Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa

[djeter]

In a series of homiletic meditations, Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, the preacher to the papal household, explores the main themes of St. Paul’s famous epistle to the Romans in a manner that draws us closer to a more mature relationship with Jesus Christ.

This particular series of selections deals with the topic of Sin and is taken from Fr. Cantalamessa’s wonderful little book titled “Life In Christ”.

A teaser:

Only Divine Revelation Knows What Sin Is
Only divine revelation really knows what sin is and neither human ethics nor philosophy can tell us anything about it. No man can say by himself what sin is, for the simple reason that he himself is in sin. All that he says about sin can, in the end, only be a palliative and an understatement of sin:

“To have a weak understanding of sin is part of our being sinners.” Scripture says: “Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart. . . for he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated”
(Psalms 36:2-3).

Sin also “speaks” just as God does; it too delivers oracles and its place of teaching is man’s heart. Sin speaks in man’s heart and that is why it is absurd to expect man to speak “against” it. Although I am here writing about sin, I too am a sinner and I should therefore tell you not to rely too much on me and on what I write!

Sin is a much more serious thing — infinitely more serious — than I shall ever be able to explain. At the most, man can reach an understanding of sin against himself or against other men, but not sin against God; the violation of human rights, but not the violation of divine rights. In fact, if we take a close look around us we can see that this is what is happening in present-day culture.

Therefore only divine revelation knows what sin is. Jesus explains all this more closely by saying that only the Holy Spirit can “convince the world of sin” (cf. John 16:8). I have mentioned that God must be the one to talk to us of sin. When, in fact, God and not man talks against sin it is not easy to remain impassive; his voice is like thunder that “crushes the cedars of Lebanon” (cf. Psalms 29:5).

Our meditation will have fulfilled its aim if it manages even to challenge our unshakable basic self-assurance and make us feel a wholesome fear in front of the terrible danger that not only sin but the very possibility of sinning holds for us. With the help of God we want to reach the point of being prepared to shed our blood in the struggle against sin (“In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” Hebrews 12:4).

More here:

payingattentiontothesky.com/2010/02/11/all-have-sinned-the-mystery-of-impiety-by-fr-raniero-cantalamessa/

dj

 

[NotWorthy]

Thank you for posting this. I think I’m going to take a look at these. You can never read too much about St. Paul!

 

[Reuben_J]

Ah, Fr. Cantalamessa. A university professor from Milan, called to be a preacher by God, spotted by the Pope (JP II) in 1980 and appointed preacher to the Papal household that year. Have been preaching to them ever since every Friday during the season of Lent and Advent until today. Had the privilege of having dinner with him with other lay leaders of the church during his speaking appointment recently before giving a retreat to the priests and Bishops, and how he was utterly humbled, as he said it, that people like the then Cardinal Ratzinger (now the Pope) taking notes during his preaching.

What amazed me is how he carried on and seems never to tire all these years proclaiming the word of God; how every week he would appear for TV programme besides having to write series of books and preach.

A man of God is he.

 

[Mailman]

Only Divine Revelation Knows What Sin Is

That is not exactly how it is. A more apt quotation would be:

Only Divine Revelation Determines What Sin Is.

Man does not have the means to determine by himself what constitute sin. “Neither human ethics nor philosophy can tell us anything about it.” But it’s not because, “[man] himself is sin.” It’s because defining sin is a Divine prerogative. It is God who tells us what to do or not do so that there is no “violation of divine rights.”

So what is this thing called sin? Can we know what sin is? Obviously, IF we can’t know what it is, then there’s no need to struggle against it – we don’t have to resist it, much less resist it to the point of shedding our blood. And, IF “man cannot reach an understanding of sin against God,” then he is lost, for God’s revelation tells us that, “the soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Eze. 18:4). And why is that? “For the wages of sin is death…” (Rom. 6:23).

Now, can we find this word ‘sin’ defined plainly in the pages of the Holy Bible, God’s written revelation to man, so that there is no misunderstanding as to what it is? Is there a place in the Bible where it gives a plain definition – where it says ‘sin is —‘ and then in plain words tells what it is? Definitely!

Here is what we read in 1 John 3:4:

“Sin is the transgression of the law.”

Sin is the breaking of the Law. As Paul said, “I had not known sin but by the law” (Rom. 7:7). In other words, the Law defines sin. When we break the Law, we sin. Paul knew what sin is and so should we all. He tells us that, “…for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Rom. 3:20). We KNOW what sin is because the law points it out to us. Without the law, therefore, there is no sin – no transgression: As Paul explains, “…where no law is, there is no transgression” (Rom. 4:15).

But what law? This is explained in Romans 7. After Paul had said [in verse 7], “I had not known sin but by the law,” he continued, “for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.”

Here, we are told plainly what law it is sin to transgress. It is the Law that says: “Thou shalt not covet.” That Law is the Ten Commandments. It is sin to break the Ten Commandments. In verses 12 and 14 of this same chapter, we read that the Law is holy, just and good, and that it is a spiritual Law – a Law of spiritual principles of living.

This whole spiritual Law may be summed up in the word LOVE. As Jesus revealed in Matthew 22:37-39 the Law may be divided into the two Great Commandments – love toward God, and love toward our fellow human beings. The first four of the Ten Commandments tell us how to love God; the last six how to love our fellowmen.

Without the ten specific points detailed in the Law, we would not know, for example, that adultery is a sin. Others may, after using human reason, arrive at the conclusion that adultery is wrong. But not everyone will arrive at that same conclusion after even a sincere and careful study of the issue. Even Paul said that if the Law had not said, “Thou shalt not covet,” he would not have known that it was sin to lust.

Another example is the commandment on idolatry. Had the Law not said, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image” to bow down unto it, we would not have known that idolatry is a sin.

But maybe the most fitting example would be the Sabbath commandment. How could we know that a particular day of the week is holy to the Lord and that He wants us to keep it that way as well? We can use all our tools of gaining knowledge – observation, exploration, experiment and human reason – but we can never know that we have to keep the seventh day holy otherwise we sin. That knowledge has to be revealed by God. He determines for us what sin is.

 

[abucs]

Thanks for the post.

I enjoy listening to Father Cantalamessa.

 

[djeter]

That is not exactly how it is. A more apt quotation would be:

Only Divine Revelation Determines What Sin Is.

Man does not have the means to determine by himself what constitute sin. “Neither human ethics nor philosophy can tell us anything about it.” But it’s not because, “[man] himself is sin.” It’s because defining sin is a Divine prerogative. It is God who tells us what to do or not do so that there is no “violation of divine rights.”

So what is this thing called sin? Can we know what sin is? Obviously, IF we can’t know what it is, then there’s no need to struggle against it – we don’t have to resist it, much less resist it to the point of shedding our blood. And, IF “man cannot reach an understanding of sin against God,” then he is lost, for God’s revelation tells us that, “the soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Eze. 18:4). And why is that? “For the wages of sin is death…” (Rom. 6:23).

Now, can we find this word ‘sin’ defined plainly in the pages of the Holy Bible, God’s written revelation to man, so that there is no misunderstanding as to what it is? Is there a place in the Bible where it gives a plain definition – where it says ‘sin is —‘ and then in plain words tells what it is? Definitely!

Here is what we read in 1 John 3:4:

“Sin is the transgression of the law.”

Sin is the breaking of the Law. As Paul said, “I had not known sin but by the law” (Rom. 7:7). In other words, the Law defines sin. When we break the Law, we sin. Paul knew what sin is and so should we all. He tells us that, “…for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Rom. 3:20). We KNOW what sin is because the law points it out to us. Without the law, therefore, there is no sin – no transgression: As Paul explains, “…where no law is, there is no transgression” (Rom. 4:15).

But what law? This is explained in Romans 7. After Paul had said [in verse 7], “I had not known sin but by the law,” he continued, “for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.”

Here, we are told plainly what law it is sin to transgress. It is the Law that says: “Thou shalt not covet.” That Law is the Ten Commandments. It is sin to break the Ten Commandments. In verses 12 and 14 of this same chapter, we read that the Law is holy, just and good, and that it is a spiritual Law – a Law of spiritual principles of living.

This whole spiritual Law may be summed up in the word LOVE. As Jesus revealed in Matthew 22:37-39 the Law may be divided into the two Great Commandments – love toward God, and love toward our fellow human beings. The first four of the Ten Commandments tell us how to love God; the last six how to love our fellowmen.

Without the ten specific points detailed in the Law, we would not know, for example, that adultery is a sin. Others may, after using human reason, arrive at the conclusion that adultery is wrong. But not everyone will arrive at that same conclusion after even a sincere and careful study of the issue. Even Paul said that if the Law had not said, “Thou shalt not covet,” he would not have known that it was sin to lust.

Another example is the commandment on idolatry. Had the Law not said, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image” to bow down unto it, we would not have known that idolatry is a sin.

But maybe the most fitting example would be the Sabbath commandment. How could we know that a particular day of the week is holy to the Lord and that He wants us to keep it that way as well? We can use all our tools of gaining knowledge – observation, exploration, experiment and human reason – but we can never know that we have to keep the seventh day holy otherwise we sin. That knowledge has to be revealed by God. He determines for us what sin is.

“That knowledge has to be revealed by God. He determines for us what sin is.” Because he knows what sin is… and round 'n round we go.

You’re very knowledgeable in Scripture but I think this is a quibble you’ve picked with Fr. Cantalamessa. But thanks for the extra interpretation and excuse me for not seeing any fundamental disagreement here.

dj

 

[djeter]

And if you thirst for more, this is the second of two posts by Fr. Cantalamessa reflecting on Paul’s notion of divine love;

Moved By The Holy Spirit
When St. Paul speaks of the love of God and Jesus Christ, he always appears to be “moved”. Of Christ he says: “He loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). He is showing us the first and most natural reaction that should grow in us after listening to the revelation of God’s love: we should be deeply moved. When emotion is sincere and heartfelt, it is the most meaningful and worthy response that man can have before the revelation of a great love or a great sorrow.

At any rate, it is most beneficial to the receiver. Not a word or a gesture or a gift can replace this because it is in itself the most beautiful gift. It is the opening of one’s own being to another. That is why we are reserved in showing our feelings, as with the most intimate and holy things in which a person realizes that he no longer belongs entirely to himself but to another.

We cannot conceal our deep feelings completely without depriving others of what is theirs by right because it exists in us for them. Jesus didn’t hide his deep feelings. “He was deeply moved” before the widow of Naim and before the sisters of Lazarus (cf. Luke 7:13; John 11:33-35). It would be very helpful, especially for us, to feel moved as we set out on our spiritual journey to embrace God’s will in a new way in our lives. It is in fact like the ploughing that precedes the sowing: it opens the heart and uncovers deep furrows so that the seed will not fall by the wayside. . .

When God wants to give someone an important message for his life, he usually accompanies this with a certain emotion to help the person embrace his word, and this deep feeling is, in its turn, the sign that it is God who is speaking to the soul. Let us therefore ask the Holy Spirit to help us feel deeply moved; let us ask him to grant us feeling that is not superficial.

I shall always remember the time when I too was allowed to experience a similar feeling for an instant. It was at a prayer meeting and I had just been listening to the Gospel Passage where Jesus says to his disciples “No longer do I call you servants but I have called you friends” (John 15:15) The word “friends” moved me deeply; it touched something deep inside of me, so much so that for the remainder of the day, I went about full of amazement and incredulity repeating to myself: “He called me his friend! Jesus of Nazareth, the Lord, my God! He called me his friend! I am his friend!” And I felt that, with such a certainty in my heart, I could fly over the roofs of the city and walk through fire."

More here:

payingattentiontothesky.com/2009/07/14/partaking-of-divine-love/

and the previous post here:

payingattentiontothesky.com/2009/07/13/what-is-man-that-you-are-mindful-of-him-and-the-son-of-man-that-you-care-for-him/

which is a reflection (in part) on the great Hallel, Psalm 136, recited by Jesus during the Last Supper.

Enjoy

dj

dj