Matthew 18:1-6
Did you ever wake up in the middle of the night and wind up hitting your toe on something in the dark? Man does that smart. And what seems to make it worse is that you have to stifle your normal outburst of a reaction so you don't wake anyone up. It hurts! The logical solution would have been to turn on a light. Now a days I don't go anywhere when I wake up without my trusty phone to use as a small torch.
My first reaction when I read this was about stumbling blocks. How many stumbling blocks do we have in our life to greater knowledge or greater faith? I have noted before about those who are those acts as stumbling blocks. Woe to them. But like waking up in the darkness, isn't it simply better to turn on the lights?
Shedding some light on the situation is always a good idea. Like glasnost or Vatican II, the idea of a fresh light or letting in a new breeze is quite warranted. This is especially true of ourselves. As Roman Catholics we had always been encouraged not to read the Bible for fear we might misinterpret or take messages out of context. Of course that is no longer the case but t is still amazing how many people read without light.
The amount of people who stumble around in the dark by misreading scripture or worse, using someone else's 'certain' interpretation is astounding. Once again I harken back to the Westboro Baptist church. Their interpretation is scripture is appalling, sad and dangerous. Certainly this is a stumbling block for anyone in that church. That might be bad enough. Sadly, they feel compelled to share their ignorance, vitriol and message of hate with the rest of the world. This now becomes a stumbling block for many, many more. As I said, sad and dangerous.
The other day I heard a quote from Vladimir Putin about having gay athletes and visitors in his country. He said something like 'gays are welcome, just leave the children alone'. It is astounding to me the ignorance in that statement. What a stumbling block to love and acceptance of God's children, young and old. I'm not sure what is scarier, that he might actually be so ignorant on his own or that as a major leader in the world he has accepted as fact some gross misinformation about a large group of God's creation based on some one else's slanted view. It's just scary. And yet, he felt free to just say it out loud, proclaiming ignorance and encouraging misinformation, hate and perpetuating violence against innocents.
Everything I have been speaking of is about ignorance and our apparent propensity or willingness to shout our own ignorance from the rooftops. I think it would be much better if we were a bit more silent and loving. Listening is always a very good beginning. Knowledge and good scholarship about issues is another great starting point. Those who rail against others show an amazing amount of intolerance and a fundamental lack of love. They just don't get the Good News. Jesus' message was not about hate, violence or exclusivity.
So if you pick up a bible to read or feel the urge to get on your soap box, be sure there is plenty of light. Search God's created world for knowledge and speak with true love and compassion.
Did you ever wake up in the middle of the night and wind up hitting your toe on something in the dark? Man does that smart. And what seems to make it worse is that you have to stifle your normal outburst of a reaction so you don't wake anyone up. It hurts! The logical solution would have been to turn on a light. Now a days I don't go anywhere when I wake up without my trusty phone to use as a small torch.
My first reaction when I read this was about stumbling blocks. How many stumbling blocks do we have in our life to greater knowledge or greater faith? I have noted before about those who are those acts as stumbling blocks. Woe to them. But like waking up in the darkness, isn't it simply better to turn on the lights?
Shedding some light on the situation is always a good idea. Like glasnost or Vatican II, the idea of a fresh light or letting in a new breeze is quite warranted. This is especially true of ourselves. As Roman Catholics we had always been encouraged not to read the Bible for fear we might misinterpret or take messages out of context. Of course that is no longer the case but t is still amazing how many people read without light.
The amount of people who stumble around in the dark by misreading scripture or worse, using someone else's 'certain' interpretation is astounding. Once again I harken back to the Westboro Baptist church. Their interpretation is scripture is appalling, sad and dangerous. Certainly this is a stumbling block for anyone in that church. That might be bad enough. Sadly, they feel compelled to share their ignorance, vitriol and message of hate with the rest of the world. This now becomes a stumbling block for many, many more. As I said, sad and dangerous.
The other day I heard a quote from Vladimir Putin about having gay athletes and visitors in his country. He said something like 'gays are welcome, just leave the children alone'. It is astounding to me the ignorance in that statement. What a stumbling block to love and acceptance of God's children, young and old. I'm not sure what is scarier, that he might actually be so ignorant on his own or that as a major leader in the world he has accepted as fact some gross misinformation about a large group of God's creation based on some one else's slanted view. It's just scary. And yet, he felt free to just say it out loud, proclaiming ignorance and encouraging misinformation, hate and perpetuating violence against innocents.
Everything I have been speaking of is about ignorance and our apparent propensity or willingness to shout our own ignorance from the rooftops. I think it would be much better if we were a bit more silent and loving. Listening is always a very good beginning. Knowledge and good scholarship about issues is another great starting point. Those who rail against others show an amazing amount of intolerance and a fundamental lack of love. They just don't get the Good News. Jesus' message was not about hate, violence or exclusivity.
So if you pick up a bible to read or feel the urge to get on your soap box, be sure there is plenty of light. Search God's created world for knowledge and speak with true love and compassion.
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
‘If any of you put a stumbling-block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.
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