Monday after Epiphany
I am so grateful I was raised in the Catholic Church. I have many friends who are Christians and have had many wonderful discussions about faith with them. I have to admit I often feel there are differences in our beliefs but what is most striking to me is that, in the great depth and variety of spirituality in Catholicism, I always feel I am connected to the fullness of the Truth. There is a common, foundational, apostolic unity that can only be found in the Catholic community. There is always ready help available to help us confirm or discern the truth of an issue or situation when we find ourselves struggling.
The reading from the First letter of John deals with challenges to heresies within the early Church community. The author specifically addresses the humanity of Jesus and the testing of spirits. “Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God…” (1 Jn 4:1). The Scripture goes on to say, “This is how you can know the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh belongs to God” (1 Jn 4:2). I must admit on the face of it this did not tell me what I wanted to hear regarding discernment. Last year I had the opportunity to take several workshops presented by an expert on discernment of spirits. Not having had the opportunity to put this into practice in a formal setting I found it confusing at times and overwhelming at others. The Jesuit priest who gave these seminars ended the session saying (with a smile), “Discernment is muddling through.”
Yikes! His little joke hit home with everyone. Who doesn’t spend time just trying muddle through some things in life? Even people thoroughly experienced in discernment do not walk around referring to a set of rules. So what do we do? This passage (1 Jn 4:1-6) says that confessing Jesus Christ came in the flesh is only possible of those with the Spirit of God. But there were several healthy heresies that claimed this and there were painful divisions that resulted. And today, in our own times, we are frequently faced with decisions and choices that require discernment on our part—even within our own Church.
St Augustine wrote a homily on the First Letter of John that speaks about the true test of discernment in great depth. In part he writes “…By what to discern them? Be very attentive; let us go together in heart and knock. Charity herself keeps watch; for it is none other than she that shall knock, she also that shall open…For they confess that they know God, but their deeds deny him….let us look to the works, not stop at the noise of the tongue.” So it is Charity. Love which leads to unity and harmony. The Spirit of God which is love. This is the true test of discernment. And though we may have different threats to unity to discern within our Church today, the test of charity remains unchanged. And as disciples who claim to believe in Jesus Christ we, as individuals, are especially held to this standard of discernment.
In my own life I have found that discernment is not mostly about other people. It is often mostly about my personal journey of conversion. Most importantly, as a disciple of Jesus, does my life reflect what I confess with my mouth? Do my actions directly reflect the charity and truth and light of Jesus? That I confess Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior carries truth only if my life is a direct expression of that confession. Today I pray for deeper discernment and truth and the grace to live this day in authentic Christian charity.
Holy Immortal Father,
I bring to you my being.
Place within me the desire to seek the truth
in every place I walk this day.
Grant me the gift of charity
that my life may be a true confession of Jesus Christ.
With the Blessed Virgin Mary,
In Jesus Holy Name.
AMEN
- Gail Lyman