Human beings as rational and irrational creatures
look for proof to validate its beliefs. To do so, they go beyond the basics to
meet their personal need by ‘transmitting their faith’ to other persons – faith
that is a free gift of God! How can one
‘transmit’ faith through streaming of online Mass or other liturgical and
sacramental celebrations over video/ppt/tiktok formats? As tools they can only
help experience phenomenon of religious expressions. Faith is a personal
adherence and witness to the person of Jesus. According to St. John of the
Cross what is needed most is being with God, and not chasing after some
supernatural phenomena just for an experience of God. Knowing God is not same
as knowing about God – one is of the head-cum-heart and the other, of
the head alone.
In the field of faith and belief system, we tend to speak in pleasantly emotive
sentimental terms. Out of sympathy, we often soften the truth. Recently, there is the current cultural tendency
to invent and redefine words closely connected to sentimentalities detached
from faith and reason. These are ‘inventions’ of ideologues to redefine words for
cultural subversion. The popular meaning of ‘popular pietism’ or ‘sentimental
pietism’ for example, is interpreted, with hermeneutics of continuity and not
rapture with the past sentimental superstitious practices. Many such terms and
phrases deliberately distort and deny reality. The declining practice of the
Catholic faith in the churches is a fact too hard to bear. So, when a diocese
shuts its church doors, either due to the pandemic Covid19 or otherwise, it denies
the truth and in a “feel better” phrase speaks of “renewing our faith
communities.”
Honest talking is not in the blood of hyper-emotional and religiously
correct. The other day, I was asked to ‘say’ sung Mass for streaming online. To
this invitation I objected, stating that only when there is a community
physically present in the Church, I would oblige to celebrate the Eucharist. To my remarks that faith which is a free gift
from God, and that it cannot be ‘transmitted’ but witnessed, some were
surprised to such statement from a priest. For them my reply was certainly “inappropriate.”
Many terms are designed to disguise the reality of religious, spiritual psychological
and physical realities. When the hierarchy promotes such pseudo certainty out
of sentimental win-win game, it is untruth. The uncritical acceptance of such shadowed
expressions helps advance a radical post-truth living without conscience. Much
of our contemporary verbal engineering to keep people from confirming that
something is “wrong” disfigures the truth, and therefore, it reduces Catholic
faith and morals to pious sentimentalities.
Without reference to the central fact of Christian faith – the Cross and
Resurrection – it is easy to manipulate human emotions and accommodate vague
ideas. An emotional “faith” expressed out of sentimental pietism, is contrary
to God’s commands, and extremely dangerous. Sacrificial love on the Cross and
the Christian joy of resurrection are two sides of the same coin. A balance of
devotional and intellectual life by witnessing to the sacrificing and glorious
features of faith in Jesus Christ is the middle path of life’s fulfilment.
It is harmful to play always win-win game, camouflaging reality under the
garb of ‘goodness’ that does not hurt but compromise. Rigorist heresies and
overly sentimental devotional practices to counter them have been dangerous in
the past. Over emphasizing the Resurrection with the sentiments of love, joy
and gratitude, detached from God’s law of truth, Christian life loses the
sacrificial nature of the truth, and becomes emotionalism in faith practices.
Driven by affections, love becomes emotional, not according to God’s will. Such dysfunction affects one’s moral and
religious growth. Parents shower affection while over protecting their children
more than accepting them as God’s gifts. The result is an emotionally “spoiled
child.” Over clericalism, too, can overprotect the faithful with sentimental affections
manifested through virtual online prayers, novenas, streaming of mass and
Eucharistic adoration, than considering them as created in God’s image and
likeness, and that it needs natural
nurturing of the seeds of faith already freely sown by God. So instead of
offering them spiritual tools for salvation, priests may become pious ‘saviours’
saving by pandering to the emotions of parishioners. Basically, these are the
‘needs’ of the clergy themselves and not necessarily that of the faithful, for
their faith expressions are stronger and dynamic than the clergy think of. The
same lawless sentimentality sets faith adrift san reason. Who needs critical
thought and discernment in the midst of difficult situations, if we live seeking/giving
consolations through sentimental pietism? Unbridled human emotion, without critical
questioning, begins to drive the faithful away from the real world of God – the
creation.
Superficial
religiosity and godlessness are, to a great extent, played on sentimental
pietism inclusive of many superstitious practices. God finds no pleasure in the
blood-filled and burnt sacrifices. God does not need offerings, big churches and pilgrimages. God does not
want that people trample and stifle upon God’s truth in the name of ritual worship,
because festive assemblies are filled with filth. Human hands are full of
blood! Therefore, God says, learn to do good, be just, redress the wrong and
defend the poor (cf. Is 1:10-17). Jesus speaks
straight, “whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy
of me” (Mt 10:38).
In the
existing culture of relativism, the moral and universal law over creation is still
in place which is for everyone, that is, abiding by the Truth. It means to be deeply united
with God in spirit and truth in the midst of joys and sorrows. Without a
firm grounding in the Cross (Kerygma), Resurrection (Mystagogy), Commandments,
and the whole of creation with its traditions and cultures, people will abandon
the Church. Detached from culture and reason, the sentimental faith-expressions
becomes ill-educated, arrogant, and vicious.
A return to sanity begins with a balance between Cross and the
Resurrection, between faith and reason. Jesus teaches us to love Him above our
families, and that if we do not take up our crosses through discernment based
on reason and intuition, and follow Him, we are not worthy to be His disciples.
(cf. Mt. 10:37-42) Breaking away from sentimental inclination to religious
practices and unholy attachments to sentimental pietism, even within families,
is dangerous. This is the ‘cross-reality’ we all need to carry daily. Then
comes the joyful fruit of sacrificial love, the Resurrection into a new life that
comes with a personal closeness with Jesus who invites: “Come to me, all who labour
and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn
from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls.” (Mt. 11:28-30). Similarly, He says regarding the Cross, “If you keep my
commandments, you will abide in my love” and on Resurrection, “These things I
have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (Jn.
15:10-11). The vicious and sentimental pietism must be overcome by an honest
examination of conscience, measuring our lives against Good News and all the
directives given in it, and taking responsibility for our actions. When we
resolve to follow Jesus above everything, even at the price of losing friendship
and ‘good name’, we will break the bonds of seductive sentimentality.[1]
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