MARCH 5, 2017
7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 5:30 PM ORDINARY FORM (ENGLISH) MASSES
Epistemology is a branch of philosophy dealing with knowledge. It literally means, “the study of knowledge.” Epistemology arose within philosophy in response to skepticism. Where epistemology attempts to define the sources, limits, structures, and sufficiency of knowledge; skepticism questions all of those. There are levels of skepticism ranging from subtle inquiry to the questioning of everything. As an academic subject, it can be interesting and engaging. However, in practical matters, it can rapidly become as taxing as a precocious toddler asking “Why? Why? Why?” … over and over again.
Skepticism can be directed at specific areas of thought, such are morality, religion, or politics. Or else it can be directed at knowledge and the nature of knowledge itself.
In our own day and age, with its fake news, spin doctors, and media manipulators, one is almost forced into a varying levels and modes of skepticism.
Nonetheless, skepticism has its limits.
After all … at some point, you have to surrender to the knowledge that this is your breakfast, you are certainly hungry, and it would be a good thing to eat now. This, as opposed to questioning the existence of breakfast, hunger, or food itself.
The roots of the word skepticism come from the Greek word for “inquiry.” Yet in its common usage it brings up images of doubt and disbelief.
Today is the First Sunday of Lent.
What was green one week ago, is now violet. Last Wednesday, many of us received ashes on our foreheads as a sign of penitence. Fasting from food or certain activities, fish on Fridays, almsgiving, and increased prayer will be our preoccupation for the next 6 weeks.
The readings this week deal with temptation. The Old Testament presents the temptation – and fall – of our First Parents. The Gospel presents the Temptation of Jesus in the desert. And the Epistle compares and contrasts these two events.
In considering these two temptations, there is a common factor that needs to be considered, since biblically, there is a three thousand year gap between the two events. This common factor in both, is the introduction of doubt into something which should be – and should remain – foundational knowledge.
In Genesis, the serpent asks:
Did God really tell you …And proceeds to turn what was once black and white into 50 or more shades of grey.
In the Gospel, the temptations of Our Lord each begin with
If you are the Son of God …Trying to call into question, not only Jesus’ identity, His relationship to God the Father, and also His entire being.
For ourselves, many if not all of our temptations arise out of doubts concerning what should often be concrete. In our temptations, we may end up calling into question who we are, where the line is, or how far we can stretch things.
The end result is the same: sin. And from sin, comes death. Maybe not physical death, but usually the death of our self-image; someone’s reputation; or the loss or injury of a valued relationship.
In all of this, we must remember that we are Baptized into Christ Jesus. And through Him, with Him, and in Him we are made whole. Not by our own power, but by a free gift of grace.
St. Paul explains this by pointing out that while our actions may leave us open to condemnation, that
the grace of God and the gracious gift of … Jesus Christ … [have] brought acquittal … [through] the abundance of grace and the gift of justification … [thus] life came to all.When we struggle to hold onto our beliefs within the midst of a personal or societal epistemological crisis – a crisis of knowledge of self … or surroundings; we need to dig deep and rely on the foundational graces we received in Baptism – namely, Faith, Hope, and Love – in order to transcend the frailties and the weaknesses of our human condition.
As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, let us pray for a deeper outpouring of the graces of our Baptism. May we persevere in Faith, Hope, and Love – not by our own efforts, but through the infinite gracious gift of God the Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit; and through, with, and in Christ Jesus our Lord.
