Day 17

 The Demands of Doctrine

 

Whenever we understand a Christian doctrine, that doctrine makes a demand upon us.  The doctrine, when truly understood, has eyes in it, and comes to us with ethical content.  Take, for example, the doctrine of Creation, which looks at us and says, “You are creatures, formed by God, belonging to God, and thus responsible to Him  Since you are creatures, you should be thankful, humble, and responsible to God.”  We do not admire the doctrine of Creation and gaze at it as though it were a painting in a museum: rather when we understand the doctrine, we find that God is looking at us through it.  Creation means that we are creatures, not gods; and that, therefore, around our little lives are the brackets of birth and death.  Creation means that the laws of Another are to be found in my being.  Creation means that my life has been given to me, and that for it I am accountable to Another.  To understand a Christian doctrine is to see life from a new point of view, because God moves into the picture with a demand.

So, of course, does the doctrine of the Church have eyes in it; so that through it God makes a demand upon our lives.  Since this is the Catholic Church, intended for all men, we must be the Catholic Church reaching out to all men.  We must, if we believe this doctrine, teach about God’s family that gathers al the children of men out of many kindreds, nations and tongues; and builds them together in Christ.  This is the universal Church with a universal purpose and destiny.  And what saves us from narrowness and a little view of the Church which denies its catholic nature and destiny is the preaching of missions.

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