In the gospel of today (Mt 5:17-19), Jesus affirms the enduring validity of the Scriptures: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfil. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.” This gospel excerpt presents us with one of the crucial but controversial aspects of the Christian faith, namely, the lasting validity of the Scripture and Tradition. It is crucial because the faith we have received contain treasures for human flourishing.
On the other hand, it is controversial since the scriptures and their contents are written in the past – a completely different culture, era, and trend. Consequently, the validity of the faith and its tenets is questioned – some find it to be out of place for our times, whereas others see the message of Christ as possessing an enduring validity both for the past and the present. I invite us to reflect on this important discussion today.
The Changing Human Context in Contrast to the Inherited Tradition
In his essay on revelation and tradition in Vatican II and in contemporary theology, the Leuven emeritus professor of Dogmatic Theology, Terrence Merrigan notes that “The confrontation with our historicity can engender any number of responses, ranging from reactionary conservatism to unbridled nihilism.” Rather than conservatism or abject nihilism, most of the Postmodern people, however, adopt the perspective of an “experiential faith” using the expression of Antoon Vergote, the Flemish psychologist and theologian.
According to Vergote, in experiential faith, the adjective “experiential” has priority – one believes what one can experience. This tendency is in line with the empiricist mentality combined with a growing historical consciousness and has generated a sort of religious relativism. Merrigan confesses that, at first glance, these themes of postmodernity would appear to constitute a direct challenge to a faith which finds its raison d’ etre in a series of particular and distinctive past revelatory events, which makes a claim to universality and enduring validity for all times. But is the Christian message unequivocally proclaimed in the scriptures and tradition out of step with the times?
Live the Faith and Pass it On!
Jesus calls our attention to himself and his message as the fulfilment of the word of God. “I have come not to abolish but to fulfil.” Furthermore, he enjoins us to practice it and pass it on. The focus on the person and life of Jesus of Nazareth gives Christianity its particular character. This is so, due to the Christian belief that in Jesus, God is manifested in a human and historical life.
Within Christianity, we think of a radically personal God. A God of love, who in the history of Jesus Christ, is a God of relationship and communion. The incarnation points to human history as the locus of God’s salvific activity. And makes the Christian faith a historical event, confirming God’s dealings with his people in the Old Testament.
Furthermore, by virtue of the historical nature of Christianity recorded through God’s dealings with Israel and the life of Jesus of Nazareth, the word of God has the capacity to be fulfilled in every history as God’s presence with his people. A presence that can be felt in the life of faith, hope and love. Vatican II clearly identities love as the heart of the Christian faith and revelation.
As Merrigan puts it, “For the Council, the practice of love is not merely a response to revealed truth, but the realization of that truth in history, in the world of today.” Thus, God ceases to speak where Christian witness is not forthcoming.
At this point, the enduring validity of the Christian faith and its fulfilment in and by Christ becomes apparent. Moreover, it is not a timeless faith. Rather, a concrete historical project, a project to be realized in the tradition of faith and worship which Christians practice.
I really enjoyed this reflection, Sister. Thank you for this robust emphasis on the historicity of our faith, the fact that salvation takes places within human history. I agree that many people today think of religion as simply “experiential,” which renders it hazy and subjective, and limits real conversations about faith. Thank you and God bless.