Radical skepticism and cognitive dissonance

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to respond to skepticism and the needs of the disadvantaged even as we encounter those who are lacking in virtue.

Before the Mysteries of God

The Book of Ecclesiastes has been described as an honest and blunt appraisal of the human condition that is focused today on the futility in seeking change.

* [1:11] Movement in nature and human activity appears to result in change and progress. The author argues that this change and progress are an illusion: “Nothing is new under the sun.”

The Gospel of Luke captures the misunderstanding of Herod of the mission of John the Baptist and Jesus.

* [9:9] And he kept trying to see him: this indication of Herod’s interest in Jesus prepares for Lk 13:31–33 and for Lk 23:8–12 where Herod’s curiosity about Jesus’ power to perform miracles remains unsatisfied.

The Zondervan Academic Blog comments on Ecclesiastes’ purpose and message.

The purpose of Qoheleth was to contend that there is nothing “under the sun” that is capable of giving meaning to life. Even if some level of fulfillment or self-satisfaction were achieved, death is waiting at the end. Frustration and adversity are unavoidable, and answers to the hard questions of life are not forthcoming. On these terms the book confronts the crookedness and uncertainty of life and shows, probably unconsciously, the need for a concept of resurrection to bring harmony out of the discord of reality.

Colleen Chiacchere shares her questions from today’s first reading from Ecclesiastes that invites us to think about how we spend our time and how we spend our lives.  What is the real purpose of our work, our labor? What is the purpose of what we do when the earth and sun and everything just continues on after we’re gone?

Reflecting on a model for us – St Vincent DePaul – today on his feast day, and how he prioritized his time, also invites us to care for others.  He dedicated his life to serving the poor, helped reform the clergy in the French Church and was known for his generosity and charity.
Perhaps there is an invitation for us to be part of the reform in our Church today…a Church that has struggled immensely with sexual abuse scandals of clergy and leaders, particularly recently in the United States.  Perhaps there is an invitation for us to be more generous and charitable today, with the inspiration of St. Vincent de Paul.

On the Memorial of St. Vincent de Paul, priest, we reflect on the Collect Prayer from the Catholic Culture Website.

O God, who for the relief of the poor and the formation of the clergy endowed the Priest Saint Vincent de Paul with apostolic virtues, grant, we pray, that, afire with that same spirit, we may love what he loved and put into practice what he taught. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Tapestry host Mary Hynes invites us to meet Mary Elizabeth Williams and Deirdre Pike, two Catholics who have been wrestling with the question of how best to respond to the ongoing sexual abuse crisis in the church.

Williams says she's calling it quits; Pike says she's staying. They spoke to about an agonizing decision facing Catholics around the world: Should I stay, or should I go?

Don Schwager quotes Peter Chrysologus, 400-450 AD, a renowned preacher and bishop of Ravena in the 5th century, on Integrity as a hardship for the morally corrupt.

"John aroused Herod by his moral admonitions, not by any formal accusation. He wanted to correct, not to suppress. Herod, however, preferred to suppress rather than be reconciled. To those who are held captive, the freedom of the one innocent of wrongdoing becomes hateful. Virtue is undesirable to those who are immoral; holiness is abhorrent to those who are impious; chastity is an enemy to those who are impure; integrity is a hardship for those who are corrupt; frugality runs counter to those who are self-indulgent; mercy is intolerable to those who are cruel, as is loving-kindness to those who are pitiless and justice to those who are unjust. The Evangelist indicates this when he says, "John said to him, 'It is not lawful for you to have the wife of your brother Philip.'" This is where John runs into trouble. He who admonishes those who are evil gives offense. He who repudiates wrongdoers runs into trouble. John was saying what was proper of the law, what was proper of justice, what was proper of salvation and what was proper certainly not of hatred but of love. And look at the reward he received from the ungodly for his loving concern!" (excerpt from SERMONS 127.6-7)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 9:7-9 discusses an especially perplexing predicament for Herod.

Of course, none of us are the same as Herod. But like him, we may want to see the Lord but be hampered by blurred vision. Unforgiveness, bitterness, fear, and anxiety—all of these and more can keep us in a fog. But nothing is more capable of holding us back than unrepented sin. John the Baptist brought Herod’s sin to light by criticizing Herod’s marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife. Herod could have repented. He could have found a way out of his immoral union, but he ended up feeling forced to silence John’s voice instead.

Friar Jude Winkler, OFM Conv, comments on how the author of Ecclesiastes attacks the presumed idea of wisdom in Israel. He mentions Augustine and Aquinas in declaring that God’s ways are mysterious and we need practice a certain humility before the mysteries of God. Today we are too often likely to be distracted by the celebrity of the current saint or religious fad, Friar Jude warns.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, cites Avideh Shashaani who shares insights drawn from her experience and study of Sufism.

Islam believes that creation has a purpose: “O Lord, Thou didst not create this (world) in vain” (Qur’an, 3:191). . . . Everything in the realm of nature and human existence is a sign—a manifestation of God’s divine names and attributes. Just as each entity is a reflection of the divine manifestation, so is the human being. As it is said in the Qur’an, “Wherever you turn, there is the Face of God” (2:115).

An antidote for skepticism is found in the conviction of Saints and scholars that we are privileged to experience deep humility before the mysteries of God.

References


(n.d.). Ecclesiastes chapter 1 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved September 27, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/ecclesiastes/1
(n.d.). v. the journey to jerusalem: luke's travel narrative. Retrieved September 27, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/luke9.htm
(2017, October 21). Who Wrote Ecclesiastes and What Does It Mean? - Zondervan Academic. Retrieved September 27, 2018, from https://zondervanacademic.com/blog/who-wrote-ecclesiastes-and-what-does-it-mean/
(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - OnlineMinistries - Creighton University. Retrieved September 27, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
(2018, September 26). Memorial of St. Vincent de Paul, priest - September 27, 2018 .... Retrieved September 27, 2018, from https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2018-09-27
(2018, September 21). Amid the Catholic Church abuse crisis, 2 women grapple with whether .... Retrieved September 27, 2018, from https://www.cbc.ca/radio/tapestry/should-i-stay-or-should-i-go-1.4833237/amid-the-catholic-church-abuse-crisis-2-women-grapple-with-whether-to-stay-or-go-1.4833350
(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 27, 2018, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
(n.d.). Meditations - The Word Among Us. Retrieved September 27, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/
(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archives - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved September 27, 2018, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/