The fruits of resentment

from the writings of Rev. Christopher Thompson, Vicar at St. John's

I. The argument from resentment

Resentment is an emotion, a posture in response to a supposed outside threat. Like the sand in the shell that irritates and forms a pearl, it has its fruits. Whole belief systems and modes of life are consolidated from this tendency. Resentment is an anti-stance, a sneer at an object greater than ourselves. The goal is to limit its claim on us and bring completion to the realm of the ego, building up its bullwarks so that non can assail it. Ironically that which we rebel against ultimately controls us for all our striving we only prove the significance of that outside force. And whatever we close ourselves off from remains as a suggestion and a shadow whose lines can be traced to their source. Thus it is with the God and the Natural Law.
The militant atheist railings against a God he does not believe in only belies that God’s existence. So too the libertine can only construct a counter-culture, but a culture founded on resistance cannot stand. For it is not free to create but remains forever a prisoner to what it rebels against.

II. The shadow of reason

Just like the plant that reaches to the light so too does the human mind reach out toward the logos. Even in twilight the shadow of the logos still shines. As darkness is the opposite of light so too the irrational and hate-filled can be read as a photographic negative of reason. This is because as nature abhors a vacuum the human mind cannot countenance the absence of the logos. For it will not rest until it finds it.

So too all egregious claims against the Church and its Saints based on blind prejudice only serve to prove their authenticity. As when I was recently in Spain and picked up a book on St. Thomas More who was lambasted as a fanatic whereas Henry VIII was extolled as a modicum of virtue. Whence this furor but from resentment? In terms of moral stature Sir Thomas’ superiority to Henry is unassailable. What motive save the hatred of the Church could stand behind such slander?

Though we may give in to anger at times and suffer outbursts of rage. In the whole of life and as far as you are able live according to reason. A reason that understands in order to believe. A humble partner of faith that searches for understanding. Then you will have the better part.