The crowd said to Jesus:
“What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you?
What can you do?
Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written:
He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”
Vulgus vult decipi: an old Latin proverb meaning, "People want to be deceived."
A longer version declares, Vulgus vult decipi decipiatur ergo. People want to be deceived; therefore, let them be.
It's a cynical remark but may be more true than not. If you watch how marketing, religion and politics borrow from each other, you may come to the same conclusion.
But what happens when someone speaks plain truth, as Jesus did. What would happen to a presidential candidate who said, "The United States is just another country in the world, neither the best nor the worst?" His campaign would be dead in the water.
Vulgus vult decipi.
In today's gospel the people want a sign but it cannot be one that speaks the truth. It should persuade, flatter and elate. It should make them feel good.
Jesus once tested his hearers with a parable about flattery and obedience:
‘What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.”He answered, “I will not”; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I go, sir”; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.’We might also ask, "Which of the sons pleased his father?" I would bet it was the scoundrel who knew just which words please the old man, and how to ignore his obligation to obedience. The owner of the vineyard might fume and fuss about him but in the end he would rather be fooled than deal with the truth about his family.
Finishing the parable Jesus spoke a hard truth to his colleagues, the fellowship of religious leaders:
"Truly I tell you, the tax-collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax-collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.
As the cardinals recently gathered to select a pope, the media eagerly wondered whether the new pontiff might ordain women, bless gay marriage or soften the ban on abortion. They might have saved their breath. They would not be satisfied with such changes; they would only want more.The Church is not in the business of giving the people what they want; we are under obedience to a Father who can neither deceive nor be deceived.
No comments:
Post a Comment
I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.