Take a few minutes to listen to Fr. Edwin “Pius” Sammut OCD, the lead Neocatechumenal catechist for Guam, praying with a room full of Neocatechumenal leaders.
Shall we say a prayer? Courage.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
[Brothers say “Amen”]
Father, we thank you and we bless you because you are infinitely merciful with us. Because you are full of kindness, full of understanding. You are the only one who uh accepts us as we are without demanding anything. We thank you Father, and we bless you, for your infinite mercy with us sinners.
Fr. Pius is very eloquent in speaking of God’s mercy, but his declaration that God does not demand anything of us reminds me of Kiko’s teaching:
“It is useless to say: “Sacrifice yourself, be nice to each other, love each other.” If someone tries to do so, he’ll become the greatest Pharisee, because he will do everything for his own personal perfection and will judge others.” Day 7, “the Kerygma”, p 129, Catechetical Directory, Vol. I.
In other words, God makes no demands, so don’t even try.
Hmmm. I can think of a few demands that God places upon us, demands we face with His grace. How about these:
“Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again.'” John 8:11b
or
“You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48
or
“Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.“ Luke 12:48b
or
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
There is a link between the Neo’s “Jesus loves you just the way you are.” see This Spells Trouble,
and Kiko’s rejection of the sacrificial nature of Christ’s death, and expiatory things in general. see Kiko’s Passover Problem, Part II. That Jesus loves us is beyond argument, but why would He have died for us if he accepted our fallen condition and didn’t demand from us any effort to change?
It is one thing to show that the NCW is not consistent with N.T. teachings, as Chuck White has pointed out. But the problematical goes even further: One of the Way says, “God demands nothing,” but another of the Way demands that the internet not be used and that Scripture be read every day otherwise “you are disobedient.” In whose name are these demands being made? If in God’s name, then we meet a contradiction within the Way. If in the name of NCW catechists, then we ask if they are trying to be holier than God? The latter is vain.
Thank you Timothy. You are right, of course, that reading the Scriptures every day is to be highly encouraged, but not demanded.
Saint Agustin said: “God created you without you but will not save you without you”.