It is no secret that in recent years there has been increasing friction between opposing factions in the Church, a friction that hurts a lot, and yet seems inevitable if we consider that preaching increasingly takes on picturesque traits, to use a delicate euphemism.
We therefore travel from one extreme to the other, from those who cry out for progress at all costs (forgetting the truths of faith) to those who forcefully ask, sometimes even too forcefully, for a return to the most ancient traditions.
Now, although these opposing “factions” generate dangerous divisions, it is equally true that taking a position on this thorny issue is practically necessary, given that inside and outside the churches one hears all sorts of things, and it is increasingly difficult for those who want to set out to find the only true path.
Yes, because we are all called to seek the truth, and in this vortex of words shouted from the pulpits there are so many lies, so many dangers of losing the path that leads to God, and so many illogical opinions that it is important to recognize so as not to be led astray.
Then, there is an increasingly urgent need to bring order, because the faithful feel lost and without direction, no longer being able to count on the solidity and coherence of the teaching.
Here is the paradox of the times in which we live: we are invited to believe in Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life, but we cannot find him, because everyone preaches the Jesus they like best and not the true one.
Fundamental questions on which our path to salvation can depend – what is sin?; does hell exist?; and the devil?; what is charity?; how does one become a saint?; why should I trust God? – there are so many questions, so many different answers that we could receive. How can we understand which is the right one?
Let’s start with the assumption that the right way is rarely the easiest. And with this, we can eliminate a few charlatans.
Let us also consider that God is not even a despot. Even the God of the Old Testament is described as slow to anger. So let us also discard those who go overboard with catastrophism.
Can we therefore conclude that the truth lies in the middle? No, it is not enough. The truth is that which God teaches us through His law, that which Jesus preached and testified in the Gospel; again, it is that which is reaffirmed by the saints and the Fathers of the Church.
That is, by those who have put God at the center of their lives, not having spoken by hearsay or by having read things somewhere, but because, together with study, they have combined the experience of God.
The Experience of God
Yes, in the journey of faith, this is exactly what we can do, we can grow spiritually to know God, to always have him at our side, to the point of even having him as a friend.
Without this experience of God, all our speaking will be just, precisely, speaking, expressing our opinion. All things not susceptible to giving true testimony and which, indeed, will often fall on deaf ears or be denied by the facts.
Let’s take a school example. Everyone has met the expert on the situation, the one who gives lessons in faith to everyone, and God forbid that he also has a degree in theology, because at that point the lesson will be imparted from heights unattainable to ordinary human beings.
Then it will happen that this person will have to face a test. One of those tough ones, difficult for anyone, one of those that push us to feel compassion and feelings of affection for this person, even though, there is no point in denying it, we do not like him very much.
Well, often, in situations like this, the unfortunate person finds himself lost, irritable, pessimistic, to the point of losing hope. He can’t find peace, he doesn’t accept the test, he can’t face it. Maybe he tries hard to behave and not show it. But in his heart, he has a crazy fear, the uncertainty wears him down.
Yes, it is perhaps too easy an example, but isn’t it equally frequent?
This is the example of someone who speaks thinking he knows what he is saying but is instead only repeating something he has read or heard but has not experienced, and therefore, in the test, he sadly realizes that all that faith was not authentic.
Faith is seen in times of trial.
Let us return then to the initial question, that is, the choice of the famous “faction” (in quotation marks because, in reality, there should not be factions but only an honest and trusting search for the truth).
Let’s say – and whoever is reading this post probably falls into this case – that we have already made our decision.
Of being, despite ourselves, already lined up on one side or the other. Where on one side are the easy-going ones, those according to whom, to be clear, God is our good friend, who loves us madly without ever reproaching us for anything (what an incredible contradiction!); and on the other side are those of rigor, who, always convinced of being on the side of reason, are ready to bet on how many punishments God will want to pour out on society and individuals.
In between we can find many variants or subcategories, from liturgy haters to superstitious people ready to welcome any prophecy of doom spread by who knows what seer, to those who shudder at the mere mention of tradition, to those whose hair turns white if by chance the priest wears a vestment that they say is inappropriate.
Here, the problem is that there is little truth here. Instead, there is a lot of taking a position. An obstinacy regardless, leaves no room for reasoning and prevents progress on the spiritual path.
Do we know the reasons behind our choices?
Are we deeply aware of the decision we have made?
That is, are we experiencing God, who shows us with His suggestions the path to follow, or have we simply decided to place ourselves on the side that we like best according to our human reasoning?
There is a very interesting episode in the Gospel, which can help shed light on the problem.
It is the story of a rich young man. This boy who meticulously observes the Law of God and who, therefore, could not be reproached for anything. When Jesus indicates to him the commandments to observe to obtain eternal life and the young man responds that he already observes them all, Jesus has nothing to object to.
