Church Militant (churchmilitantaction.org) (a 501(c)4 corporation) is responsible for the content of this commentary. If you also seek the truth, then please consider joining Church Militant today by supporting our work. Sign up for a Church Militant Premium account (churchmilitant.com) or simply make a donation (churchmilitant.com). Feel free to contact Church Militant (churchmilitant.com) with your questions, comments, or concerns, at anytime. And now, let's begin with today's Vortex (youtube.com)...
Channels of grace mean nothing for the person.
Thanks in advance for your generosity in donating to our work here in always presenting authentic Catholicism. You can make your end-of-year donation by clicking on the provided link.
There is a prevalent view that a man involved in good works is on his way to Heaven — that salvation is either assured or demonstrated, depending on which theological square you may be standing on.
There are, for example, many involved in the very important work of pro-life activism or feeding the poor or helping out at soup kitchens or teaching the Faith. All of that is laudable and, of course, needs to be done.
But a serious question for the individual here arises: Is it possible to be involved in such work, even if it's your life's work, and still be damned? Well, of course it is.
The distinction was made by St. Bernard when he spoke of the difference (in the spiritual life) between being a channel versus being a reservoir.
Hear him:
The channels let the water flow away, and do not retain a drop. But the reservoir is first filled, and then, without emptying itself, pours out its overflow, which is ever renewed, over the fields which it waters. How many there are that are devoted to works, who are never anything but channels, and retain nothing for themselves, but remain dry while trying to pass on life-giving grace to souls! We have many channels in the Church today, but very few reservoirs.
Consider: Even the work of sinners and the (eventually) damned, God uses in His providence. He even uses Satan's malice for His own end.
The damned Apostle Judas was a channel of grace. Pontius Pilate was a channel of grace. Annas and Caiaphas were both channels of grace.
... (churchmilitant.com)
Satan has many tricks to fool people into a false sense of security about their own eternal fate, even those working within the Church and doing objectively good things. Saint Paul warned of this, and most importantly, so, too, did the Son of God.
He recounts what it will be like for some of His followers when judgment comes, and they are refused entry into the heavenly banquet. In what has always struck me personally as the most horrifying words in all of Sacred Scripture, He says to them, Go away; I tell you solemnly I do not know you.
This, from the divine lips, even after they recount their close association with Him and works for Him — Go away; I do not know you.
Primary Video source and transcript continues here: https://www.churchmilitant.com/video/episode/vortex-channel-of-grace
Please consider Church Militant Evening News (churchmilitant.com) for daily hard-hitting news and analysis through an authentic Catholic lens, covering the latest developments in the Church, across the nation and around the world.
(post is archived)