It has always been so , it must be right.

        I am not sure that there is anyone that likes to be corrected, especially publicly. Some people will exercise extraordinary mental gymnastics to show that they were not wrong, didn't lie about something and that the correction that they may so duly deserve is nonsense. Such I suspect is the case of the current President of the United States who will deny the very words he uttered only moments before. The fact remains that not many people welcome correction.

       In today's passage it is the Jewish leaders who do not want to be corrected by Paul and Barnabas. Human nature being what it is, rather than stand corrected, they incited the 'devout women of high standing and leading men of the city' against Paul and Barnabas. Seems very true to my premise that no one likes to be shown up or corrected - especially  in public.

        The Roman church is no better of course. Think of the fact that the world is round and that the sun is the center of our solar system, not earth. It was October of 1992, 350 years later, that the Roman church finally acknowledged the errors in regard to Galileo. Talk about standing in the way of progress - at best.

           Today the Episcopal church remembers holy woman, Mary Magdalene.  One of the first witnesses to the resurrection. I am not sure if it was by some grand design that she was demeaned as a harlot and prostitute so as to diminish a woman's role as the first witness to the resurrection but it would seem to fit the male domination schema of things. It was 'an error of translation' by Gregory the Great ( 540?-604 ) that proclaimed and perpetuated the unproven assault on the character of Mary of Magdala. That leaves over 1500 years of a fine 'tradition' of error and demeaning of the first witness of the resurrection on a devout lover and follower of Jesus Christ. NO, the Roman church is no better itself at recognizing or correcting the errors of it's ways.  It is much easier to steep yourself in tradition, denial and get all cozy in fuzzy logic and errant philosophies.  

            In one of the many consultancies that came across my path in health care, I recall that we were often asked to think out of the box, come up with fresh ideas and that there were no sacred cows. Just because we 'have always done it this way' is not a reason to continue something, even when it is proven wrong.  It seems that organizations and governments are not much different than the Roman church or any of us. We often embrace what 'has always been'.

           I know that for myself, trying to be the best professional I could be, I liked to know about my mistakes. I'm not sure how I'd like it broadcast, but I liked to see where I made a mistake so that I could avoid making it a second , or third time.  In medicine, mistakes can easily mean a patient death. It behooves the professional to always seek a higher standard of care and that means recognizing and fixing mistakes.

             As individuals we make a whole lot of mistakes.  I know that there are people, again, like the current President, who would rather run with a lie than learn even a modicum of knowledge or wisdom. The fact is though, we all make errors, errors in judgment, selfish actions or whatever. We don't like to be called out. This is especially true because some people seem to believe that an acknowledgement of error is damaging to one's dignity or self worth. The idea that you can actually be a good person who made a mistake seems anathema. But we are all called to a higher level of actions, especially if we are believers. We are called to a higher standard, an ever rising bar in our efforts to be the magnificent creations we are created to be - that we actually are.

         I think it might be a wise idea once again to exercise a bit of self introspection at our our actions and try to better ourselves and thereby the world. Even if we only improve our own little corners of the world, the world will get exponentially better by effect.

      For acknowledging falsehoods and improving ourselves and the world, I pray

      

Acts 13:44-52

The next sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy; and blaspheming, they contradicted what was spoken by Paul. Then both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, ‘It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you reject it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life, we are now turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,
“I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles,
   so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.” ’

When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the word of the Lord; and as many as had been destined for eternal life became believers. Thus the word of the Lord spread throughout the region. But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their region. So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them, and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.