Today's reading are dominated by the "What did you go out to the desert to see" question. It is a harsh, realistic and desolate picture of a single intense man and his thoughts. But there is a significant contrasting image in the epistle sent by James focusing on a completely different aspect of man: the patience of the farmer. The farmer and planting is a recurring symbol in the gospels and is very significant. Certainly in the relatively nontechnical world of the time it is reasonable. But there is more, especially here, opposed to the world of the visionary John the Baptist. The rural world is more than familiar, it makes sense to humans. It is very like us.
In truth, John the Baptist is not like us. He is a firebrand, not a neighbor; he is an element, not a friend. But his community is a farming one. And that is what we make up; we are a communal beast. We benefit from work. We benefit from the comfort of our neighbors. As competitive as we are, the competitive and success motive has limits.
Christ is offering the universal to beings whose individual success depends upon local, controlled achievement. This dichotomy must be resolved by every individual at some point of their lives, religious or not.
In truth, John the Baptist is not like us. He is a firebrand, not a neighbor; he is an element, not a friend. But his community is a farming one. And that is what we make up; we are a communal beast. We benefit from work. We benefit from the comfort of our neighbors. As competitive as we are, the competitive and success motive has limits.
Christ is offering the universal to beings whose individual success depends upon local, controlled achievement. This dichotomy must be resolved by every individual at some point of their lives, religious or not.
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