2. COUNSELLING THE DOUBTFUL
"Let your acquaintances be many. but let your advisers be one in a thousand, "
(Ecclus.6.6).
To Counsel the Doubtful - The 2nd Spiritual Work of Mercy .What a huge responsibility to undertake – to presume to advise a person who is confused – so full of doubts! What an impertinence to rush in where angels fear to tread!
And yet many of us do have our anxieties and doubts, even about God Himself and His Church. What to believe? Does it make sense even to believe there is a God? And then, what exactly does God tells us to do and not to do? People talk about Gentle Jesus. And yet He made keeping His Commandments the yardstick for measuring whether or not we love Him (cf. Jn. 14. 15; 23)?
We are to ‘Counsel the Doubtful.’ Now in the Prophecy of Isaiah we read of God promising to send someone who would be known as ‘WONDERFUL COUNSELOR,’ (Isaiah 9.5). Christians believe this turned out to be Jesus, the Son of God, the Son of Mary. In His own time He proved to be someone of great compassion in His relating to people and so wise in His teaching whether to individuals or to immense crowds. He spoke of Himself as the Good Shepherd, searching, reaching out to those who had lost their way in life. And what is more, He claimed Himself to be,
‘the Way, the Truth and the Life!’ (Jn.14.6).
And yet many of us do have our anxieties and doubts, even about God Himself and His Church. What to believe? Does it make sense even to believe there is a God? And then, what exactly does God tells us to do and not to do? People talk about Gentle Jesus. And yet He made keeping His Commandments the yardstick for measuring whether or not we love Him (cf. Jn. 14. 15; 23)?
And yet many of us do have our anxieties and doubts, even about God Himself and His Church. What to believe? Does it make sense even to believe there is a God? And then, what exactly does God tells us to do and not to do? People talk about Gentle Jesus. And yet He made keeping His Commandments the yardstick for measuring whether or not we love Him (cf. Jn. 14. 15; 23)?
We are to ‘Counsel the Doubtful.’ Now in the Prophecy of Isaiah we read of God promising to send someone who would be known as ‘WONDERFUL COUNSELOR,’ (Isaiah 9.5). Christians believe this turned out to be Jesus, the Son of God, the Son of Mary. In His own time He proved to be someone of great compassion in His relating to people and so wise in His teaching whether to individuals or to immense crowds. He spoke of Himself as the Good Shepherd, searching, reaching out to those who had lost their way in life. And what is more, He claimed Himself to be,
‘the Way, the Truth and the Life!’ (Jn.14.6).
Someone to turn to, someone to cling to.
Jesus knew a time would come when He would return to His Heavenly Father. No problem for Him. He, glorious in Heaven, would act through His Church. He would prompt those with spiritual, religious doubts and problems to search out people like you and me to continue His sensitive ministry of counselling. In our ministry of assisting them we were to share with them God’s truth, God’s wisdom…not our personal opinions and piety. Even as pious people, especially as pious people, we must know our limitations. It would be irresponsible, even dangerous, counselling, to tell a person, "If you have faith and I pray for you, all your problems will be solved." That person may urgently need to see a doctor, a psychiatrist, or a professional counsellor.
Counselling the doubtful is a vitally important ministry of the Church. Our mandate is that St. Paul gave to Timothy long ago,
"I want you to know how people ought to behave in God's household -- that is, in the Church of the living God, pillar and support of the truth,
(I Tim.3.15).
Like Solomon of long ago, we must pray we may have the humility to want to receive the Wisdom that comes from God (Wisdom 9.3). We must also pray for those coming to us with their religious doubts and problems...that they receive the grace to act upon the GODLY WORD they have heard – perhaps from us. God does not expect the impossible of anyone, but He does make what is difficult possible.
These days there are so many self-appointed directors and shapers of public opinion; so many mixed messages, so much confusion! Vast amounts of money and so many Means of Communication make this possible. We should note well what St. John wrote in his First Letter,
"My dear friends, not every spirit is to be trusted, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets are at large in the world,"
(Ch.4.1).
There is a desperate need for this 2nd Work Spiritual Work of Mercy - Counsel the Doubtful. It is indeed a great act of mercy for godly sanity to save the world from the self-destruction it is bringing upon itself through the persuasive lunacy that advocates the soft option rather than the tough necessity!
Does anyone seriously believe that "The Voice of the People is the Voice of God?"
Let us pray
Lord Jesus, Philip, one your disciples asked you to show him the way to your Father. And you replied that you were the Way.
And Lord Jesus, you now are asking us to follow you. At times it is not easy for us to discern how you want us to live; how to apply to our daily lives what you are teaching us through your Church. And we are not alone in our doubts and uncertainties. People come to us expecting us to have the answers, your answers, to their problems.
In today's world there is so much confusion, with so many voices confidently lending their advice to the world's problems. We urgently need your help. Give us the wisdom to discern true prophets from false ones - those who speak in your name and those who do not.
When people come to us seeking our advice, share with us your wisdom and your merciful compassion. Give us the grace generously to share our time with them, as well as our interest. With humility may we utter your word of wisdom to them.
And Lord, there will be times when we ourselves are confused and have our doubts. It is then we need someone to counsel us. Send someone who speaks in your name. Give us the courage to follow the counselling you have sent to us. Amen
For the sake of His Sacred Passion have mercy on us and the whole world.
Peter Clarke, O.P.
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