(Gospel) Jesus didn't like control freaks.
Beyond the Smudge
James stood there looking out the window. In the distance he could see the river flowing through the park. From his bedroom he could contemplate the children swinging on the playground swings. He liked watching families spread their picnic blankets on the weekends, and share sandwiches and lemonade on the green lawn under the shade of the age-old oaks. He enjoyed watching—from his high vantage point—their gestures and smiles, and sometimes an occasional laugh. Thousands of details of life could be seen even from a distance.
Then James saw it. It wasn't even large. At first he hadn't even noticed it. But yes, there it was: a smudge on the window pane. It might have been a fly, or just a gnat, that had somehow gotten smeared onto the glass. Now that spot became the focus of James’ contemplating gaze. In an instant, this was all he could see. The thousands of details were suddenly lost in a blur. The park, now only in the background of his vision, could only barely be made out; and much less to be seen were now the sandwiches and smiles of the children squealing happily below as they swung back and forth.
This is the image of the person who sees only the manifestations of others. This is what happens when we forget about the person, and only focus on what they wear, say or do. We lose focus; we no longer see the big picture.
And on top of that, often that spot becomes what we look for when we meet them anew. We expect the same hot-headed reaction to break out any instant, or we are afraid to open ourselves because they might reject our love. So, focused on the spot on the glass, as it were, we live with a prejudice that we are unwilling to overcome. And instead of seeing beyond the smudge, on a deeper level, instead of trying to understand WHY they react passionately, or what CAUSES them to reject our love, we close up and shut off their chance of ever changing again. Because of one spot, we forget the big picture of the value of each and every individual soul.
The Christian manner of loving always first tries to comprehend what is going on in the heart of the other. No, this doesn't mean we should disregard the negative reactions we see, but we must realize that they are precisely that, reactions. The way another acts is based on what is going on inside of them. The person who wants to love genuinely cannot remain stuck focused on the smudges.
This doesn't mean that we are to turn a blind eye to the evil or weaknesses we see in others—their piercings, bursts of anger, rejection, rebellion—but rather to USE these things, by seeing through them and beyond them to the person, with all their feelings and sufferings. We choose then to look through the glass, but at the same time to keep our focus on the park below, not on the smudge.
This manner of seeing others allows them to realize they are loved. And love makes it possible for them to improve.
This is how Christ looks at you and me. It is a glance that cares, and therefore also makes a difference.
Holy Spirit On
The Achilles heel of Christian life is discernment: knowing what to do, when and how. The facts are easy. God died to save you. Now you have to live to save you. Connecting His death with your life - living in Christ - is the tricky part.
On Pentecost Sunday, Pope Francis gave us three big tips for identifying the Holy Spirit's action in our lives: newness, harmony, mission.
Newness: The Holy Spirit isn't you. He will change things, shake up your vision of the world. But that world will be a better place.
Harmony: On our own, men and women are capable of two things: chaos or stale uniformity. The diversity that the Holy Spirit brings is different: it enriches and elevates, because he directs the orchestra of our lives.
Mission: The Holy Spirit's action is not just about you. It's about everyone. He will break into your shell, and yank you out of it.
When those three things come together, it's showtime. Holy Spirit on.
Go here for the Pope's whole homily.
On Pentecost Sunday, Pope Francis gave us three big tips for identifying the Holy Spirit's action in our lives: newness, harmony, mission.
Newness: The Holy Spirit isn't you. He will change things, shake up your vision of the world. But that world will be a better place.
Harmony: On our own, men and women are capable of two things: chaos or stale uniformity. The diversity that the Holy Spirit brings is different: it enriches and elevates, because he directs the orchestra of our lives.
Mission: The Holy Spirit's action is not just about you. It's about everyone. He will break into your shell, and yank you out of it.
When those three things come together, it's showtime. Holy Spirit on.
Go here for the Pope's whole homily.
Gosnell and Our Incoherent Legal System
Three life sentences for Dr. Kermit Gosnell.
His crime? Killing infants just a few seconds after the legal cut-off.
That's the irony of the case, and perhaps the reason why Dr. Gosnell shook his head as the sentence was read. In a country where abortion is legal, condemning him for terminating a pregnancy a few seconds late makes no legal sense.
Just common sense. Because buried deep in the heart of every doctor worthy of the name there is a very simple tenant: do no harm. And that tenant was violated horrendously at the Women's Medical Society.
The only difference was that in this case, it was violated outside the womb, in broad daylight. It's a small difference, one of just a few seconds. Inside, outside. A small, insignificant difference, but one that calls bluff on the profoundly flawed argument that abortion and infanticide are two different things.
That's why the Kermit Gosnell verdict is deeply flawed. You either accept abortion and allow infanticide - and very few abortionists would take serious umbrage at that - or you criminalize infanticide, and abortion too. But you can't have it both ways.
Right now hundreds of people, countries and organizations want it both ways, setting the stage for a legal system built on something very far removed from common sense.
See the Washington Post's three-part article here.
His crime? Killing infants just a few seconds after the legal cut-off.
That's the irony of the case, and perhaps the reason why Dr. Gosnell shook his head as the sentence was read. In a country where abortion is legal, condemning him for terminating a pregnancy a few seconds late makes no legal sense.
Just common sense. Because buried deep in the heart of every doctor worthy of the name there is a very simple tenant: do no harm. And that tenant was violated horrendously at the Women's Medical Society.
The only difference was that in this case, it was violated outside the womb, in broad daylight. It's a small difference, one of just a few seconds. Inside, outside. A small, insignificant difference, but one that calls bluff on the profoundly flawed argument that abortion and infanticide are two different things.
That's why the Kermit Gosnell verdict is deeply flawed. You either accept abortion and allow infanticide - and very few abortionists would take serious umbrage at that - or you criminalize infanticide, and abortion too. But you can't have it both ways.
Right now hundreds of people, countries and organizations want it both ways, setting the stage for a legal system built on something very far removed from common sense.
See the Washington Post's three-part article here.
Just the Way You Are
Does God love you "Just the way you are?" Yes or no?
Now apply that question to your best friend. Would they love you just the way you are, even if you were to forget about them? Would they love you no matter what, even if you were to walk up and spit in their face? Do they love you despite your selfish moments, and have no desire that you become more generous?
When we say we are loved "just the way we are," we usually mean that our lovable qualities are all-in-all greater than our defects. Such that a friend is willing to accept us as we are, without needing us to change.
With God this is not true.
He doesn't check us out, and determine to love us anyway. He doesn't calculate the balance of good and bad qualities, good and bad decisions, vices and virtues. He doesn't opt to love us after getting to know us.
So NO, God does not love me just the way I am. Rather, he loved me into existence. His love - life, growth, protection, guidance, grace, forgiveness - does not depend on HOW I am. His love is a given, no matter what.
His is a love that does not depend on me and that will always push me to become more like him. This is what we mean when we say: "God is love."