As Christians we are called upon to have the courage to remain committed to the truth no matter what that commitment might require of us. Saint John the Baptist was committed to the defense of such truth and even died in defense of it. Therefore, he stood firm against Herod, the Pharisees, and the crowds in order to proclaim the coming of the Messiah.
We can state that Saint John the Baptist was not a “reed swayed by the wind.” Such imagery reflects one who changes their convictions based upon pressure, who seeks the approval of others, and is willing to waiver in faith or morals. Such actions are the opposite of the virtues of firmness, fidelity, and fortitude.
Saint Jerome likened this to a person who was “tossed by the storms of every doctrine.” In our day age there are those within the Church who have been caught up in such pursuits which are incompatible with the the gospel. The Church is not a democracy and her teachings a faith and morals cannot be overlooked just because we might find them to be hard.
As Venerable Fulton Sheen had stated, “There are not over a hundred people in the United States who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions, however, who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church- which is, of course, quite a differed thing.”
Such a statement should challenge each of us to educate ourself on what the Church teaches. So many are so easily swayed by the wind and do not want to challenge themself by their well formed conscience. It is so much easier to follow feelings and popular opinion instead of orienting our mind to that which is true.
As Saint Paul states in 2 Timothy, “For the time will come when people will not endure sound doctrine, but have itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires.” In such manner we wrongly think that truth is what we feel, that we don’t need the Church, that sin doesn’t really matter, and that faith and morals should change with the times.
If we attempt to stand firm alone we will bend or break with the storm. Instead we must always remain firm by staying close to the Church even when doing so might be difficult. Let us not be swayed by the wind, but rooted in the Sacraments, in Sacred Scripture, and the Magisterium which is anchored in the unchanging truth of Christ.
On this 3rd Sunday of Advent we have great longing for the Lord will soon come. Let our longing be to encounter Him entirely as His disciples instead of receiving Him as if He is to conform to our desires. In all things let us stay united to truth for the truth is not a reed that sways by the wind.
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