"I do not accept human praise;
moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you.
I came in the name of my Father,
but you do not accept me;
yet if another comes in his own name,
you will accept him.
How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another
and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?
moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you.
I came in the name of my Father,
but you do not accept me;
yet if another comes in his own name,
you will accept him.
How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another
and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?
T he Lord's explanation to his first century opponents and our explanations to our contemporaries are met with the same incomprehension and refusal. Our faith begins with the Love of God and neighbor where their opinions begin with human reasoning and long histories of complex, unresolved grief. Our love and our doctrines remain the same throughout the centuries where theirs shift like quicksand under the struggle of a doomed animal.
I rediscover our assurance as I read and reread the second reading of the Office of Readings. Whether they were written by second century bishops or the Second Vatican Council, they remain reliably edifying, evocative, and instructive. Saint Ignatius of Antioch might have sat down with Saint Ignatius of Loyola and Saint John Paul II and shared the same truths which the Lord Jesus revealed in his day. Had they been surrounded by a crowd of critics from any century, they would have heard the same taunts.
The world must always experiment with new ideas, and they're often pressed upon us with, "Keep an open mind about this!" But they're not new ideas!
- The spirituality that is supposed to replace religion is the same monophysitism which was condemned by the Council of Chalcedon in 451.
- "It doesn't matter what you believe so long as you're sincere!" is foolishness blessed and wisdom made suspect. The bible has little sympathy for fools.
- Today's hatred and fear of immigrants is the same dualism of Gnosticism and Manicheanism.
- Adultery always smells the same.
- Some might hope ignorance is bliss but we cannot accept it.
We must always return to the wisdom of the cross. On Calvary we see the Love of Jesus for his Father, and the Love of God the Father for his beloved Son. Our wisdom begins in the silence of that intensely beautiful moment.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.