[Greek] ζητέω (zēteō), [Latin] quaerere, [Latin] requiere, [Latin] inquiere, [French] demander, [German] suchen, [German] vermissen, [French] reclamer, [French] examiner: to seek, to learn about, to behold, to find, to desire, to examine, look for; 121 scriptures
Many are SEEKING and FINDING a deeper meaning in their faith and life in response to the world’s counterfeit, shallowness, empty promises, and human traditions. Even Protestants are converting to Catholicism. There continues an organic movement to Tradition and reverence.
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to seek, to find, to examine, to desire, too look for, to investigate, and to inquire.
Prometheus Bound 318: “Put away your wrathful mood and try to find release from these miseries.”
Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus 110: “What is sought for can be caught; only that which is not watched escapes.”
Old Testament: This term means to seek, to sought out, to learn about, to investigate, and to call to account.
New Testament: This term means to find Jesus, to seek out (oppose) Jesus, and to seek (many other examples). For purpose of brevity, I will only seek and find out about those other examples. ☺☺☺
Mt.6:33: “Seek first the kingdom of heaven and His righteousness” (You must live in moral conduct in conformity to God’s will.)
Mt.7:7: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (If you ask for something [in accordance with God’s will], it will be given to you.)
Mt.12:43: “When an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it roams through arid regions search for rests but finds none.” (Jesus’ ministry has broken Satan’s hold over man. But this evil generation’s refusal to accept Jesus leads to further problems.)
Lk.12:48: “Much will be required (sought for) of the master’s servant entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” (Luke emphasizes the importance of being faithful to the instructions of Jesus.)
Lk.13:24: “Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but not be strong enough.” (Great effort is required for entrance into the kingdom of heaven. The narrow door will not remain open definitely. THERE IS AN EXPIRATION DATE FOR ENTRY!)
Lk.17:33: “Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it.” (Jesus distinguishes temporary earthly life with everlasting spiritual life. One who risks his life for the sake of the kingdom shall gain a life of a higher spiritual order. THIS IS A VERY COUNTER-INTUITIVE STATEMENT.)
Acts 17:27: “So that people might seek God, even perhaps grope for Him, and and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us.” (Paul was appealing to the Athenians’ religiosity for God. The Athenians are also unknowingly searching for God, as evidenced by their altar inscribed ‘To and Unknown God’.)
Rom.2:7: “[You will store up] eternal life to those who seek glory, honor, and immortality through perseverance in good works.” (Likewise, one will store up wrath for oneself by your stubbornness and impenitent heart. At the judgment, everyone will be repaid according to one’s works.)
1Cor.4:2: “Now it is of course required [sought for] of stewards that they be found trustworthy.” (Fidelity and faithfulness are demanded by the master. The steward must appropriately use the master’s goods. The office of a steward is likened to that of a minister of the gospel.)
Gal.1:10: “Am I now currying favor with human beings or God? Or am I seeking to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave to Christ.” (Paul responds to the accusations that he is flattering or currying favor for the people. Paul reminds others that he is a slave to Christ.)
1Pet.5:8: “Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (Satan often works in subtle and sneaky ways to influence others: to undermine faith, to distract oneself with the world, and to make you forget about God.)
From a 1913 vision that Padre Pio received from Jesus:
“The sight of Jesus in distress gave me much pain…He kept looking toward those priests…He walked away from the crowd of priests with an expression of disgust and scorn…Jesus said, ‘Alas, they [priests] leave me alone under the weight of indifference. The ingratitude and the sleep of My ministers make My agony more difficult to bear…Write to your confessor and tell him what you have seen and what you have heard this morning.'” (Clergy must take notice of this.)
Conclusion:
Question, questioning, inquire, inquiring, require, requiring, missing, demand, reclaim, examine, examining
Update: At Vatican II, Pope John XXIII wanted to bring “fresh air” into the Church. Pope Paul VI claimed that “the smoke of Satan” has entered the Church. Likewise, this conciliar and synodal Church has become more entrenched in the world [more “fresh air” and “smoke” in the Church]).
One does NOT need to be fully possessed to be influenced by Satan! Satan seeks to makes us forget about God. Satan continues to sneakily and subtlely influence with distractions, noise, temptations, sin, fame, fortune, and notoriety. Satan seeks to make us restless and to gets us caught up in the world. We must not forget that Satan rules over this earthly realm.
Our morally ambivalent and secular culture often makes it very difficult for us to remain faithful to God’s will. Tolerance, false compassion, paying lip service to Church teachings, inclusion, and liturgical sacrilege often become stepping stones to doctrinal confusion and heresy.
Many people are seeking and asking for deeper answers in their faith. Many are discovering that the world’s values, counterfeits, secularism, and shallowness cannot completely satisfy their desires and needs. Many are discovering and rediscovering Tradition, reverence, and piety. It would seem that this would be in accord with God’s will.
Much is to expected from the Master’s servant. Unfortunately, there are too many silent, cowardly, and weak clergy who do not speak out. There are also too many clergy who pay lip service or ignore Church teachings. (Example: the Church’s teachings against homosexuality). Because of their position, these clergy will ultimately held more accountable to God for their actions and inactions.
Unfortunately, too many think that the door to heaven is rather wide than rather narrow. Many probably do not realize that there is an expiration date for this entry.
There are far too many people who just only focus all their God-given talents and abilities in this physical world. However, time (in this physical world) is but a drop in the bucket compared to eternity. Jesus will ask each of us: ‘What did you do for Me?’ How will you respond to this?
One will save his life (attain life ever-lasting) if they deny their earthly life (worldly desires and ambitions) and focus on what is above and accumulate spiritual and heavenly treasures. This notion obviously sounds counter-intuitive.
False teachers and unfaithful clergy will store up wrath for their failure in remaining faithful to Christ. They will be judged according to their works, actions, and inactions.
This synodal Church, made in the image of man, seeks to curry favor with the world. Synodality (lived experiences) is being raised up as an idol, promoting social justice (activism), politicization, “making a better world”, worldliness, tolerance, inclusiveness, and false compassion.
More and more people are seeing the conciliar and synodal Church acting more like a United Nations NGO in the “business of making a better world” rather than a divine Church in the “business” of saving souls. Many are seeking again to find and rediscover Jesus’ traditional Church.
If you are searching for a Church of inclusion, flexibility in all positions, no condemning anyone or anything, elevating lived experiences above everything else (Truth, sin, morality, Jesus commands, etc.), then the synodal Church is for you.
“Seek God in all things and you shall find God by your side.” St. Peter Claver
“Seek not to understand so that you may believe; but believe so that you might understand.” St. Augustine
“It is Jesus that you seek when dream of happiness…It is He who provoked you with that thirst for fullness that will not let you settle for compromise.” Pope St. John Paul II
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