Today's readings are wonderful examples of the richness of early Christian writing.
The gospel is that of the Pharisee and the tax collector, pit against each other in the mind of God. On the surface it appears a simple criticism of success in the material world but quickly it emerges as much more. The Pharisee is not praying, he is declaring. In essence he is praying to himself. What is on the chopping block here is not success--in the world or spirit--it is a very human trait: Self-satisfaction. What Christ is criticizing is self-content, the lack of self-criticism. He wants us to be restless, to search. Revelation wants us to search!
And Paul's letter to Timothy: "Beloved: I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand." Just beautiful.
This used to be everyday reading for people. Skepticism has stripped this finery from us and left us with the occasional insightful snarky political editorial.
The gospel is that of the Pharisee and the tax collector, pit against each other in the mind of God. On the surface it appears a simple criticism of success in the material world but quickly it emerges as much more. The Pharisee is not praying, he is declaring. In essence he is praying to himself. What is on the chopping block here is not success--in the world or spirit--it is a very human trait: Self-satisfaction. What Christ is criticizing is self-content, the lack of self-criticism. He wants us to be restless, to search. Revelation wants us to search!
And Paul's letter to Timothy: "Beloved: I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand." Just beautiful.
This used to be everyday reading for people. Skepticism has stripped this finery from us and left us with the occasional insightful snarky political editorial.
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