Preaching

 


Preaching exposes a danger: entitlement, which can degenerate into a presumption to notice the speck in others’ eyes and ignore the plank in my own eye (Matthew 7, 3-5). Sometimes, lacking a realistic self-understanding, we replace the Good News by self-righteousness. Other times, ignoring the Gospel’s counsels, we impose our vision of things, oblivious of Wordsworth’s insight that “The flower that smells the sweetest is shy and lowly”. 

Delving deeper into the significance of Wordsworth’s observation challenges us to explore intricate relationships between shyness, humility, and the essence of fragrance – a thought-provoking trek because it challenges us to evaluate value, beauty, and our understanding of what is truly important, which reminds us of the Magister’s affirmation: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” (Matthew 7,13). Ignoring this advice, we are stumped. 

Hardening our heart as at Meribah (Psalm 95,8), we find it hard to joyfully shout as we recognise the Lord as the rock of our salvation (Psalm 95,1). Lacking trust, imposing ourselves, we secure the Magister’s rebuke: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?  ” (Mark 8,17). 


Martin


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Envy

Nothing should be presumed: neither that our hearts are immune from envy nor that talking of faith is necessarily indicative of faithfulness. Sometimes, envy permeates the heart even if concealed in a mirage intended to convince others that we mean well: “ Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves ” (Matthew 7,15). Unfortunately, neither clerics nor religious are immune.  Envy is dangerous if ignored, more so when denied. A Spanish proverb affirms, “ Envy bites but never eats, that is why it always insists ”. Its insistence is a recipe for restlessness: the lack of peace within the heart, indicative of the Magister’s absence.  It contradicts discipleship because ‘ committed love ’ (Agape) “ is patient, love is kind: it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud ”(1 Corinthians 13,4). It is, therefore, futile that we tolerate it, since “ envy makes the bones rot ” (Proverb 14,30). Thus, Moses did not rebuke Eldad and M...
Read more

Consciousess

Responsibility proposes availability underlined by open-heartedness, embellished by the Spirit. It envisages an otherness that seeks to understand things differently, not due to ideological persuasions but a means to deepen one’s baptism. It is thus interesting to note how the Magister emphasises his otherness as a means to greater insights still evolving: “ I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now…he will guide you into all the truth …”(John 16,12-15). Seasoned discipleship points the way if one intends to understand the Magister’s promise, but self-centred conviction is not a guarantee of enriching insights into discipleship.   This nominated otherness is not mere intellectual affirmations or lived-out spiritual haughtiness. Its significance can be best understood in the silence that underlines intimate prayer: a consciousness expressive of Isaiah’s “ Here am I, here am I ” (61,5). Since a disciple is not greater than his teacher (Matthew 10,24), t...
Read more

The Inner Core

Hopkins, of whom I can never tire because he often says what I want to say but cannot, sets the mood. Personal boundaries protect the inner core of one’s identity: a sustained insight that underlines our inter-relationships. This essential inner core, expressive of values and personal dignity, must be intact as inter-relations are transformed or surpassed (Brett Beasley, Acting Christ: The Christocentric Exemplarism of Gerald Manley Hopkins , Literature and Theology, Vol. 34, Issue 2, June 2020, pp. 228-244). No one bestows nor should anyone plunder this inner core: it is proper to each person.   It is easily forgotten that dignity is a shared value, not an exclusive possession: honouring personal boundaries also means respecting the boundaries of others. Accordingly, personal formation is identified with wholeness, which includes emotional stability and clear-mindedness. Lacking this understanding, we mimic Lear’s blindness to Goneril’s and Regan’s meaningless flattery and Cordeli...
Read more