Don't Give Up On The Things That Matter Most

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A few reflections while reading this:

People say, “The sermon really touched me.” People say, “I was really moved by the praise and worship music.” People say, “I felt the spirit in that service.” I am sorry that people have such criteria for the worship of God in the Church. It is an unfortunate and misguided paucity.

I had a thought that got to the problems of who I am. Do I care whether or not the people who say such things are set straight when they get to heaven? Do I need God, the saints or the angels to specifically point out to these folks that they missed it when it comes to the worship of the Church?

I don’t believe that people will be walking around clueless in heaven. I think that we all will see how and how far we fell short in our participation in the worship of the Trinity. I’ve got to believe that those who did not participate in liturgical worship will see a connection there.

The issue is this: I do not need to be vindicated. My desire now, as it has been, is that people would participate in the worship of the Trinity in the most true, beautiful and good manner possible here on earth. I have some ideas about how that happens. They are pretty basic. I hope that they are right.

Lord, have mercy.

Steyn on Bloom on Rock

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This is the heart of the Bloom critique that “such polluted sources issue in a muddy stream where only monsters can swim. It is of historic proportions that a society’s best young and their best energies should be so occupied. People of future civilizations will wonder at this and find it as incomprehensible as we do the caste system, witch-burning, harems, cannibalism and gladiatorial combats.”

Read it and the rest of the New Criterion's look back at Allan Bloom's "The Closing of the American Mind."

Also, Fr. Tobias weighs in.

Top Billing (2006)

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Some folks (read: jackasses) have tried to retell the miracle of the loaves and the fish. The idea is that Jesus did not really multiply five loaves and two fish into enough grub to feed 5000 men plus women and children. Instead, the "miracle" is that the crowd saw the generosity of the little boy who provided the five loaves and two fish; those in the crowd who had some food were then inspired to share it with their neighbors.

Aaawww, isn't that sweet?

The problem is that there is no evidence for the new interpretation of this episode in the life of our Lord. All four Evangelists record the incident. All of them credit Jesus with miraculously multiplying the victuals.

There's another problem with the reinterpretation. It misses everything else that is said about the multitudes/crowds throughout all four Gospel accounts. The crowd is never noble, never altruistic, never looking out for the interests of another. The crowd is selfish. The crowd is fickle. The crowd is the crowd.

Let's consider what the crowd did for Jesus. They tried to chase him off a cliff when he said that it was he on whom the Spirit abode. They grew offended and walked away when he spoke of eating his flesh and drinking his blood. The crowd's faithfulness culminated in their insanity before Pilate. "Give us Barabbas. Crucify Jesus!"

Jesus gets top billing in the Gospel. Even John the Baptist quickly recedes into the background when the Lamb of God steps forward. The Apostles have their moments but are generally screw-ups before Pentecost.

People only start really getting it together after Jesus ascends and sends the Holy Spirit. The Church is born. Christ's Body begins to do the works that he did and preach the message that he preached in his absence.

The Lord Our Righteousness!

We point to him, even in our do-gooding. He is the one who died, was buried, rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, reigns from his Father's side and is returning to judge all men and establish his eternal kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy in the Spirit.

He has made it possible now for us to give of our bread and fish, our money, our time, our energy, ourselves. We may now offer our self to him and be blessed so that we may give ourselves to the world. In his offering our offering is sanctified. In his death all of our sin and death is overcome so that we might become living sacrifices, a people who may be called by the name of the Lord.

"STIR up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may by thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

Propers for Sunday Next Before Advent

Thank You, Whoever You Are (2006)

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I would like to say "thank you" today to Nobody. I would like to thank Nobody for my job, health, friends and family. I would like to express my gratitude to Nobody for providing me with food, clothing and shelter. I would like to give a big shout out to Nobody for all the other stuff that I enjoy, like buffalo wings, basketball and blues music.

I know that there are many others out there today who will be called upon to offer thanks. What do you do? Is there anyone out there who is responsible for helping you with provisions, abilities, opportunities, et al? How do you refer to him/her/it/them? Just offer up a big, hearty "Thank You" to Nobody, the all-purpose, non-existent he/she/it/they upstairs.

You see, with Nobody, you can avoid the scandal of particularity. Nobody is not some first century, Jewish man with long hair and a beard. Nobody did not die for you. Nobody did not rise from the dead. Nobobdy does not rule from heaven. Nobody is not returning some day to judge both the living an the dead.

Nobody doesn't really expect anything of you. Nobody pretty much leaves you alone to do whatever you like. Nobody doesn't love you. Nobody is a useful stand-in for Somebody.

You can trot Nobody out during those uncomfortable moments at holidays, graduations, weddings, funerals and other traditional occasions when some kind of Other is traditionally useful. Nobody will not show up and make a scene. Nobody does not expect any kind of a commission, offering or sacrifice. Nobody will not send a prophet to interrupt everyone's good time. Nobody likes it behind the scenes, in the dark, where it's nice and quiet.

Nobody is the perfect substitute for Somebody.

All hail Nobody!

Have I made my point? Is that enough sarcasm for you? Here's the non-sarcastic version.

There is no thanking the universe, or fate, or chance, or luck, or whatever. There is no nameless, faceless, amorphous deity or figurehead to whom we may direct our gratitude. Thanksgiving is personal. You don't say "Thank You" into the ether. Someone must receive our thanks if the act is to have any meaning whatsoever.

"I ain't never got nothin' from Nobody." (Johnny Cash)

"You've got to serve Somebody." (Bob Dylan)

There are three divine persons who should be thanked today and always: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is from the one, true God that all good comes. In him we live, move and have our being. It is always good to give him thanks and praise.

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise him all creatures here below.
Praise him above, ye heavenly hosts.
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost."

Go eat some turkey.

Propers for Thanksgiving Day

Oh, Ye Bureaucrats, I Know It Burns

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"When the means are autonomous, they are deadly."
- Charles Williams

In Remembrance of Bracy Greer (2005)

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I once knew a man. He died four [edit: now six] years ago today.

I have known many good people. I have only known one whom I consider a saint.

He said that whatever else people might think about him he wanted to be remembered for one thing: he liked to talk about God.

He was a father and a grandfather, a husband, a pastor, a brother, a son, a preacher, a missionary, and evangelist, a prophet, an intercessor, a student, a lover of God and one beloved of God.

He was my friend.

He was the most genuinely self-effacing man I ever knew. He was the most edifyingly self-revealing mentor I can imagine. When he drew the curtain back even the scars were beautiful.

In a time when men who will accept the responsibilities of fatherhood are so rare, I knew a man who was a father in the faith to many people, including myself.

In 1994 I was a 21 year old, hot-blooded, well-intentioned disciple of Jesus Christ. I had moved to Longview, TX to be with some like-minded men. I began attending my friend’s church. He kindly took me under his wing.

I was often more trouble than I was worth. Once (well, more than once) when we were speaking with some people about the Christian faith I became very heavy-handed with an innocent by-stander. My new friend took me aside and gently admonished me to start by expressing more concern for people, rather than come over the top, which was very easy for me to do. I saw him overcome people’s resistance to talking about Christianity by taking a real interest in them. He did not see others as projects or proselytes, but as people who had been created by God to live in fellowship with him. It broke his heart to observe people living estranged from God.

I had found a man willing to do the messy work of correction. I had found a man committed to doing this work with consistency and kindness. He did more than simply talk. I saw him witness to the Christian faith intelligently, convincingly, creatively and compassionately.

I lived across the street from my friend for a while. He would go to the church early on Sunday mornings, and I used to ride with him sometimes. One morning he asked me to attend to the water cooler at the church. This job involved going to one store to fill the cooler with ice and then going to another location to fill the cooler with clean water. There were some complications that morning, and I did a shoddy job completing my task.

When I got back to the church I was frustrated. I told my pastor what happened and put the cooler in its place. My friend took a moment to explain to me why he took the time on Sunday mornings to drive around filling up a water cooler. He liked the thought of people being able to get a cold drink of water while they were at church. It was a small thing. It was a nice thing to do for others. It took up his time when he could have been doing something else.

He had committed himself to serving the servants of God, as well as those who did not know the Lord. He rejoiced in this service and fulfilled it in a myriad of ways all the time. It was not the kind of service that put you in his debt. It was the kind of ministry that inspired you to go and do likewise. That’s what I did that Sunday. I picked up the cooler, got back in my car and kept at it until the task was done, until I had done something kind for someone else.

These examples from the life of my friend come from the world of the mundane. That is where we all live most of our lives. I could tell you of some more spectacular incidents but thought that these two stories captured the workaday, arresting piety of my friend.

He said many things that have seeped down into who I am. He did many things that illumined a high path of following the Shepherd who loves his sheep.

I am unable to express who he was in words that are remotely adequate. I miss him so much my heart hurts.

You were a prince among men, Bracy Greer. I love you.

Here's my 2006 memorial for Bracy Greer.

John Derbyshire Pokes China in the Red Eye

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Read it.

The scary thing about his satire is the fact that we have been guilty of some similar sins. The difference is that we continue to have, however tenuously, the rights to vocally challenge the iniquities of our nation and participate in a process of change, albeit an almost hopelessly corrupt process.

The answer is yes, I have been feeling a touch of the melancholy.

My favorite word right now is atavism*. If I were choosing an internet handle again, I might go with "The Atavist."

*atavism - reversion to something ancient or ancestral

Hollywood, Here I Come

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I have an idea for a new sitcom. It is about three, poor, twenty-something guys who live together in an apartment and all their wacky adventures.

It is called, "Everybody Loves Ramen."

Enemies and Friends of the Cross (2006)

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St. Paul says a lot of stuff that seems entirely unworkable.

There, I said it. The Bible is a difficult book to understand. It is full of things to trip over. The Book can be a source of tremendous frustration, especially for those who are in earnest about obeying God's commands. At the same time the Bible is the most dangerous and the most blessed book in the world.

We are instructed to have our mind oriented to a place we have never been and cannot see (heaven). We are told to be wary of excessive allegiance to what we can see and what we have experienced (the world). Our present condition is referred to as humiliation. We are exhorted to value a future state of glory; we only experience the faintest glimmer of that glory in the here and now, however holy we may be.

Much of the time we look like a laughingstock in the eyes of those who do not share our belief in Jesus Christ, who came and who is coming again. People let us know that they are happy for us because we are religious. "That's good for you," they say with all the sincerity of a person who is humoring a child or an idiot.

It is tempting to do one of two things. Sometimes we are enticed to join or rejoin those who are walking in the broad way that leads to destruction. It would be so much easier to go with the flow, to pick up our feet and float downstream. Who needs this constant upstream fight anyway?

The other thing we may be tempted to do is to despise those who do not give us the respect we think that we deserve. We look down our noses at the heathen. They're going to laugh at us. We'll show them. We'll laugh right back. Stupid sinners.

Paul is so helpful here. He does not shy away from describing people as they are. He can say the most devastating things about folks. Yet, he does it with a tremor in his voice and a tear in his eye.

Many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.

Those who are outside of Christ are in a bad way, brothers and sisters. We ought not kid ourselves about that fact. They are going to fall hard. We do not want to be in their shoes. We don't want them to stay in those shoes either.

St. Paul recognized the difficulties facing those who would follow the crucified Lord. He called upon them to follow him and others like him. "I know it's hard sometimes. Just keep close to me and we'll walk it out together."

Find some little "s" saints and get to know them. You will always be you. Don't try to be anyone else. Nevertheless, there are surprising benefits to knowing and emulating those who know and emulate the Lord.

Propers for Trinity 23

Is David Foster Wallace Always Such An Idiot?

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"This, I submit, is the freedom of a real education, of learning how to be well-adjusted. You get to consciously decide what has meaning and what doesn't. You get to decide what to worship."

The above quote is taken from a commencement speech given in 2005. Read the rest, if you must. While not devoid of helpful advice, the speech is at odds with the traditional aims of education: the transference of knowledge, the inculcation of virtue, instruction in how to interact with the world based on knowledge and virtue, and training in the different types of thought.

Is it any wonder that formal education is in the toilet in America?

Edit: If you read Wallace's speech, make sure and read the introduction to Richard Weaver's "Ideas Have Consequences." It perfectly answers Wallace's misapprehensions regarding higher ed.

The Seven Deadly Sins for Dummies

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The Seven Deadly Sins for Dummies

Sal the Salesman sold no widgets,
Got so mad he stomped some midgets.

Consumer Cathy “needs” more stuff;
She buys but cannot get enough.

Frank the Fatty would not cease
With Twinkies fried in bacon grease.

“Look at me,” cried Molly Model
Always needing to be coddled.

Paulie Pervert likes ‘em fat;
Computers were not made for that!

Lazy Laura’s grand malaise:
She would not move for days and days.

Desperate Donald wants your wife;
That’s why he has a crappy life.

All these people are hell-bent;
They need the Church to help repent.

Reminder: wrath, greed, gluttony, pride, lust, sloth, envy

The Sarabite's Odd Participant

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"The Divine must be present not just as a detached watch-maker, but truly as a participant, and sometimes an odd participant, in our day to day lives. If we cannot see it, we are no better than atheists ... we must conceive of the universe as a much more fascinating and unpredictable place than our unbelieving neighbors."

Go read it all.

A Mess in the Kitchen (2006)

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The Blessed Mess of Reconciliation (Part 1)

Jesus once told a parable about a servant who was in major, insurmountable debt. I don't know how a servant would get in the kind of debt Jesus indicated. No-limit Texas hold 'em is the best I can come up with.

That servant begged his master to give him time to pay off his debt. The master instead forgave the debt. Wiped the slate clean. "You don't owe me a red cent, son, just lay off the cards."

That servant left the master’s presence and found one of his fellow servants. The second servant owed the first a trifling amount. Maybe he borrowed a dollar for a Snickers when they were at the 7-11. The debtor begged for time to pay off his debt. The first servant was abusive and had the second thrown in prison.

The master found out and threw the first servant in prison.

The spirit of our age does not permit such a parable to have its intended effect. We expect the one who has been offended to offer forgiveness regardless of whether or not the offender shows contrition, restitution or even a request for forgiveness. Therefore, reconciliation becomes an impossibility. We learn to tolerate one another but we do not experience communion.

We look over the fence at our neighbor and smile through clenched teeth, remembering the lawn-mines his German Shepherd deposits next to our flower bed. We shake hands with the coworker who dinged our car in the parking lot but didn't fess up. "I totally saw him do it. He looked around to make sure no one was watching," we tell our buddy. We inwardly cringe as we give the half-hearted fellowship hug to the so-and-so who sits in front of us at church. You know, the one whom you dislike for no reason in particular.

The other mistake that we make which makes forgiveness and reconciliation impossible is our own refusal to ever admit that we are wrong. We must always save face. “Mistakes were made” instead of “Have mercy upon us, miserable offenders.”

This stuff adds up, friends. All I can say is, keep short accounts with God, your spouse, family, friends, neighbors, fellow congregants, coworkers, ere'body.

Our inability to reconcile with one another makes futile our efforts to build community. Our Sunday interactions happen while we make sure to maintain enough distance between one another so as to protect ourselves. Vulnerability is not in our functioning vocabulary. I am not talking about showing up to the fellowship hour on Sunday and dumping out our problems next to the donuts.

I have come up with a way to describe what I think we should be striving for in our homes, churches and friendships:

Transparent honesty within a process of sanctified disclosure deepening informed trust based upon knowledge of character.

Let me try and explain that a bit.

It is unreasonable, unrealistic and unhealthy for us to expect anyone to walk into a church and reveal all his thoughts, feelings, failings, beliefs and temptations. We must have a long-term perspective about our relationships. Substantive friendships are the product of time and effort.

We must be honest with one another. No one has to tell everything to everyone on the first date, and probably not ever.

There have to be institutional, local and personal commitments in order for relationships of deepening trust to happen. The Church, the churches and each individual must plan and act, regardless of the setbacks, frustrations and disappointments. As is the case with most things, it is easier said than done.

The friction that occurs when people exist in regular proximity to one another can provide us with opportunities to confess our sins to one another, humble ourselves, offer forgiveness and get to know one another.

Have you ever had a knockdown, drag-out fight with someone and you ended up being close friends with him? There was probably a process of confession, forgiveness and reconciliation that took place between you. From that place of mutual humility the two of you were able to move forward together.

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A Mess in the Kitchen (Part 2)

Quite a while ago I wrote a post about an old friend of mine named Donald. I'd like to tell you an embarrassing story that illustrates the point that I am trying to make.

Donald and his wife used to invite me over to their house all the time to eat and hang out. Being a single guy and a transplant to the area, I don't ever remember turning down an invitation. I had known them for a while when the following event occurred.

At the end of an evening church service Donald invited me to go back to their house for a meal. I had to work early the next day, but was starving, so I accepted. Donald was aware of my situation, so he sent me ahead to start eating while he and his family talked to some folks.

I was ravenously hungry when I arrived at Donald's house. His wife had prepared a typically delicious meal. I walked over to the stove where I discovered a chicken dish that made me want to faint from the heavenly aroma.

I started spooning myself some of the chicken and pasta out of a large pot. I was amazed at how much chicken there was in the dish. (Remember that observation.) My mouth was watering as I danced my way over to the table with my heaping plate. Did I mention that I was hungry?

I scarfed down the delightful creation. I savored every bite. I was still hungry.

The large pot was full, so I thought "Why not go for seconds?" As I started spooning away I noticed that the chicken was not quite as plentiful the deeper one entered into the pot.

When I realized what I had done I got a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Donald's wife had put all the chicken at the top of the pot. She had planned on mixing it all together when she got home. I had turned the chicken and pasta dish into a pasta dish with enough chicken to leave Tinkerbelle needing to make a Taco Bell run in order to satiate her waifish appetite.

I was transported back to all the times in my childhood when I did something wrong and knew that I was going to get caught. You know the feeling, all hope is abandoned and there is only the waiting for the hammer to fall. I momentarily scrambled to try and figure out how I might remedy the situation. No grocery stores were open. No uncooked chicken was in the fridge. There was no way that I was going to be able to take a chicken from their coop outside, kill it, pluck it, cut it up, cook it and merge it with the existing pasta before they got home. I was left to wait for Donald and family. I was sick to my full stomach.

"Jason, the principal will see you now."

"Jason, your father and I would like to speak with you about what happened this weekend."

"Liscense and registration, please."

The family was understandably disappointed. It was late and they were all hungry, too. After they took a moment to process my confession and apology they started laughing and teasing me. And, you know what, I ate many, many more meals and had many, many more laughs in that home.

They freed me from my bondage. They drew me back before I could try and clothe myself with fig leaves and hide in the bushes. They opened the door and handed me garments of righteousness to clothe my nakedness.

Transparent honesty within a process of sanctified disclosure deepening informed trust based upon knowledge of character.

Propers for Trinity 22