<Homily on Lk 10:21-24>
As we enter this Advent season we might each ask ourselves—
How much do I really know about God?
Where did I get what I do know?
Today’s Gospel passage draws my mind to
those who don’t know the truth.
And then I recall a favorite document that
gives great hope regarding those people.
Lumen Gentium (The Light of the Nations), a Vatican II document from 1964.
Officially titled The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church.
Written, of course, from the perspective of
the Catholic Church,
And adopted by her bishops throughout the
world.
Excerpts from the chapter on The People of God state:
At all times and in every
race
God has given welcome to
whosoever [respects] Him and does what is right.
Though there are many nations
there is but one people of God,
which takes its citizens from
every race,
making them citizens of a [heavenly]
kingdom.
And there belong to or are
related to [that kingdom] in various ways,
the Catholic faithful—
all who believe in Christ—
and indeed the whole of
mankind—
for all men are called by the
grace of God to salvation.
They are fully incorporated in the society of the Church who,
possessing the Spirit of
Christ,
accept her entire system and
all the means of salvation given to her.
The Church recognizes that in
many ways she is linked with those who,
being baptized, are honored
with the name of Christian,
We can say that in some real
way they are joined with us in the Holy Spirit.
[Also], those who have not
yet received the Gospel
are related in various ways
to the people of God.
In the first place we must
recall the [Jewish] people
to whom the testament and the
promises were given
and from whom Christ was born
according to the flesh.
[This] people remains most dear
to God.
But the plan of salvation
also includes those who acknowledge the Creator.
In the first place amongst these there are the Mohamedans,
who, professing to hold the
faith of Abraham,
along with us adore the one
and merciful God.
Nor is God far distant from
those who in shadows and images
seek the unknown God,
for it is He who gives to all
men life and breath and all things,
and as Savior wills that all
men be saved.
Those also can attain to
salvation who through no fault of their own
do not know the Gospel of
Christ...,
yet sincerely seek God
and ... strive by their deeds
to do His will
as it is known to them
through the dictates of conscience.
Nor does Divine Providence
deny the helps necessary for salvation to those who,
without blame on their part,
have not yet arrived at an
explicit knowledge of God [yet] strive to live a good life.
Today’s Gospel passage tells us how
fortunate, how blessed, we really are.
We could have easily been among those seeking
in shadows for an unknown God.
Or those who haven’t yet arrived at any explicit knowledge that God exists.
Clearly, there’s a lot we don’t know—
We’re still searching for many answers.
But we do
know who God is.
The Son has revealed Him to us.
He’s revealed a God we can call Our Father.
He’s revealed the Trinity.
He’s revealed the plan for salvation and
the gift of eternal life.
We’d know very little about God without
that revelation.
Without the Scripture, especially Jesus’
own words.
And without what we’ve since learned
through the Holy Spirit and our Church.
Where would we be without that gift of
knowledge?
We are truly blessed.
We see and hear what others can only long
for.
Tuesday, 1st Week of Advent
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