Thomas Aquinas....
[16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel. For it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew first, and to the Greek. [17] For the justice of God is revealed therein, from faith unto faith, as it is written: The just man liveth by faith. [18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and injustice of those men that detain the truth of God in injustice: [19] Because that which is known of God is manifest in them. For God hath manifested it unto them. [20] For the invisible things of him, from the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made; his eternal power also, and divinity: so that they are inexcusable.
[21] Because that, when they knew God, they have not glorified him as God, or given thanks; but became vain in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened. [22] For professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. [23] And they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of the image of a corruptible man, and of birds, and of fourfooted beasts, and of creeping things. [24] Wherefore God gave them up to the desires of their heart, unto uncleanness, to dishonour their own bodies among themselves. [25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie; and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
[26] For this cause God delivered them up to shameful affections. For their women have changed the natural use into that use which is against nature. [27] And, in like manner, the men also, leaving the natural use of the women, have burned in their lusts one towards another, men with men working that which is filthy, and receiving in themselves the recompense which was due to their error. [28] And as they liked not to have God in their knowledge, God delivered them up to a reprobate sense, to do those things which are not convenient; [29] Being filled with all iniquity, malice, fornication, avarice, wickedness, full of envy, murder, contention, deceit, malignity, whisperers, [30] Detractors, hateful to God, contumelious, proud, haughty, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
[26] God delivered them up: Not by being author of
their sins, but by withdrawing his grace, and so permitting them, in
punishment of their pride, to fall into those shameful sins.
[31] Foolish, dissolute, without affection, without fidelity, without mercy.
[32]
Who, having known the justice of God, did not understand that they who
do such things, are worthy of death; and not only they that do them, but
they also that consent to them that do them. Now, the underlines bits have to do with suffering in Challoner's notes here in blue. Once sin and, therefore, disorder are chosen, God lets a person literally "go his own way". The Bridegroom stops wooing the bride, that is, the soul.
His grace is withdrawn, which is the meaning of the phrase the "death of the soul" with regard to "mortal sin". Those in mortal sin, those in disorder, have no sanctifying grace.
How does suffering pull one out of disorder? Disorder and suffering are described in Chapter Three, but why is suffering necessary?
Here is Paul in Chapter Six:
[6] Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin may be destroyed, to the end that we may serve sin no longer. [7] For he that is dead is justified from sin. [8] Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall live also together with Christ: [9] Knowing that Christ rising again from the dead, dieth now no more, death shall no more have dominion over him. [10] For in that he died to sin, he died once; but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God:
We must be joined to the suffering of Christ in order to break away from the habits of sin, from the predominant faults. Yes, Christ died for us, but in our bodies we must work out that salvation.
Herein is a huge difference between us and our Protestant brethren, who have destroyed sacramental life in their churches. The sacraments restore us to grace--there is no other way.
And, suffering humble us to seek out the sacraments. Only the proud do not want the sacraments.
Grace frees us to obey, to see justice, to want discipline. As "servants of justice" we also seek mercy, knowing through our suffering that God is Just.
The realization of justice and mercy come only through facing one's sins, in suffering, in humility.
[16] Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are whom you obey, whether it be of sin unto death, or of obedience unto justice. [17] But thanks be to God, that you were the servants of sin, but have obeyed from the heart, unto that form of doctrine, into which you have been delivered. [18] Being then freed from sin, we have been made servants of justice. [19] I speak an human thing, because of the infirmity of your flesh. For as you have yielded your members to serve uncleanness and iniquity, unto iniquity; so now yield your members to serve justice, unto sanctification. [20] For when you were the servants of sin, you were free men to justice.
Disorder brings pain, brings chaos into one's soul. mind, body, but, as St. Paul states, thanks be to God for His gift of salvation and for the Church's sacramental life of grace.
But, what if someone is not facing his suffering? What if one is in denial of chaos in the soul? Can an entire culture, an entire society be blinded to suffering and disorder?
to be continued...
