1.6 Response
STAGE 1: Facing Reality
FALSE WISDOM
DISTORTING THE TRUTH
RESPONSE
Aim: To respond to Montfort’s challenge to identify in us the apparently “innocent” worldly wisdom, which is high in the “art of duplicity” and in disregarding truth, honesty and justice.
Reading
Wisdom of the world (LEW 75-83):
“The wisdom of the world is that of which it is said, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise’ (1 Cor 1:19; cf. Is 29:14), i.e., those whom the world calls wise. ‘The wisdom of the flesh is an enemy of God’ (Rom 8:7), and does not come from above. It is ‘earthly, devilish and carnal’ (Jas 3:15)”. “This worldly wisdom consists in an exact conformity to the maxims and fashions of the world; a continual inclination towards greatness and esteem; and a subtle and endless pursuit of pleasure and self-interest, not in an uncouth and blatant way by scandalous sin, but in an astute, discreet, and deceitful way. Otherwise the world would no longer label it wisdom but pure licentiousness”.
“In the opinion of the world, a wise person is one with a keen eye to business; who knows how to turn everything to his or her personal profit without appearing to do so. Such persons excel in the art of duplicity and well-concealed fraud without arousing suspicion. They think one thing and say or do another. Nothing concerning the graces and manners of the world is unknown to them. They accommodate themselves to everyone to suit their own end, completely ignoring the honour and interests of God. They manage to make a secret but fatal reconciliation of truth and falsehood, of the gospel and the world, of virtue and sin, of Christ and Belial. They wish to be considered honest people but not devout, and most readily scorn, distort and condemn devotions they do not personally approve of. In short, worldly-wise are those people who, following solely the lead of their senses and human reasoning, pose as good Christians and persons of integrity, but make little effort to please God or atone by penance for the sins they have committed against God”.
“Worldly people base their conduct on personal honour, on ‘What will people say?’, on convention, on high living, on self-interest, on ceremonious manners, and on witty conversation. These seven principles are the irreproachable supports on which, they believe, they can safely depend to enjoy a peaceful life. The world will canonise them for such virtues as courage, finesse, tactfulness, shrewdness, gallantry, politeness and good humour. It stigmatises as serious offences, insensitiveness, stupidity, poverty, boorishness and bigotry. They obey as faithfully as they can the commandments which the world gives them:You shall be well acquainted with the world. You shall be respectable. You shall be successful in business. You shall hold on to whatever is yours. You shall rise above your background. You shall make friends for yourself. You shall frequent fashionable society. You shall seek the good life. You shall not be a killjoy. You shall not be singular, uncouth or over-pious”.
“Never has the world been so corrupt as it is now, for never has it been so cunning, so wise in its own way, and so crafty. It cleverly makes use of the truth to foster untruth, virtue to justify vice, and the very maxims of Jesus Christ to endorse its own so that even those who are wisest in the sight of God are often deceived. ‘Infinite is the number of these people, wise in the sight of the world but foolish in the eyes of God’ (Eccl 1:15)”.
“Earthly wisdom, of which St. James speaks, is love for the things of this world. Worldly people secretly subscribe to this wisdom when they set their hearts on worldly possessions and strive to become rich. They institute court proceedings and engage in needless disputes to acquire wealth or hold on to it. Most of the time they are thinking, speaking, acting with the sole aim of acquiring or keeping some temporal possession. They pay little or no attention to their eternal salvation or to the means of saving their souls, such as Confession, Holy Communion, prayer, etc., except in an offhand way out of routine, once in a while, and for the sake of appearances”.
“The wisdom of the flesh is the love of pleasure. This is the wisdom shown by the worldly-wise who seek only the satisfaction of the senses. They want to have a good time. They shun everything that might prove unpleasant or mortifying for the body, such as fasting, and other austerities. Usually they think only of eating, drinking, playing, laughing, enjoying life and having a good time. They must always be comfortable and insist on having entertaining pastimes, the best of food and good company. They regale themselves with all these pleasures without the least scruple, with no disapproval from the world and no inconvenience to their health. Then they can go looking for some broadminded confessor (that is how they describe lax confessors who shirk their duty) to obtain from him on easy terms the peaceful sanction for their soft and effeminate way of living and a generous pardon for their sins. I say ‘on easy terms’ because these worldly people usually want as a penance only a few prayers or a small offering to the poor. They detest anything that could possibly cause them any bodily discomfort”.
“Diabolical wisdom is the love and esteem of honours. This is the wisdom of the worldly-wise who, secretly, of course, long for distinctions, honours, dignities and high offices. They strive to be seen, esteemed, praised and applauded by people. In their studies, their work, their undertakings, their words and actions, all they want is the esteem and praise of others, to be reputed as devout or learned people, as great leaders, eminent lawyers, persons of great and distinguished merit or deserving of high consideration. They cannot bear insult or blame and so they hide their shortcomings and parade their better qualities”.
“We must, like our Lord Jesus Christ, incarnate Wisdom, detest and condemn these three kinds of false wisdom if we are to possess the true one, which is not self-seeking, not found in the world nor in the heart of those who lead a comfortable life, and which loathes everything that people consider great and noble”.
Comment
Somehow, we feel challenged and easily stirred in our conscience by the wisdom of the world as described by St. James, because he makes it appear “sinful”. Whereas, we hesitate to respond with sentiments of conversion to the description given by St. Louis-Marie de Montfort. The reason is simple: the wisdom that Montfort tells us to recognize and let go of, looks “innocent” and very much part of our conventional living. Indeed, what’s wrong with going along with the “fashions”, with growing in self-esteem, with being astute, with being successful in business, with safeguarding one’s image and reputation, with fostering a sense of humour, with becoming rich, with having fun and holding parties, with earning honours, degrees and positions?
Nothing wrong, Montfort would reply, until all the above becomes the fruit of the “art of duplicity and fraud”, makes people “ignore the honour and interests of God” and sets their hearts exclusively on “worldly possessions”, on the “satisfaction of their senses” and on the “parade of their qualities” while disregarding truth, honesty and justice.
Personal Reflection and Sharing
In my response to St. Louis-Marie de Montfort’s challenging words, in what way is my heart set too much:
- On “earthly wisdom” or “love for the things of this world”?
- On the “wisdom of the flesh” or “love of pleasure”?
- On “diabolical wisdom” or craving to “be seen, esteemed, praised and applauded by people“?
[1-6] CALL RESPONSE COMMITMENT PRAYER