.
Sorry I didn't post this earlier, as it was mostly done a few hours after
this EC first came out, but I had to do some other things first...
.
It is important to recognize the CONTEXT of conferred
Scripture, otherwise you are going to miss what the author
had in mind, that is, if he was thinking of what the quoted
or conferred Scripture is saying.
Here, there can be no doubt to what +W is referring, when
he notes Jer. xvii. 5.7 and Matt. xix. 30.
The context is our defection from the One True Faith by way
of falling into a false religion of man, and away from the true
religion of God. This "new alliance" to which +W alludes is
not to be mistaken as some appeal to the worldliness of
modern man. +W is talking about a remnant that remains
faithful to the true Church, and to the Catholic Faith of our
Fathers, even while the majority may be on board with what
has become commonplace in Newchurch.
For myself, while I agree that clericalism ( undervaluing the laity ) has been one aspect of the problem of the SSPX, I do not think that it has been the root of the problem. I think that the root has rather been today’s universal turning to man instead of God (cf. Jer. XVII, 5,7), a falling away by no means confined to the SSPX, with the consequent loss of objective truth and falsehood, objective right and wrong. However, I do agree with the letter-writer’s vision of a new alliance being forged at some time in the future, of true Catholics from all corners of the Newchurch and the Church, to carry forward the Catholic Faith (cf. Mt. XIX, 30). May the SSPX shake off its present problems to play a leading part, or, better, a humble part, in that alliance.
The bishop is referring to humility as a virtue that is
superior to being a leader. When Jesus told the rich
young man to sell what he had and follow Him, He did
not tell him that he would become a "leader" in the
Church. He said to FOLLOW Him.
In context:
"I do agree with the letter-writer’s vision of a new alliance being forged at some time in the future, of true Catholics from all corners of the Newchurch and the Church, to carry forward the Catholic Faith" -
"And many that are first, shall be last: and the last shall be first" (
Matt. xix. 30).
The context is the rich young man who asking Jesus
what else is wanting in himself, beyond his having
kept the commandments of God from his youth, that
he may be saved. And Jesus answering him said,
"If thou will be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and
give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in
heaven, and come: follow me." The context is the rich young man, when hearing
Our Lord say this to him
"went away sad: for he
had great possessions" (
Matt. xix. 16-22).
The context is how the Apostles reacted to this
word, for it caused them to wonder:
"Who then can
be saved?" For Our Lord had said to them,
"...a rich
man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
And again I say to you: It is easier for a camel to
pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man
to enter into the kingdom of heaven" (vs. 23-25).
The context is Our Lord's answer to this question,
which note: it is the same question that the rich
young man had just asked of Him, and His answer
had evoked in the rich man his walking away sad,
for he did not want to give up his material wealth
as Our Lord had said to him -- as if he did not want
to relinquish his great title to (SSPX!) properties
and money and the going concern of the regular
contributions of the Faithful.
I am reminded that Fr. Hector Bolduc did just that.
After receiving much wealth from the Benzinger
fortune he used it to purchase various properties
which he then turned into centers for
the
Canonized Traditional Latin Mass in the western
United States, all of which he turned over to "the
poor" SSPX, only to then be expelled, much as the
author above, Bishop Williamson was expelled,
and leaving behind their great possessions, they
followed Jesus Christ.