not uncommon to hear persons say, “I’m only human” or “Nobody’s perfect” when they commit some offense.  But this is not the standard to which we are to hold ourselves.  It is inhumane to sin when we compare ourselves to the perfect man, the one we look to as fully human.  Can we be perfect on our own?  Of course not.  But what we often miss is that “for God all things are possible” (Mt 19:26).  As we just read from Trent, God can make up the difference if we conform ourselves to Him.  I am not alone at marveling at the great saints who lamented their shortcomings even though most would look at them as extraordinarily holy (see 1 Tim 1:15).  False humility?  Not a chance.  Rather, they realized more keenly than most the horror of sin and the distance it pushes us away from God.  When we come to this realization in ourselves and throw ourselves upon the mercy of God, begging His graces, we will be amazed at the progress we make.