If memory does not deceive me (and it often does), I have always been rather fond of the following verse:
For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. (1 Corinthians 1.25)
The passage from Corinthians appointed for the Office today has helped me remember the limits of human knowledge and human wisdom. This is an especially good thing for someone like me who was always an A student (that, ahem, went down a bit in college) and who could usually talk or debate his way through anything. My aptitude for learning or gift with words did not mean I was smarter than God or, for that matter, better than anyone else.
This passage also reminds me that there are other values than the ones constantly being put forth in a competitive society.
We are often too clever by half and it rarely ends well.
‘No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. (Mark 2.21)Do you ever get the feeling that the Church has been trying lots of unshrunk patches as gimmick after gimmick is attempted to pull in crowds or revitalize our faith communities? Do you think we might ever go back to Jesus' message (as paraphrased decades ago by Fr. McHugh): "Turn around and believe good news for a change!"?
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
--the BB
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