I have been reading around sites and blogs this weekend, and have come across certain things which disturb me a tad…it is worrying how some Catholics, and some Monastic communities are incorporating eastern and ”other” elements into the Catholic faith. Buddhist meditation, the eneagram, aspects of pagan religion and goddess philosophy…even the monk, Thomas Merton was enchanted by the lure of Zen…
The Catholic faith is like a glass of rich, full-bodied, expensive wine. In it is contained everything we need for our spiritual succour. Christ is all, and we need nothing else for our needs to be fulfilled. Whether we are attracted by action, contemplation, social justice, ritual, liturgy, it’s all there in the Catholic Church. When we add other elements, it is like adding water to our glass of wine. It may look like we’re getting more, but what we are left with is something weaker and more and more dilute, until the flavour of faith is undectectable. It is diluting the blood of Christ.
There have been times when I have been tempted to “dabble” in a little water to add to my wine, but by the Grace of God, I have held back. Please ~ don’t dilute your faith, Jesus turned water into wine, not wine into water!
Posted by marcy on June 21, 2009 at 7:26 pm
WOW…that is so insightful…what a beautiful post. Have you ever considered writing a book?? I loved everything you wrote as well as the way you wrote it. Everything we do should bring us closer to Jesus and faithfulness to His church, anything else only separates us from HIM!
blessings and hugs,
marcy
Posted by Scotty on June 22, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Hey there lass! No dissing of St Merton!!! Don’t think he was lured by Zen – think he just saw the similarities of Zen and Christian teaching in some areas. But I know what you mean : )
Posted by Mrs.Pogle on June 22, 2009 at 2:26 pm
I guess I was using him as an example that even the most devout amongst us can be led down other paths! Recently I bought a book about Daost Christianity, and felt increasingly more uncomfortable about it…yet could see the attraction too! I’ve put it down as being far too confusing, and water to my wine ~ but hadn’t realised just how much confusion there is out there too!