intersections of thought and story

Thinking about things again...still...and the thoughts are still coalescing.  That said, lets seee what comes out of my fingers.  The NT reading for today is one I am not familiar with.

Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that 'all of us possess knowledge.' Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; but anyone who loves God is known by him.Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that 'no idol in the world really exists,' and that 'there is no God but one.' (I Cor. 8:1-4).

From here, Paul says that even though we understand what is and is not important (in this case, consumption of food sacrificed to idols) not everyone may and that we must take special care not to do/say things which would cause others to stumble because they may not understand.  What pops out like a 3-d kids book is that short statement.

"Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up."  An alternate translation would be that Knowledge fosters arrogance but love strengthens us.  As someone who has focused much of my life on 'knowing'....That stings.  It stings because I feel the truth in it.  As I have said before, I am not entirely discounting the importance of learning, but without the heart, the head is naught but an adding machine.  This, in an odd way, brings me to a story about the recently deceased sister Mary Whited who was summoned to defend herself and the 'possible heresies' of her order (you may recall this was during the unofficial inquisition of the nunneries).

Speaking before the head of the Inquisition CDF, Cardinal Rodé, her message to his Holiness (who would, of course, decide the case) was simple. 

         And I said, ‘Tell him we are faithful.’ And he said, ‘Is that all?’ And I said, ‘That is enough.’ ”

We are faithful.  We are filled with love.  We have hope for the world, an well as our own parts in it.

That is all.  That is enough.