Devotional Thought of the Day:

¹  In the beginning the Word already existed; the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²  From the very beginning the Word was with God. ³  Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him. ⁴  The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to people. ⁵  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out. ⁶  God sent his messenger, a man named John, ⁷  who came to tell people about the light, so that all should hear the message and believe. ⁸  He himself was not the light; he came to tell about the light. ⁹  This was the real light—the light that comes into the world and shines on all people. ¹⁰  The Word was in the world, and though God made the world through him, yet the world did not recognize him. ¹¹  He came to his own country, but his own people did not receive him. ¹²  Some, however, did receive him and believed in him; so he gave them the right to become God’s children. ¹³  They did not become God’s children by natural means, that is, by being born as the children of a human father; God himself was their Father. ¹⁴  The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father’s only Son.
John 1:1-14 (TEV)

“Our desire to advance in theological knowledge, in sound, firm Christian doctrine is sparked , above all, by the will to know and love God.  It likewise stems from the concern of a faithful soul to attain the deepest meaning fo the world, seen as coming from the hands of God. “( St Josemaria Escriva, Christ is passing By)

I believe that I cannot come to my Lord Jesus Christ by my own intelligence or power. But the Holy Spirit call me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, made me holy and kept me in the true faith, just as He calls, gathers together, enlightens and makes holy the whole Church on earth and keeps it with Jesus in the one, true faith. In this Church, He generously forgives each day every sin committed by me and by every believer.   (Martin Luther, Luther’s Small Catechism)

Theology has the hardest job of any science.

Yeah, you read that right, I called theology a science. It is a logos; it seeks to exist in the world of logic and reason, of in-depth study and observation.  It is full of hypotheticals, and that which is proven, though we argue about which things fall into which categories.It has to balance general revelation with documents which claim to be specific revelation from a divine, omniscient source.  It is up to us to discern which books are divine, which are simply good, and which are absolutely false.  Just for clarification sake, “us” is inclusive of people of every time, and of nearly every culture, from every continent, with no special wisdom given to those of any particular heritage.

The problem is that Theology has failed miserably, because theologians on every part of every spectrum have forgotten the basic reason for the existence of theology. Some still get it, but they are marginalized, more about them later!  Unlike other sciences, theology has long ceased to benefit humanity; it seeks simply for a truth divorced from meaning.

The reason for this is that theologians distance themselves from the objective, expressed by St. Josemaria Escriva as to know and love God.  This should be the Theologian’s greatest joy, to do what Paul prayed for, for all the people of God.

¹⁴  For this reason I fall on my knees before the Father, ¹⁵  from whom every family in heaven and on earth receives its true name. ¹⁶  I ask God from the wealth of his glory to give you power through his Spirit to be strong in your inner selves, ¹⁷  and I pray that Christ will make his home in your hearts through faith. I pray that you may have your roots and foundation in love, ¹⁸  so that you, together with all God’s people, may have the power to understand how broad and long, how high and deep, is Christ’s love. ¹⁹  Yes, may you come to know his love—although it can never be fully known—and so be completely filled with the very nature of God.
Ephesians 3:14-19 (TEV)

This is where a theologian lives, it is where a theologian would thrive, and it is as the theologians share the wonder and joy of knowing this love, that a theologian learns to know and love God, and where the theologian begins to understand the deepest meaning for this world.  It is where John 1:1-14 goes from being nice philosophy to something that is mind-blowing and life-altering.

It is where theology becomes the science which benefits people, those who hear and listen and end up becoming the children of God.

That is what theology is for, that is why we preach, that is why the church sacrifices all it has to make known the love of God.

May theologians from every culture, every language remember why they are called to this task. Our existence is predicated on knowing and loving God, and as we return to that, knowing His love for us, may we see the Breath of Life empower and guide our efforts.