A Message from Abbot Charles*

A Message from Abbot Charles*
In pursuit of the truth - cinops be gone - Monday, Oct. 15, 2012

“It is no surprise that the values which we, as Christians, hold dear are under attack. It seems necessary for us to not only proclaim our faith but to be so convincing that those values again become appealing and desirable. That is a large task, especially in a world that fails to strive for the good of everyone while becoming more forceful in its favor of a particularly group. That only ends in an increasing number of opposing factions.

“The Christian message is influenced by the culture in which we live. And we know that our culture is becoming inimical to anything but a superficial approach to living. Today the contributions with which Christianity has enriched culture and civilization are all but ignored and even resented. No doubt, that is because we have lost our sense of history. And to lose history is to become blind to what lies ahead. The ability to anticipate what lies ahead is yet another contribution of Christianity to society.

“We hear so much about placing the burden of a national debt on the backs of our children and grandchildren. However, the fiscal burden pales when we see the social burdens that the moral slippery slope has in store for future generations. Without objective norms to guide us, there is nothing left but the individual determination of what is right or wrong.

“But culture determines how receptive or closed we are to the message that Jesus brought. Culture indicates how disposed we are to accepting Christian truths. Unfortunately, today many have gotten locked into a superficial and even disdainful reaction that sees Christianity as a hindrance to the furthering any human progress.

“Judaism, and especially Christianity, are unique among religions because they look at life as having a future, rather than an endless and meaningless cycle of occurrences, which always longs for new beginnings.

“So how do we, as Christians, point out values to our society which can enkindle the quest for satisfaction which goes beyond the superficial? It can only come about by our own increase in faith and practice which are manifested in a rejection of the values being adopted by our culture.

“However, cultures are very powerful, especially when they are driven by evil. So to attempt to reverse the condition in which we find ourselves is not easy but it with the help of grace it is possible.

“That is why we must be Christians in more than name only. It is related that Gandhi once said that if Christians acted like Christ, he would be one. So to point an accusative finger at a culture without acknowledging the responsibility that we all share in what is happening today is to be guilty of hypocrisy.

“Our belied in, and longing for, eternal life and the means by which it can be attained, must permeate our lives to the extent that others witness the resulting inner peace and thus wish to attain it also. In that way we, as Christians, can again influence culture.

“May this summer [and fall] find you all ever more receptive to the message of Jesus and the means by which that message can be fully appreciated and shared.”

*Abbot Charles, Prince of Peace Abbey, www.princeofpeaceabbey.org - vocation monk@aol.com

George H. Kubeck