“For whoever is not against us is for us”
Today’s first reading and Gospel reading are both about the spreading the Good News. In the first reading (Nm 11:25-29), Moses stops Aaron from the sin of jealousy because two others that were not part of the group were prophesying. They were able to prophecy because God is not controlled or constrained by human norms. In other words, God is not bound to use one particular group for prophecy; He uses whoever He desires. By doing so, God shows us how generous He is with His grace. In the Gospel, likewise, John tells Jesus that he wants to rebuke those who are performing miracles in Jesus’ name. John doesn’t say this out of genuine concern, but out of jealousy that other people who are not a part of their group could do such things. “But Jesus, like Moses, disapproved, because anyone who does good in Jesus’ name shows that he is spiritually near to the Church, even if not actually a member of it, and has at least the beginning of faith. For this reason he should be respected and treated with kindness in confident hope of the seed’s ripening…” [1]
How are members of Catholic Church different from “non-members”? As Catholics, we are bound to the Sacramental life. The Sacraments are God’s “ordinary means” of Salvation. The Sacraments, which were established by Christ and entrusted to the Church, are the primary means in which God gives Grace. However, this doesn’t mean that God only gives grace within the Sacraments. God is not bound by anything, and while the Sacraments are God’s preferred, or “ordinary means”, He can and does use “extraordinary means” to give grace as well.
Think of it this way: if we were to go to a New York deli and see the many different types of sandwiches offered, all of which would feed us, we might get overwhelmed at the options. We might ask the owner of the deli which sandwiches he prefers or suggests and then order a sandwich based on the owners advice. God is generous and offers many graces, but the Sacraments are the “chef’s choice”. For this reason we should not only want to utilize the Sacraments, but we should also be honored and thankful that we are bound to the Sacraments.
We are all called to spread this faith and the Sacramental life. Sometimes we think it is only the priests and religious job to spread Christianity, but they are the smallest group within the Church Militant. It is every Christian’s responsibility. “…men and women, priests and laity, young and old, widowers, married people, members of religious orders, associations inspired to do the work of the Holy Spirit…No Christian is exempt.” [2]
What right do we have to spread religion? First, we have the right by Jesus Christ. He did not give this job to spread the faith to the Apostles alone. If we recall, He also commands seventy-two disciples to baptize and spread the Good News. [3] The Apostles then after Pentecost began laying hands on their successors to pass the faith on to the whole world. [4] Saint Pope John Paul II affirmed that through our Baptism all Christians have the call and a right to spread the Kingdom of God. As long as we are in the Church we are in Christ, and as long as we are in Christ we are doing His will. [5]
Furthermore, the Eighth Commandment, thou shall not bear false witness, is part of the Natural Law, written on every human heart. Even if someone is not Baptized or a believer, he or she is obliged to spread the truth according to the Natural Law. Logically then, if a person learns how to spread the truth, they will then be led to Jesus Christ, who is the “the way, and the truth, and the life.” [6] Our obligation to spread the faith begins with our common human responsibility to spread truth.
In fact, one of the sins against the Holy Spirit is to cast doubt upon or criticize the known truth. This is what Satan does in the Garden. Satan is a fallen angel—he knows the truth. In the garden he impugns the known truth. “The serpent asked the woman, ‘Did God really tell you not to eat from any of the trees in the garden?’” [7] Satan is sowing the seeds of doubt which cause Eve to doubt the truth of God and His trustworthiness. We are not only obligated to teach the truth but we must safeguard and never allow the whole truth to be compromised.
Do non-Catholics have the right to spread the Kingdom? Yes and no. They have pieces of the whole truth, and this allows them to do many things in Christ’s name. They are baptized and follow the truths which they were taught. However, non-Catholics reject portions of Catholic doctrine and tenants of the faith. If they spread what they believe to be true, but it is in fact false, they are spreading heresy. While they can help to spread the Kingdom and bring more Christians into the fold, they may also be doing great harm because they reject portions (with full knowledge or not) of Church doctrine. An example of this is while both Catholics and Protestants believe in Sacred Scripture and it being the divine word of God, Catholics do not believe that the Bible is the sole authority of faith. This belief is a heresy. Nowhere does Sacred Scripture say that it is the sole authority of our faith. Our Church follows its’ authority on Sacred Scripture along with Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium. This can also be the case for people who claim to be Catholic but do not speak well of the Church or live a life contrary to that of the Church. Think of friends, family members, celebrities, athletes and politicians who claim to be Catholic, but do not conform to Christ’s Church. “All Christians should live a filial unity with the Pope and the Bishops”. [8]
Search: Compassion and Toleration
How can I defend the truth if I don’t know as much as priests or scholars do? What if I am not as intelligent as the Saints? That is perfectly fine. Some of the greatest saints that ever lived had a very limited intelligence. St. Faustina had the equivalence of an eighth grade education and Jesus came to her personally. She wrote a diary that is now read by millions of people every year. Like everything, there is only so much we can learn and know. Not even our Holy Father knows everything about our faith. It is impossible to know everything because only God is all-knowing. However, this does not mean we should just give up before we even start. If we strive to know, love, and serve the Lord, He will give us the wisdom and knowledge enough to do what is needed of us. He will give us the right words to say to other people when speaking about our faith.
How do I know God will give me the right words to speak the faith? God has given us a written (Sacred Scripture) and oral tradition (Sacred Tradition) with clear teachings, which includes the Bible, the Catechism, as well as writings of the Saints and Papal Councils. These teachings are to be passed down exactly so that we are not contradicting the faith passed down before us. In the case of faith, “plagiarism”, is acceptable, because we do not and should not change the words of Jesus, Saint Paul, or the Church. We like Saint Paul, “stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours.” [9]
To illustrate this idea more clearly, let’s use Dr. D’Ambrosio’s family recipe analogy. We usually learn how to cook by watching grandma or a parent prepare the meal in the kitchen. In this case, we’re essentially being walked (or talked) through it. Also, we would also probably write the recipe down.
Why then do we also feel the need to write the recipe down? For one, grandma will one day no longer be with us, so we want to be assured that we remember everything. Secondly, we might want to share the recipe with more people, even those outside the family. The same is true of the faith. While at first the apostles transmitted the faith orally, once Christianity became legal to spread to others, it was necessary that the faith be written down! This same process has been taking place for the last 2000 years.
How are we supposed to spread the faith? God gives us the words we need to spread the faith through Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, but we have to bring the faith alive! “The Lord wants there to be apostles in the factory, the office, the university, in the home.” [10] Within all of these places we can live out our faith in every aspect of life: “There is no doubt that work, rest, social life, sport, can all provide chances to bring people to God.” [11] One way of doing this is St. Therese’s “little way”. Blessed Mother Theresa showed great love in all her little actions and she attributed it to her patron, Saint Therese, the Little Flower. St. Jose Maria Escriva said, “A little act, done for love, is worth so much.” [12] We should use what ever talents God has given us as our ability to spread the faith.
At times, we may face persecution for spreading the faith. When others persecute us and want to destroy our faith, we should defend ourselves, but our words and actions should show the charity of Christ, and bring about conversion to Christ.
What are your talents that God has given you to spread the faith?
Why should we want to spread the faith? If we don’t who will? “In the face of cowardliness, laziness or excuses, we have to keep in mind that many people depend on our word and example if they are to receive the grace to follow Christ more closely. We can never stop doing apostolate with the people whom God has placed by our side.” [13] We should want to spread the faith to show God’s charity to others who are made in the image and likeness of God. Everyone has dignity and if we treat everyone with that dignity then we will win souls for Christ.
[1] Gabriel, Divine Intimacy Vol. IV, pg. 80
[2] Fernandez, In Conversation with God 5, 20.1 pg. 113
[3] cf. Luke 10:1-12
[4] cf. Acts 6:6
[5] John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation, Christifideles laici, 30 December 1988, 30
[6] John 14:6
[7] Genesis 3:1
[8] Fernandez, In Conversation with God 5, 20.1 pg. 112
[9] 2 Thessalonians 2:15
[10] Fernandez, In Conversation with God 5, 20.1 pg. 112
[11] Fernandez, In Conversation with God 5, 20.2 pg. 114
[12] J. Escriva, The Way, 814
[13] Fernandez, In Conversation with God 5, 20.2 pg. 113