Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Temptation

 In the New Testament Letter of James the author tells us in Chapter 1 verses 14: ...each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death. 

The words from the biblical text put great emphasis on word desire, which is defined as to long, hope or express a wish for (OED). In its simplest form it seems to have no harm as we could assume that such feelings are directed towards the things that a human being needs to survive. However, if we take the words of Shahram Heshmat who says that: Desires are directed toward specific objects (or people) with a promise of gain in pleasure (or relief from discomfort) we can begin to explore the possibility that a person has what some call a wrongly formed conscience?

Immediately there are those who may want to step back and say that we shouldn't be so quick to judge based on the fact people in this world do not necessarily share the same values. The only problem with this relativistic way of thinking is that people do judge because people do believe not only in a sense of right and wrong but in the fact that there is a sense of universal truth. One simply has to spend about 10-15 minutes on Twitter to see how many tweets are offered as critical replies to a statement made by another. Why does this happen? Simply because someone believes that the person that they are responding to is wrong and if that is the case then such statements need to be addressed. Sadly, the most important thing that is missing is the source that has led to the thinking that is being criticized and in some cases it could have been the result of the person giving in to temptation.


The Company We Keep 

What leads us to such desires? A lot of that has to do with the company we keep along with where that company takes us. What are we exposed to? How are these realities explained to us? What are some of the promises that are made to us in order to help direct our decision making? Finally, are the potential consequences fully outlined? Rather than restate what has already been written I suggest we all take a look at this article written by Brain M:

https://theartofcharm.com/art-of-business/entrepreneurship/company-keep-determines/

The truth is, there are very few people that will be able to resist all that can be of influence to them. I would suggest that such people would have come from a very strong family background where they have been raised with a strong sense of right from wrong along with a strong sense of self. Still, it may take even more to resist certain temptations that come one's way.

In the midst of all of my life struggles there is one success story that I am pleased to share and that is my sense of sobriety. I have never touched any type of narcotic and when it came to alcohol I have rarely drank and if I was somewhat inebriated it was minimal with me never being at a point where I was not aware of where I was, what I was doing or that I needed to stop. As of now I may have a glass of wine at home maybe 2-3 times a year with me really having no desire to drink at all.

At a young age my parents gave me a strong awareness of what could happen to someone who took drugs. That and the fact that they had a strong intolerance to what could happen to me in terms of legal consequences should I decide to immerse myself in such behavior. Aside from that, I was a big fan of rock music to the point where I would read as many articles as I could with many of them talking about certain band members who may have been asked to leave their respected groups because of their drug problems. Then, as I got older and started performing in my own rock bands I saw firsthand such behavior both in my fellow band members and other peers to the point where I had to make the decision to distance myself from those who were enslaved to their addictions. I would learn even more about drug abuse when I would see the talent that many of these people lost after destroying their bodies and minds.

Over the years I still took the time to learn more about the effects of drugs so yes, I am able to stand in any room with any group of people and NOT participate in such behavior. I have what I believe is a strong sense of right and wrong along with the knowledge of the dangers that I could face, thus, allowing be to stand before a world of people who are now lobbying governments to change their laws in favor of their worldview. Meanwhile, such social changes will have no impact on my decision making when it comes to this issue because I have long known the reasons why I should never use drugs.

Why do I bring this personal story up? It was one of the moments of my life when I was blessed to have a full knowledge of a topic, to the point where I had enough confidence to stand before a majority without budging. So, imagine how much different we would be if we took the time to learn just as much with the things that tug at our hearts in the most difficult ways.


Lead Us Not Into Temptation  

This line from the Our Father prayer is kind of misleading, which is why the Catechism of the Catholic Church states the following about the way it is stated in its original language: It is difficult to translate the Greek verb used by a single English word: the Greek means, "both do not allow us to enter into temptation" and "do not let us yield to temptation." This extremely important because as the CCC continues: God cannot be tempted by evil and He Himself tempts no one; (see also James 1:13) on the contrary, He wants to set us free from evil." (CCC 2846)  

For years students have asked me if God Himself is the one who leads us into temptation. While I could use the statement from both the CCC as well as the Letter of James to say no it is actually not that simple. Take for example the Hebrew word for temptation, which is narah. That word is defined as to try or to test and frankly, we simply have to look to one of the most famous biblical stories in the Old Testament to see this acted out: The Testing of Abraham (Genesis 22:1-19). Even though this story focuses on Abraham proving his faith to God he was still tested by God and in doing so he risked giving in to the temptation to run away in order to save his son's life. However, what did Abraham know about God at this point that led him to have enough trust in God to go through with the command to sacrifice his son Isaac without knowing that the Lord's messenger would come to stop him from killing his son?

The most important thing would be to know why God has given us His Commandments. First of all, the creator of the universe is also the designer of the reality in which we live so who better to know what is best for us? Second, we have first the Mosaic Law, which tells us what to do and then the teachings of Jesus that address the heart of the matter but God did not stop there. As Jesus said in John 16:4-11: I did not tell you this from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to the One who sent Me....it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you. And when He comes He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation, sin. 

First off, in the coming of the Holy Spirit we see a full revelation of the Trinitarian God. Second, while opponents of God's will do all that they can to stop the truth from being revealed it has failed to do so from and will continue to do so. That is because no law, no movement, no threat can extinguish the truth. As Jesus said in John 16:13-14: But when He comes the Spirit of truth, He will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears , and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify Me, because He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you. 

The Spirit of God lives in those who accept the truth and that is why the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. What kind of courage does it take stand at death's door and refuse to conform to a lie? Second, what is the source of that courage? It is not something that only lives within the person facing such a threat. It is also the grace that comes from the Holy Spirit that guides this person.


Avoiding Temptation 

One of the teachings of chastity is that it helps us see through the false messages that our culture tries to sell when it comes to our sexuality. In the words of Christopher West when speaking on the issue of lustful desire he says: If we surrender our lustful desires (and other sins) to Christ, He can transform them by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Catechism proclaims that in the Sermon on the Mount "the Spirit of the Lord gives new form to our desires, those inner movements that animate our lives. Jesus teaches us this new life by His words; he teaches us to ask for it by prayer. the rightness of our life in Him will depend on the rightness of our prayer." 

That is why we should realize that the big question is what should we do when faced with these moments when we are being tempted? In the words of the CCC 2848: "Lead us not into temptation" implies a decision of the heart; For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also....No one can serve two masters. 

Of course in the case of the true Master we know that it is not just about what we give to Him. According to 2 Peter 1:3: His divine power has bestowed on us everything that makes for life and devotion, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and power. Through these, He has bestowed on us precious and very great promises, so that through them you may come to share in the divine nature, after escaping from the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. 

In other words, just as what was said to our first parents in the Garden (Genesis 1:28-30), God will give us everything we need and according the words of 2 Peter, even the divine nature needed to resist temptation. That of course can only be done through prayer. From the CCC 2849: Such a battle and such a victory become possible only through prayer. It is by His prayer that Jesus vanquishes the tempter, both at the outset of His public mission and in the ultimate struggle of His agony.

Yes, through that prayer we can be like Jesus and send away our tempter but we have to look at it for what it is. It is a struggle. There are moments when we will fail. We have to take these struggles to prayer and ask our Heavenly Father to give us an understanding as to why His will is the way for all of us. Then we must make the commitment to live in that way and to allow these graces to change us. We must also have the courage to stand before the tempter and proclaim that we will only worship God and God alone, regardless of how these temptations are presented to us. Consider this theatrical presentation of the Temptation of Our Lord:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ova6mIIZPto


Finally, we should not look at temptation as something without value. As my high school theology teacher used to tell us, without sin we would not know what is good. Consider these words from the CCC 2847: The Holy Spirit makes us discern between trials, which are necessary for the growth of the inner man, and temptation, which leads to sin and death. We must also discern between being tempted and consenting to temptation. Finally, discernment unmasks the lie of temptation, whose object appears to be good, a "delight to the eyes" and desirable, when in reality its fruit is death (see also Proverbs 16:25).

If we deal with the temptation the right way we will learn the why behind God's law. We will see that God has commanded such things of us because He loves us and wants us spare us from the pain that we will endure should we give in to temptation. By doing so we can experience what our Lord says in Luke 17:21: For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you. 

Yes, God is with us but while He seeks to walk with us the tempter is, as stated in 1 Peter 5:8: prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. That means that while the Kingdom of God is among us that the reality of hell is also right before us....and we can get a taste of that in the same way that we can feel the love and grace of God. As stated in Sirach 15:14-17: When God, in the beginning, created man, He made him subject to his own free choice. If you choose you can keep the commandments; is it loyalty to do His will. There are set before you fire and water; to whichever you choose , stretch forth your hand. Before man are life and death, whichever he choose shall be given him. 

God gives us the freedom to make our own choices and will honor whatever comes out of these choices. However, if we choose Him then He will give us the things that we need to live as His children. That is why it says in James 1:12: Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life that He promised to those who love Him. 



 

Carlos Solorzano 

  • BA & MA in Religious Studies from Cal State Long Beach  
  • Certified by the Theology of the Body Institute 
  • Instructor of Theology at St. Augustine Catholic High School 


 

 

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Thursday, March 10, 2022

Honoring St. Joseph

 Pope Francis declared 2021 to be the year of St. Joseph and that is a most appropriate thing during a time when so many men are struggling with their masculinity as well as identity in this world. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-12/pope-francis-proclaims-year-of-st-joseph.html

As men we are not told that it is okay to struggle, to be afraid as well as to express our emotions. And in many cases, it takes our own wives years to get through these walls that we and our environment create for us. Yes, there are certainly times when men have to play a certain role when it comes to their interactions with other men. At times it is simply to be professional while at other times it is to stand our ground in a challenging world. Joseph certainly would know this since he was charged with the idea of having to provide for his family in the first century. Still, there was a side of him that we can see based on the evidence that has been before us since the beginning of the Church. 

We will not focus on Joseph's background as a carpenter or his daily religious life for that matter because I covered both of these in a recent blog on the Incarnation. Here is the link to that blog and I highly encourage you all to read it, as it allows us to see the influence Joseph had on the life of Jesus. https://solorzanotheologicalreflections.blogspot.com/2022/03/reflecting-on-incarnation.html

Instead, we will take a deeper look at many of the stories that we are most familiar with in order to see the man who, along with our Blessed Mother, raised our Savior to be the devout Jew that God the Father would expect His Son to be while living on earth among His people. This will also help us see how a devotion to St. Joseph will lead us to become not only better Christians but Christians with the courage to walk by faith.

 

The Annunciation 

Our Blessed Mother is the reason why we have a Church. Her fiat was the gateway to salvation as the Lord has always honored the freewill that he gifted to humanity. Even though our Blessed Mother was raised by Joachim and Anne to be a great woman of faith she still had great courage to accept the task given to her by angel Gabriel (Luke 1:38). 

This was certainly a moment of great joy for our Blessed Mother. Being a Jewish woman she knew of the Covenant that God made with her people, which included the promise to send a Savior. Her joy was expressed in the Magnificat as she was aware of the fact that this moment was about to occur (Luke 1:54-55). She had also learned that she would be the vessel that would deliver the Messiah to the world (Luke 1:46-48). 

Meanwhile, she still had to speak to Joseph on this matter after she had departed in haste to see her relative Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-40) who would affirm Mary's encounter with the angel (Luke 1:41-45). This certainly gave our Blessed Mother the courage to share her miraculous encounter with her betrothed.   

A betrothal differed from engagements in today's world because it included a ceremony where the man and woman were required to commit to getting married on a certain date. In today's world a couple announces their intention to marry, usually after they have made that decision in private. This is why for Joseph to end the relationship he had to divorce her and not just, as we see in our world today, break the engagement. 

In Matthew 1:19 we see that Joseph had the intention to divorce Mary quietly in order to spare her the shame of adultery. This short verse leads to so many questions. Why would he show consideration for the woman that many would see as someone who shamed him? Why would he want to spare her from what he knew was the rightful punishment for her sin (Ezekiel 16:40)? Was he in fact convinced that Mary had committed adultery because after all, she certainly told him of the circumstances of her conception (Matthew 1:18). 

The Gospel tells us that he had such an intention before he encountered the angel in his dream (Matthew 1:20). That tells us that he was far from just having a marital arrangement with Mary. He truly knew the character of this woman and had to feel a sense of truth in what she told him. Being a righteous man (Matthew 1:19) he would not have lived in a way that went against the Law. However, to spare Mary the public shame of adultery his righteousness to protect her served as a preview of the Gospel, which would of course be delivered by the Child in her womb. In other words, Joseph's understanding of righteousness surpassed what was commonly known by his people (Matthew 5:20), what it meant to hold a grudge against one's neighbor (Matthew 5:22-24) as well as what it meant to keep one's word (Matthew 5:37). Of course his word would not be broken once he encountered the angel who would confirm all that our Blessed Mother surely told him (Matthew 1:21-24).

Matthew 1:24 states that Joseph did as the angel commanded and took Mary into his home. With the two of them being betrothed we know that part of that ceremony included the citing of a specific date when they would fulfill their marital union. Did this encounter happen near the date that he was supposed to bring her into his home or, did Joseph act as such because he had great faith in the divine encounter he had with the angel in his dream? 

Either way, if we look at Joseph's willingness to take Mary into his home, which included raising a child who was not of his own flesh and blood he had to believe both in the woman that he married as well as his encounter with God. The fact that Joseph both had a divine encounter and was described as a man of righteousness actually leads us to compare him to one of the bible's most famous patriarchs, Abraham.

It is said that Abraham's faith was reckoned to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6) and he too would be greatly tested by God (Genesis 22:1-19). Both he (Genesis 22:11-12) and Joseph encountered the divine and in doing so did not hesitate to do what was asked of them. Therefore, it would not be a stretch to compare the two when it came to their level of righteousness. 

Interestingly enough, one could also refer to Abraham in terms of why we honor our Blessed Mother. In Genesis 12:2 we hear God say I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing while in Genesis 12:3 God says all the families of the earth will find a blessing in you. And for how many generations have Jews, Christians and Muslims honored their common father Abraham? Meanwhile, in Luke 1:48, while our Blessed Mother recites The Magnificat she says behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.

It is safe to say that Lord chose well when it came to His earthly parents. 

 

Faith Rewarded 

Joseph's response to God's will is not without the graces to provide all that he and his family would need. While scripture does not cite specifically the internal struggle of either man we can gather from our own human experiences the fear they must have encountered. All husbands and fathers struggle with such realities even if we live in a culture that does not allow us to express such things. 

Sadly, many husbands fail to recognize that their greatest confidant is before them, their wives! While we are told that Joseph took Mary into his home do we really reflect on what that meant? Our Blessed Mother had already experienced rejection when she learned of his intention to divorce here quietly. How that must have challenged her faith as she reflected on not only her encounter with the divine but also the child that she now carried. Can we imagine though when she would speak with Joseph again when he would share with her now only his decision to take her into his home but the reasons? The same God who blessed her had reached out to her betrothed and now he brought her into his home. That along would be a pillar of their faith life as a married couple, which they would need once Jesus was born.

The Hebrew word for male is Zakar, which means to remember. Today's world is greatly wounded because of the men who fail to remember their obligations. Thankfully, Joseph was not one of those men but his commitment to his family along with being blessed by God did not spare him the fears and struggles that come with having a family. The bigger question is, was he and his family truly alone when they encountered such challenges? 

The couple's first moment with Jesus may not have been what they would expect. We know that Jesus was born in a manger but Joseph certainly would have wanted more for Mary and their son (Luke 2:7). Of course it would not take long before they would face great danger. In Matthew 2:13-14 Joseph was ordered in another dream to flee to Egypt in order to avoid what would is now known as The Massacre of the Innocents (King Herod's order to kill all boys under the age of two). In Matthew 2:19-20 he was ordered in another dream to return to the land of Israel since all who sought the life of the child had now died. In Matthew 19:22 we see that both Joseph's fear and another dream guided him to the region of Galilee instead of Judea since Herod's son Archelaus was now ruling over that region.

The final dream that we are told of is the only place where it speaks of Joseph being afraid but as we can see, the fact that he had dreams to direct shows how God remained with him while he remembered his obligation to protect his family. In scripture, dreams were one of the ways that one encountered the divine so this gives the reader an immediate glimpse of the source of what caused Joseph to trust what he had to do in order to care for Mary and Jesus. This is something we too can experience if we live our lives in the same way that Joseph did when it came to being such people of righteousness while putting our trust in the same God who gave us the precepts for living such a righteous life. 

This is something we too can encounter in our own lives with the the child in Mary's womb telling us later in life why it would happen. As stated in John 14:18: I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. The Lord did this for Joseph and Mary and He will certainly do the same for all of us. In order to respond to that we are not only called to live a life that is pleasing to God but also a life that will allow us to see God's will as our sins are the thing that can blind us to what God has placed before us. 

Now let's take a look at out more human experiences in order to have a deeper understand of how Joseph impacted the life of his family. The Hebrew word for female is Negba, which means to open. The fact that Joseph took Mary into his home already demonstrated his faith in God as well as in what she had told him in terms of the origin of the child she was carrying. He would have to continue to communicate his divine encounters with his wife when it was time for them to travel to the destinations that God prepared for them. How would Mary react in seeing Joseph's trust in the Lord? How much closer would she feel to him while she was carrying the Son of the Most High (Luke 1:32)? More than that, how would this impact her faith in the Lord as she sees how much her Fiat is now impacting the life of her husband? 

Aside from that, it is entirely possible that Mary not only saw the fear and concern on her husband's face but also heard such words from his own mouth. While scripture does not tell us such things we can almost assume such a thing would happen as this is indeed the man who went back to her to take her into his home after having to tell her of his first encounter with the angel. Again, how much closer would she feel towards him and, how much more would she open up to him? 

On the other hand, how would our Blessed Mother respond to Joseph? Knowing her faith and character she would have been supportive and obedient since she knew that Joseph was obeying the will of God. More than that, how would her support and willingness to follow her husband impact him knowing that she did these things while he not only communicated the message of his dreams but also his fears? There is great comfort for a man when he can be vulnerable before his wife knowing that she will not use that against him, especially when it comes to challenging his masculinity. 

The Holy Family was rooted in the true friendship of Joseph and Mary as they certainly lived out the values that the Lord calls us all to take on as our own. One being a man of righteousness and the other being the Immaculate Conception (Luke 1:28).   This friendship is best stated by Pope St. John Paul II when he says that, friendship has two dimensions, the first of which involves a turning toward one another in a recognition and affirmation of the good of one another—which establishes the structural dimension of friendship—and the second, a turning toward a common good together with one another, a good that they seek together and for one another—which establishes the content-based dimension of friendship.

In looking at all that Joseph and Mary endured both at the beginning of their marriage as well as the at the moment of Jesus' birth we see why it was so important for them to have what we can see is a deep friendship. While many of us search for true love in our lives we tend to forget that to make this love last we must establish a true and authentic friendship. The Lord not only chose Joseph and Mary to raise His Son but also gave two wonderful and holy people as the God Man needed to be loved as much as any human child. We should take this to heart knowing that our children are in need of the same thing. 

 

The Righteous Father 

In conclusion, let us reflect on a number of passages from the Book of Proverbs that Joseph certainly would have known from his years of attending synagogue services. Further, such passages would also be read while he took Our Lord with him to synagogue services during His upbringing.

Proverbs 20:7 - The just walk in integrity; happy are their children after them. In thinking of the role Joseph had in raising Our Lord it is hard not to think of the impact he had on the life of Jesus in the same way that other good fathers have always had on their sons. Jesus would have not only received good instruction but would also be loved without question.

Proverbs 22:6 - Train the young in the way they should go; and even when old, they will not swerve from it. Joseph was no longer around when Jesus began His earthly ministry and yet He certainly maintained all that He had learned from His earthly father.

Proverbs 23:22: Listen to your father who begot you. No, Joseph did not have a physical role in the conception of Jesus but a true father does much more than assist with the conception of a child. Further, by taking a pregnant Mary into his home he took on the role he not only kept his promise made during their betrothal but did so knowing all that would be required from him when it came to the Holy Child she was carrying.

Proverbs 4:1 - Hear, O children, a father's instruction, be attentive, that you might gain understanding. The same God who inspired this passage also led Paul the Apostle to write the following passage in Romans 8:32 - He who did not spare His own Son but handed Him over for us all (God will do whatever it takes to save us), how will He not also give us everything else along with him? Would that not also include Joseph, the one that the Gospels refers to as a righteous man? Would He offer Joseph the necessary graces that would make Jesus want to be attentive to His earthly father's instruction? Would God deprive other fathers the same gift who also want to raise their children in the same way? 

So as it is our custom to honor our Blessed Mother for all that she did for Our Lord as well as all that she does for us we should also take this time to honor St. Joseph for all that he did for the Holy Family along with all that he continues to do for the Church. Perhaps we can begin with this devotion to St. Joseph https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/devotion-to-st-joseph-346while we continue to mediate and learn more about the one who was charged to take on a task that challenged both his manhood as well as his faith. https://media.ascensionpress.com/2020/03/19/devotion-to-st-joseph-has-increased-over-the-centuries/

St. Joseph, pray for us.  


 

 

Carlos Solorzano

  • BA & MA in Religious Studies from Cal State Long Beach 
  • Certified Through the Theology of the Body Institute 
  • Theology Instructor at St. Augustine Catholic High School



 

 

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Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Monotheism in Ancient Mexico

 Ever since the creation of the world, his (God’s) invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made.

                                                                                      St. Paul, Romans 1:20

 

St. Paul’s statement in the first chapter of his letter to the Romans was in reference to pagans who were not behaving in accordance to God’s law. Paul goes on to state that there is no excuse for such behavior and that the people could not claim to be ignorant of God’s expectations since creation itself shows God’s invisible attributes. In other words, to summarize a statement in the Collegeville Bible Dictionary, "Paul is concerned with people who do not behave according to God’s plan. This plan was in plain view in the orderliness of creation" (p. 1082).

 

In Romans 1:24-32 Paul states why the pagans failed to behave in accordance to God’s law. To summarize Raymond Brown from his book Introduction to the New Testament, "human fault and stupidity led to the divine image being obscured in the pagan world" (p. 566). Examples of inappropriate behavior would be idolatry, lust and other forms of depraved conduct. Further, Paul cites “stubbornness” and an “impenitent heart” as vices that prevent people from changing from their evil ways.

 

However, the pagans were not without opportunities to be aware of God’s divine plan. In the past, God used prophets to proclaim his word to Israel but such messages were also delivered to many Gentiles who would then attaching themselves to local synagogues in order to be part of the Jewish community.

God’s word and presence for that matter, as we know from Paul's statement in Romans 1:20, was not limited to the Jews or those who were close to a Jewish community. This we know from a number of teachings that have come down to us throughout history that are indeed similar to what is taught in the Gospels. That is why the Catechism of the Catholic Church makes the following statement in regards to how God prepared people from all over the world for the coming of Jesus Christ:


The coming of God's Son to earth is an event of such immensity that God willed to prepare for it over centuries. He makes everything converge on Christ: all rituals and sacrifices, figures and symbols of the First Covenant. He announces Him through the mouths of the prophets who succeeded one another in Israel. Morever, He awakens in the hearts of the pagans a dim expectation of his coming.
(#522) 


Further, just as God used the voices of the prophets, or those chosen specifically by him to deliver his message to Israel he also used particular individuals from particular Gentile/pagan cultures to deliver His message to those closest to such individuals. This of course was for the same reason that the prophets came before Christ, to prepare the people for His coming, which in most cases would be in the presence of those that Christ sent out into the world.

One example of such an idea has been cited by many Christian theologians who refer to the teachings of Greek philosophers such as Plato and Socrates whose teachings are very similar to what is taught in by Christians.  For example, Plato along with a lesser known predecessor of his named Xenophanes spoke of the existence a single deity rather than the pantheon of gods that most Greeks believed in. Further, Plato and Socrates, who both lived in the 4th century BC, seemed to prophesize the coming of Jesus as they spoke of the “Logos” (Word) that was indeed coming. And, like the prophets Plato and Socrates were at times persecuted for their personal beliefs that did not coincide with the beliefs or agendas of their peers.

As we will see this wisdom was not something that was only limited to Greek thinkers. In fact, it also occurred on a different continent centuries later but at a time when those in the area had no knowledge of the Christian faith. That was when God worked through the efforts of a father and son tandem from the pre-Columbian Mexican city known as Texcoco. These individuals were Nezahualcoyotl and Nezahualpilli, two tlatoanis (rulers, kings) of the Alcohuan people.   

             

Monotheism in Ancient Mexico

Prior to the arrival of the Spaniards pre-Columbian Mexico was a highly organized society that was regulated by a triple alliance government of three highly populated cities: Tenochtitlan, Texcoco and Tlacopan. Like many great cities each of these three places had its own form of government, culture, scholarship, artistry as well as religious practices. Contrary to popular belief not all of the people in pre-Columbian Mexico practiced human sacrifice with the intention of appeasing bloodthirsty gods. In fact, the great king of the Texcoco region, Nezahualcoyotl had a system of beliefs that not only contradicted this ideology but also spoke out against the practice human sacrifice.


Nezahualcoyotl was the Renaissance man of his day. He was not only a king but a scholar who was well versed in astronomy, literature, philosophy, engineering as well as a patron of the arts since he was a poet. Luis Valdez stated that he was actually a precursor to someone like Frederick the Great who, “found time to mingle intellectual pursuits with war and statecraft.” In pre-Columbian Mexico this was also rare due to the fact that many of the intellectuals in this time period came strictly from the priestly class.



Being an heir to the throne, Nezahualcoyotl received a princely type education that was meant to prepare him for his opportunity to rule. Unfortunately, a rival to the throne killed his father in front of him and then sought his life, which forced the young prince into exile. This led to Nezahualcoyotl receiving the name that we have now, which is defined as “hungry coyote,” which is reflection of how he lived while in exile. He would eventually find his way to the city of Tenochtitlan and then spend eight more years of his life studying in order to advance himself intellectually. Soon after this he was contacted by many nobles from his place of birth that were tired of the tyrannical government of Texcoco. They would go on to form a coalition that eventually unseated the tyrannical ruler and placed Nezahualcoyotl in his proper place, as the tlatoani of Texcoco.

 

Gospel Preview

Nezahualcoyotl established a city in pre-Columbian Mexico that many historians call the Athens of the Western World. His first act as king was to establish laws that were considered to be so effective that it would also be adopted by his allies. Along with being a good statesman he also had important ideas regarding religion as he would eventually follow in the footsteps of great thinkers such as Plato and Socrates as he embraced a belief that was contrary to the beliefs of his peers, which was the belief in one God that didn’t require the blood offerings of human victims. After abandoning his pagan beliefs he built temples with altars filled with flowers and incense that offered praise to the what he called the true God.

After establishing his beliefs Nezahualcoyotl recognized the need to allow the spirit of this true God to direct his life. Eventually he would make a normal practice of disguising himself so he could walk the streets of the kingdom undetected, which in turn gave him the opportunity to see the living conditions of his people. At the sight of specific needs or shortcomings he would address them immediately in order to serve his people properly. In other words, while not knowing the Gospel in its written form he was aware of the message of Jesus Christ and made every effort to obey the commandments Jesus gave his followers in regards to assisting those in need (Matthew 25:31-46).


Prior to his death he is said that have made the following comment: “How deeply I regret that I am unable to understand the will of the great God, but I believe the time will come when he will be known and adored by all the inhabitants of this land” (A Handbook on Guadalupe, p. 45). This statement was indeed true since Nezahualcoyotl did live in ways that were not a part of the Christian lifestyle. At the time of his death he was survived by several wives and concubines and was said to have fathered 110 children. However, he was honored by the people and believed to have set up a powerful dynasty and this would be evidenced by his successor, one of his many sons named Nezahualpilli. It was also proven to be true as the Christian faith would eventually make its way to this land through the efforts of the Spanish missionaries. 

 

Legacy

Nezahualpilli was essentially the same type of ruler as his father. He was known to be fair and compassionate as he actually abolished the death penalty for certain crimes that in the past required the execution of the convicted. Like his father he was also a poet and a philosopher and was seen by many as a religious sage. His name is defined as “lord of fasting,” which was probably a reflection of his religion devotion since he was known to have a strong devotion to the true God. Further, this devotion surely enlightened him to be a great king since many of his peers and subjects saw him as a king Solomon type figure since he was known as the wisest man of his era (1 Kings 3:12). 




The most profound thing about Nezahualpilli however was his prophetic insight. During a conversation with Motecuzoma (typically known as Montezuma) he informed him of a dream he had of invaders from across the sea that would come and take Motecuzoma’s throne while bringing the true religion to his land. Further, he went on to claim that the cities would be destroyed and the children assassinated, which sadly was part of the conquering process. However, Nezahualpilli did make every attempt to inform Motecuzoma that these events would only take place if he and others in this land continued the practice of human sacrifice. Sadly, like the pagans that St. Paul criticized in his letter to the Romans, Motecuzoma chose to be stubborn and impenitent so the events transpired as Nezahualpilli predicted.


Finally, Nezahualpilli, like his father also had aspects of his life that were not in agreement with the Christian faith. He was a polygamist and fathered 144 children, which is another reason why he is compared to Solomon who, while having a strong devotion to the true God, continued to live a promiscuous life. (1 Kings 11:3).

           

Missed Opportunity

In looking back at what we know about the history of the first contact that Christians had with the indigenous people of pre-Columbian Mexico one could reflect on what could have been had the conquistadors taken the time to see if there were any elements in the thinking of the indigenous people that were similar to their own Christian beliefs. Perhaps there would have been a much more peaceful process with less bloodshed that would have not only saved lives but left present day Mexico in a better condition. 

Sadly, it is not uncommon to be suspicious of those who come from a different place or in the case of today's world, a different lifestyle. Such suspicions are all too common even if the incident is without violence and bloodshed. 

At the end of the first century AD and throughout its history the Church became an international community that no longer belonged to one race of people. This of course would lead many people to be suspicious of the wisdom of other cultures, such as the early Church Father Tertullian who took exception to the idea of embracing the wisdom of a culture that did not give Christianity to the world. This is best described is his statement, “What does Athens have to do with Jerusalem? What does the Academy have to do with the Church?”

Tertullian’s attitude was common during the time of the early Church as many Christians held a view towards the Greeks that was best described by Tatian. According to Justo Gonzalez, Tatian believed that, “All that the Greeks have that is of any value (were) taken from barbarians: they learned astronomy from the Babylonians, geometry from the Egyptians and writing from the Phoenicians” (The Story of Christianity Volume I, p. 54). Gonzalez goes on to say that Christians believed that the writings of Moses, “ (were) much older than those of Plato and…. Homer,” and that since the Greeks, “learned their wisdom from the barbarians,” they must have, “ misunderstood it, and thus twisted the truth that the Hebrews knew.” With a strong appreciation for Hebrew wisdom it is not a surprise that Christians would refuse to associate with knowledge and wisdom that came from cultures that were indeed pagan in their religious forms or with cultures whose ancestors had either enslaved the Israelites or had taken them away from their homeland during the Diaspora. 

However, many Greek converts were able to appreciate the wisdom of the culture of their ancestors due to the teachings of Justin Martyr and Clement. Justin, for example, stated that there were many points of contact between Christianity and pagan philosophy. Clement went as far as divinizing this philosophy by saying that the Greeks were given philosophy by God in the same way that God gave the Mosaic Law to the Jews. Further, Clement went on to say that the Mosaic Law and Greek philosophy sought to find the ultimate truth, which was now fully revealed in Jesus Christ.

Justin and Clement’s view would be shared later by the brilliant St. Augustine who, according to Alister McGrath, stated that it was, “possible to extract all that is good in philosophy, and put it to the service of preaching the Gospel” (Historical Theology, p. 92).  McGrath would go on to say that Augustine used the analogy of the Hebrews leaving Egypt as they, “left behind their burdens, yet carried off the treasures of their former oppressors.” In other words, as long as the wisdom leads the believer to Jesus Christ it is indeed something that should be valued by the Church.

In conclusion, one would have to wonder how the Spanish missionaries could have used the teachings of Nezahualpilli to better deal with the indigenous people. Considering the fact that Nezahualpilli had teachings that complimented Christianity and with the fact that he prophesized their coming, Spain could’ve used these ideas and prediction to show God’s hand in their arrival and if they recognized the role they were playing the plan of Providence then maybe they would have understood the responsibility they bore to be authentic representatives of the Church. Unfortunately that did not happen. However, with the number of missionaries that are still circling the earth that are more aware of the ideas and beliefs of the various cultures that they are encountering perhaps we’ll see more effective methods of evangelization. However, that cannot happen unless people are willing to accept the fact that all races of people have a wisdom to share that should at least be studied and tested in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ before dismissing them.




Carlos Solorzano

  • BA & MA in Religious Studies from Cal State Long Beach
  • Certified through the Theology of the Body Institute 
  • Speaker with Catholic Speakers Organization 






Sources

  • Bergant, Diane & Karris, Robert J. (editors) Collegeville Bible Dictionary The Liturgical Press Collegeville, MN 1989 (p. 1092) 
  • Brown, Raymond. Introduction to the New Testament Doubleday 1997 (p. 566) 
  • Gonzalez, Justo. The Story of Christianity Volume One: The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation. Harper San Francisco 1984 (p. 54)
  • McGrath, Alister. Historical Theology: An Introduction to the History of Christian Thought Blackwell Publishers 1998 (p. 92) 
  • May, Francis (Editor). A Handbook on Guadalupe: Juan Diego Ambassador of the Queen of Heaven by: Dr. Charles Wahlig Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate 1997 (pgs. 44-45)  
  • https://www.mexconnect.com/articles/298-nezahualcoyotl-texcoco-s-philosopher-king-1403%e2%80%931473



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