“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Jesus Christ in you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
The Late Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI was a theologian and philosopher. In the weeks since his death, I have heard him called one of the three greatest theologian popes of the entire history of the Church. And so – being by no means a theologian myself – I have considered a very very small portion of the late Pope’s writing in the recent days…
Pope Benedict XVI considered the Bible an Enlightenment. Catholicism is no terrifying religion. Instead, Sacred Scripture, through the Bible, gives witness to Christ who is “truth, not custom.” (Pope Benedict XVI).
In Greek, the word for “Word” is “Logos”. And Christ is the Logos made flesh. Effectively, Pope Benedict XVI argued that this meant that Christ is God who thinks and gathers. And this image resonates with the experience of Mary Magdalene in the garden after Christ’s resurrection, when she thought Christ was a gardener in John 20:15.
In this role of thinker, Christ asks us to consider “The question of being, which is so slandered today, arose for no other reason than the desire for freedom, which cannot be divorced from man’s need for truth.” (Pope Benedict XVI). Pope Benedict XVI argues that Christianity is a religion built on freedom and truth and that the doctrinal basis of Christianity is an “inner rapprochement between Biblical faith and Greek philosophical inquiry.”
And this makes sense. You see, “At the very moment when the Magi, guided by the star, adored Christ the new King, astrology came to an end because the stars were now moving in the orbit determined by Christ… It is not the laws of evolution that will have the final say, but reason, will, love – a Person… It is not the elemental spirits of the universe, the laws of matter, which ultimately govern the world and mankind, but a personal God… ” (Pope Benedict XVI).
You see, Christ offered us redemption and hope in a trustworthy way. Now – following Christ – I know that no matter the difficulties, if I can persist in following Christ towards that goal of salvation, that goal is great enough to justify the effort of the journey. And because I base this hope entirely on the Messiah, I know that I have no reason to fear… THAT is why Christ is the Prince of Peace!
In his homily on 6 Janurary 2008, the Late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said, “We need people who nourish great hope and thus have great courage; the courage of the Magi, who made a long journey following a star, and were able to kneel before a Child, offering Him their precious gifts. We all need this courage, anchored to firm hope.”
And such hope is given to us. In Saint Paul’s letter to the Thesselonians, Saint Paul said, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Jesus Christ in you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
For we are not instructed to rejoice sometimes, pray when we feel like it and give thanks when we can be bothered. We are instructed to ALWAYS rejoice, UNCEASINGLY pray and IN ALL THINGS give thanks.
And we were instructed so, because it is GOD and not the Universe who allows everything to happen… Only GOD.
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.