THE H U M A N I T Y OF C H R I S T C H R I S T A N D A N X I E T Y II EFORE SKETCHINGa positive approach to the problems raised in the pre-
B vious section of this article, it may be useful to list a few ways I
would reject as offering no solution, namely how to think of faith in Christ as a solvent to religious anxiety: I. I n 'Christ and Sexuality' I urged that we should by no means be tempted to look upon Christ as a healer, simply because he heals by his touch. T o the w o m a n seeking a cure, who had thought at least to touch his garment, Jesus, as he does in other cases, speaks of her interior faith, a good instance of gospel intelligence being as good as gospel memory (cf Mk 5, 34; cp also Mk Io, 52; Lk 7, 5o) • The holy touch view, or the doctor fish view as I called it, too easily degenerates into magic, which for us, as for the church of Mark's gospel, would be regressive. I t remains true of course that he who gives purity or integrity, is purity and integrity in his humanity. T h a t is to say, he is these things insofar as they are genuinely religious realities. 2. We are also tempted to see in intimacy with Christ the goal w e wish to attain, namely the removal of anxiety and the substitution of peace. T h a t we should praise such a state of peace, that we should desire it, and that we should work for it is highly desirable. But the adult believer has to think of it in adult terms. Religious fantasizing is not a substitute for adult religious living, if only because that is not what the gospel invites us to do. How different for example are the approaches to 'peace' in the benedictine rule and successful monastic life compared with the lullaby language of once popular hymnody : Sweet Sacrament of peace Dear Home for every heart, Where restless yearnings cease, A n d sorrows all depart; There in thine ear, all trustfully, W e tell our tale of misery. Indulgence in that sort of gluey language and its oleaginous tune is selfindulgence. I n a culture where Mozart, Mahler or vigorous Pop may be heard to emerge from any motor mechanic's transistor as he works u n d e r a vehicle, such self-indulgence is no invitation to faith or to prayer. I n other words, the intimacy in faith which is certainly offered us in tile Eucharist takes place in a communion of what he is with what we are, namely, believing adults. 3. Another tempting but unacceptable method is the imaginative construction of Christ's own h u m a n psyche. 'Jesus of Nazareth' says Malachi M a r t i n , ~had taught with peace, authority and healing power' .1 T h a t is an 1 Martin, Malachi: Jesus Now (London, 1975), pp 28-3I.