Gaudium et Spes

We are reading Gaudium et Spes for our next class. My first thought at the beginning of this was that it seems like they want to change because of our culture and times.

My first statement in the V2 Class was "misinformation". And after reading and then re-reading, at least the parts I highlighted in Part 1 of GS, that may be just what happened to my thoughts...misinformed. My initial read and "feel" was that they wanted to change some things and were getting long winded about it. BUT, then as I re-read my highlighted parts, it sounds like they are grounded in the TRUTH that is Jesus Christ.

Here are two Quotes:
"the Church has always had the duty of scrutinizing the signs of the times and of interpreting them in the light of the Gospel." GS 4

"The Church also maintains that beneath all changes there are many realities which do not change and which have their ultimate foundation in Christ, Who is the same yesterday, and today, yes and forever. Hence under the light of Christ, the image of the unseen God, the firstborn of every creature, the council wishes to speak to all men in order to shed light on the mystery of man and to cooperate in finding the solution to the outstanding problems of our times."

The first time reading of the first quote, I felt like the council wanted to interpret traditional things differently, in light of what was happening w/in society...that we needed to "soften" things up and not be so harsh and critical, basically to "dummy down" how we present Catholicism.

In the 2nd quote, I really loved the first sentence (in fact Hebrews 13:8 is one of my favorites) and felt the 2nd, "Hence under the light of Christ..." was a contradiction because they wanted to "find a solution", which we should always know and should always be known, because it NEVER changes.
The answer or solution to all of our questions is JESUS CHRIST!!!

Then this quote showed up:
"It is an error to believe that Christ did not teach a determined body of doctrine applicable to all times and to all men, but rather that He inaugurated a religious movement adapted, or to be adapted , to different times and different places." ~ Pope St. Pius X

BINGO...I thought!

I had just my initial reading and feeling of GS and was thinking they were in contradiction, but then went back to read my highlights to confirm, and found that, reading my highlights, it seemed to me that GS is basically stating that what was...is! We just need to find a way of getting this across in our day and age, and that is what the council wanted to do (At least according to Pope Paul VI)!

So after re-reading Part 1, there is Joy & Hope!!!