Spe Salvi as a discernment tool, part 5

When I was a little kid, I used to go with my grandfather to visit his mother. Time with my grandfather was always a time of wisdom and happiness. I remember one time looking at my grandfather and stating, “I am concerned that by the time I grow up everything will have been invented.” His reply at first was laughter and then he reassured that there would always be a need for new things. He stated that we will always be making advances in technology, but he stated that human nature always remains the same. I did not understand what he meant by that until I studied philosophy in the seminary.

Pope Benedict writes that the modern age has brought about the idea that science can explain nature, which has elevated science. Which is an attempt on the part of humanity to assert dominion over creation that we had lost by being expelled from the Garden of Eden. We are now tempting to find answers in science instead of looking to God. We have fallen back to the idea that we can redeem ourselves. That given enough studies we will find the answer. Pope Benedict points to two historical events that have helped to show how this thought has taken root in the world. The first is the French Revolution, which started the process of placing freedom and reason in the political reality. The second was Karl Marx, who thought that politics would free man, so that man could share everything equally because politics would create a situation where man would “want the best” for each equally.

Pope Benedict points out the reasons why both of the historical events failed. There was no plan for after the revolution. It was as if is man would naturally want the best for each without any structures helping this to occur. And “man always remains man (#21)”, which Pope Benedict means that just as we have the ability for good we also have the ability for evil. Marx thought that economics would free man, when materialism corrupts a person. A culture in search of progress has the potential to arrive at the good and also at the evil.

Pope Benedict reminds us that, “man needs God, otherwise he remains with hope (#23).” We are reminded that God does enter into the world and engage us in conversation. So we need to know that our reason needs faith, a divine Substance, to be complete. Faith and reason need to be dependent upon each other.

This should be a valuable lessen for those who are discerning God’s call. Young men need to know that discerning is not dependent upon their own ability to reason what God needs of them, but that they need their reason inspired by faith to be able to truly hear what God has to say. That if we are not reliant upon faith in our discernment, we risk not being where God needs us to be and where we will discover the most joy.