Pious moments

Mark 12:38-44

          I am reading a great book while I'm on vacation, it's called Dilemma. I like it for several reasons one of which are the insights into the Catholic Church, much of which I already know or have an intimate appreciation of. One sad state of affairs is the continuing attempt of the Church hierarchy to return to a pre Vaican II state which carries some mythical characteristics as to how things were in the good old days.

         In the face of dwindling vocatons and fewer and fewer men entering the seminaries, there is still an attempt to return to those good old days. The theory of a smaller but purer church seems to apply however specious. In fact, most of the men entering the seminary  now who may profess to serve God seem content to show their 'service' by donning the most traditional robes available, parading piously  around the seminary halls.  I still hold out great hope for Pope Francis who has already shown a penchant for dismissing some rubrics and traditions in favour of love and justice.

            And what of the rest of us? I chuckled at a quote from someone I admire, a conmedienne who said jokngly 'why do we have to see people as gay or straight, why can't we judge people for who they are and what kind of car they drive?' I laugh because I have had a lifelong love affair with everything cars. That statement hit home for me. What status symbols do we seek? What 'robes' do we don? What seats do we wish to occupy so as to elevate ourselves? 

          The truth is that we elevate ourselves by being last. We elevate ourselves by how we love and the love we give to others and not by a roman collar, robes, a miter, wearing Manolo Blahniks or driving a Porsche Carrera-4 no matter who we are.

  

 As he taught, he said, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.’

He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny.Then he called his disciples and said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.’