Monday, May 10, 2004
Cardinal Ratzinger talks about why many misperceive Christianity:
"Today, Christianity is seen as an old tradition, weighed down by old Commandments, something we already know which tells us nothing new; a strong institution, one of the great institutions that weigh on our shoulders," said the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
"If we stay with this impression, we do not live the essence of Christianity, which is an ever new encounter, an event thanks to which we can encounter the God who speaks to us, who approaches us, who befriends us," the cardinal said in the latest issue of the Italian Catholic weekly Vita Trentina.
The ever-new encounter with God, a god who loves us each as individuals, who walked the dust of this earth, like us in all things but sin, who comes to us to heal us, save us, and bring us home to him to wipe away all tears is the core of Christianity...Emmanuel, God with us...and if all you see are cathedrals and churches and rites and the myth that explains and comforts us at transition points of life, then you need to probe more deeply.
Like in the song of Solomon, he is the Divine Lover, waiting to sweep us off our feet and into His Heart. Like with the woman who was brave enough to touch the hem of his garment, he welcomes our approach, however hesitant and fear-filled. Like with Peter collapsing in fear at the court of the high priest, he understands our weaknesses, and forgiving us, accepts us back with love. Like he did after the resurrection, when Mary Magdelene didn't at first recognize him, if he hear him call our name, we will be tranformed.
And at these moments when he touches us with that unsuspecting rose of love, what else can we say but thank you Jesus, I love you!
"Today, Christianity is seen as an old tradition, weighed down by old Commandments, something we already know which tells us nothing new; a strong institution, one of the great institutions that weigh on our shoulders," said the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
"If we stay with this impression, we do not live the essence of Christianity, which is an ever new encounter, an event thanks to which we can encounter the God who speaks to us, who approaches us, who befriends us," the cardinal said in the latest issue of the Italian Catholic weekly Vita Trentina.
The ever-new encounter with God, a god who loves us each as individuals, who walked the dust of this earth, like us in all things but sin, who comes to us to heal us, save us, and bring us home to him to wipe away all tears is the core of Christianity...Emmanuel, God with us...and if all you see are cathedrals and churches and rites and the myth that explains and comforts us at transition points of life, then you need to probe more deeply.
Like in the song of Solomon, he is the Divine Lover, waiting to sweep us off our feet and into His Heart. Like with the woman who was brave enough to touch the hem of his garment, he welcomes our approach, however hesitant and fear-filled. Like with Peter collapsing in fear at the court of the high priest, he understands our weaknesses, and forgiving us, accepts us back with love. Like he did after the resurrection, when Mary Magdelene didn't at first recognize him, if he hear him call our name, we will be tranformed.
And at these moments when he touches us with that unsuspecting rose of love, what else can we say but thank you Jesus, I love you!
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