EPIPHANY I - THURSDAY

LESSON: JOHN 8:31-33

Sanctify them in the truth; thy word is truth. John 17:17

This Gospel (Luke 2:41-52) is a very telling blow against all doctrine and consolation and whatever else might be named that is not the Word of God and does not flow from the Word.

You can now say: I don’t care what happens; exalt reason and the light of nature as high as you want to, I still reserve my right not to entrust myself to it. I grant that councils and pope have made decisions, and that the holy fathers have taught in accordance with their will, but I do not rely on such decisions. If they grant me this, we will soon be one. I will retain my freedom and they can decide and set up whatever they will, but let me say, “If it pleases me, I accept it; but I do not accept it as though I were doing something precious thereby.”

They will not grant this, for it will never satisfy them that such procedure should be a matter of freedom. They always look for the addition that one should rest one’s confidence on these decisions and derive consolation from them just as though one were trusting Christ and the Holy Spirit in this whole matter. We must never abide this false delusion and confidence which they try to inculcate, namely, that it is a good work to accept their decisions and a sin to reject them.

SL.XI.437,21

PRAYER: Thanks and praise be to you, dear Father in heaven, for giving us the precious gift of your holy Word, in which you have revealed all that a man should know for his salvation in and through Christ our Savior. Amen.