Roman church and teh Dignity folk.

In a comment made over at In Exsilium, a fella said that gay folks were intimately aware of their own failings because they are brought up at every opportunity and, because of that, the Dignity masses were more grace-filled than pre-V2 masses.  The comment pretty instantly brought to mind last Sunday's gospel reading, the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.

'Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else.

"Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.  The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, 'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity -- greedy, dishonest, adulterous -- or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’  But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, 'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.'

I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted." '(Luke 18:9-14)

Now, I can make a wonderful homily linking homosexuals with tax collectors, but that's where I get stuck.  Matthew (and the dude in the parable) chose to be a tax collector.  Jimmy and Susie didn't choose to be gay.  They are no less or more prone to sin, to failure than the tax collector OR the pharisee in the story.  How does that go again, Paul? "All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God".

That said, I will make a link between the Pharisee and the modern church.  The Pharisees were holy lawyers, pious men who studied the scriptures and understood the law intimately.  Further, they believed in ensuring purity of faith in the face of secular assimilation.  In scripture, they are quick to judge others.

Both men in this parable believe and pray.  The upright man who is admired by the community is no more or less righteous by his nature than the morally questionable man who is an anathema in polite society.  Performing rites and making external shows of faith do nothing for the disposition of one's soul. Religion isn't about you or what others think about you.

It's about Him.

It is about loving Him and loving your neighbour. 

That is what religion is about.

Random thoughts

If ordination marries the priest to the Church, does that mean that....

...the Church approves of divorce via defrocking priests?

...deacons are the BFF of Christ?

...since the Church is also the Bride of Christ, God is ok with polyamoury?

...the Pope is the Mother-in-Law who must be obeyed?


This is the sort of thing that happens when I'm allowed to wander the blogosphere unattended.

Ambivalence

It's funny, after a fashion.  The more I read about current events, the more ambivalent I become.

On the one hand, there is part of me which is filled with both rage and sadness.  Anger steeped in righteous indignation at those who would cause my brothers and sisters to stumble, who would spew the spittle-flecked invective of intolerance and would feign the power and usurp the authority of the Divine.  As hot as my rage burns against these people, it is cooled by the tears I shed for those who suffer under these people, for those honest and truth-seeking individuals who are misguided and misdirected, turned away and shunned.  Most of all for those who mistake a church for God and, as they are rejected by the former believe that they are rejected by the latter.

And this anger and sorrow leads me to sounding like Habakkuk. 

"How long, O LORD, will I call for help, and You will not hear?  I cry out to You, “Violence!” yet You do not save.

Why do You make me see iniquity,and cause me to look on wickedness?  Yes, destruction and violence are before me; Strife exists and contention arises.

Therefore the law is ignored and justice is never upheld.  For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore justice comes out perverted."

In short, "DUDE! WTF?!?!"(insert wild gesticulations and finger pointing).   No, my version is not nearly so prosaic, but is a better reflection of my conversations with the Divine and the personal nature of the relationship.

To which the Lord God YHWH replies,

"This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled.   If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed."

Which, in my parlance ends up being. "Dude....chill.  Trust me, I got it covered." As silly and stupid sounding as that may seem, when Dad says that, the effect is the proverbial Balm of Gilead.  All of a sudden, it makes sense and things are in focus.  Of course.  Everything will be fine.  Relax.

He's aware...and knows what's best...and has it all under control.  Just trust Him. 

You know...have faith.

"butbutbutbutbutbutbutbut...."


"Trust me." 

"butbutbutbutbutbutbutbut...."

"Tim.  Trust  me."

Yes, sir.