The proud sin greatly who, after studying secular literature and having turned to the Holy Scriptures, consider all that they say to be the Law of God, and do not endeavour to come to know the thoughts of the prophets and apostles, but seek out from the scriptures inappropriate texts for their own thoughts, as if this were a good work, and not the most defiled kind of study: to distort the thoughts of Scripture and submit them to their own intentions, in spite of obvious contradictions… It is proper to children and charlatans to try to teach that which they do not know.
~St. Jerome,
Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
~ paul, The Least of The Apostles, in 1 Corinthians 13
Oh beloved, it is true.
So much of our lives are out of focus. Everything we look at really, is not what it really is. Oh, it is not that what surrounds us is an illusion. It is, rather, much more like a reflection in a circus mirror, or an over emphasis on something to the detraction of something else that is more important.
News distorts reality to get people to watch their channel.
We believe something in order to make it fit our political views.
We look at people in other parts of His Body and call them anathema.
Governments tell the big lies to make geo-economic gains.
Entertainment promises fulfillment in its pumping of filth.
We look at our phones, hoping to find one iota of satisfaction – and its never ther
Other people’s views on an issue drive us to judge their entire being.
However, if we are honest, we realize that none of this really makes sense. All of it misses the point of what life is about. As we lash out in anger, or judgement, or mood, or just impatience, what we are really doing is showing the world just how disjointed we are.
We are all in the same boat. And we need an Anchor.
Can we see it?
Actually we can’t see it, unless we are seeing things the way they really are. And that is only found in One Place. Him.
In Him, news reminds us of His now and coming Kingdom.
In Him, politics shows us the need for Spirit Powered righteousness, joy and peace.
In Him, we see that His Grace is enormous, and holiness is Jesus-centered – not based on a tradition.
In Him, governments are less than dust in the scales, but human hearts are miraculously and herculeanly transformed.
In Him, entertainment is unnecessary. We are already full in Christ.
In Him, connecting with our phones makes no sense.
In Him, we realize each of us is on a path that He has ordained. We have no need to judge them.
And mostly, in Him, we realize that we can see things as they really are. We put on Christ. And when we do, we can see in The Spirit. We can see with His eyes. We can feel the crushing of the world actually making us stronger, as we set as a foundation of Love in the world.
So, are you having trouble seeing things, or other people clearly? This fool of a writer struggles with it nearly every day. The answer, though, is very clear indeed. Tonight is your night: put on Christ, that you may see with His eyes.
Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is illusion.
~Brennan Manning
