His name is Faithful and True

Then I saw the heavens opened, and there was a white horse; its rider was [called] “Faithful and True.” (Revelation 19:11)

Years ago when I lived in Phoenix, AZ, many Roman Catholics had left the Church and scattered numerous directions. For some, it was disagreement with our Bishop, changes from Vatican II, or the contemporary (and errant) interpretation of scripture. For others, it was full rejection of our Pope. In His providence, God had graced the universal Church with a number of Easter-rite churches (Byzantine, Ukrainian, etc.) in full communion with our Roman Pontiff. Some of these Eastern rite churches were bulging with former Roman Catholics. But of concern were those people who completely left communion with our Pope. Some bought a small church building and started their own faux Tridentine-like mass church near the Cathedral. Some went to the Greek Orthodox church. Many joined the schism Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) which was quite prominent; a hushed secret in the valley of the sun. And others, who either didn’t believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist or who did but didn’t see its importance, flocked to Protestant churches especially Evangelical and non-denominational. They correctly believed the bible was the inspired, inerrant Word of God and sought a congregation that also taught this. But in doing so, they left Jesus behind. 

And all of this made me wonder…how do we define being ‘faithful’? Is it merely on the externals—people who look and act like us, and talk the same lingo? 

Who shares my faith? Is it the genuflecting-but-Pope-hating cultist who espouses a great reverence for Jesus but not enough to remain obedient to the Church He established? Or is it the young gal in the pew ahead of me who remains obedient to the Church but who can’t properly genuflect because her super-short miniskirt prevents it? 

Intellectually I’d like to think people who outwardly show reverence for the sacred then know the sacred. But one day our mass readings taught (Romans 6:14-15): 

For sin is not to have any power over you,

since you are not under the law but under grace.

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law

but under grace?

Of course not! 

And the gospel reading that same day included Luke 12:47-48:  

That servant who knew his master’s will

but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will

shall be beaten severely;

and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will

but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating

shall be beaten only lightly.

Much will be required of the person entrusted with much,

and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

He acted faithful but was not faithful in his heart. Such a servant will be assigned “a place with the unfaithful” (v. 46). 

From childhood we are taught about the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and that the Holy Roman Catholic Church was established by Him. For some people, errant preaching and teaching by members of the Church have mitigated their ability to grow in understanding these mysteries. Others professed belief in these mysteries but convinced themselves that these are not primary (e.g. all paths lead to Heaven) or, in their righteous pride, that joining a reverent-looking schism was holier than staying in Jesus’ Church. Which leads to another stern teaching from Jesus: 

Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. (Lk 18:9)

St. Ignatius of Loyola is known for his emphasis on obedience: “We must put aside all judgment of our own, and keep the mind ever ready and prompt to obey in all things the true Spouse of Christ our Lord, our holy Mother, the hierarchical Church.” (Sp. Ex. 353) 

If only the genuflecting Pope-haters and the obedient mini-skirters knew how much they had in common—their need for a deeper intimate relationship with Jesus. The soul aware of its Creator’s love then also knows the ramifications of losing that love through disobedience, and experiences the remorse of compunction which results from irreverence. It is the very nature of love that it cannot be contained; it must be shared. For us then to lovingly evangelize others within and outside of the Church, we too need to know this love personally. 

“Obedience unites us closely to God, in a way that transforms us into Him, so that we have no other will but His. If obedience is lacking, even prayer cannot be pleasing to God.” (St. Thomas Aquinas)

His name is Faithful and True (Revelation 19:11) and He wants to transform us into Him, into faithful and true. Let us endeavor then, by the means given to us from Jesus through our Holy Mother Church (Eucharist, confession, mental prayer, examen, discernment of spirits, faith formation) to grow in love of Him and bring others into that loving relationship too–both those sitting with us in the pew and those who have disappeared from the pew. 

In God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace. 

We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father, knowing, brothers loved by God, how you were chosen. (1 Thessalonians 1:1-4) 

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam 😊

(Image by George Frederic Watts via Wikimedia Commons)