In this world, there is very little clear vision. One pious person's vision of a just society may differ radically from another's. We may drink the Blood of Christ from the same Chalice, but when it comes to politics, have very different views. We are all quite blind.
However, when we love those who disagree with us, we are beginning to manifest the justice "from above." A great deal can be accomplished in this world, but it is not by everyone having the same opinions or the same politics. Genuine societal change happens when we listen to those we disagree with, when we refuse to demonize our enemy.
Life in this world sucks, but the Kingdom God is manifest in and through us who live in this world.
2 comments:
Hi Fr Michael.
What you've said here actually explains my confusion over just this phenomenon:
"We may drink the Blood of Christ from the same Chalice, but when it comes to politics, have very different views. We are all quite blind."
I was thinking recently about Elder Thadeus- who dominantly teaches such gentleness, kindness, love, even in our thoughts about others... and yet in one passage he implies that we can indeed kill our enemies (in defense of one another).
I am coming to see that what God really wants is not for us to "figure it all out"- to think the right things and speak the right words. God's Holy Ones are not marked by this thought-word ability. He wants broken and contrite hearts brimming with mercy and love for our neighbour. This is holiness.
God grant me the wisdom to act as a man who knows he is blind. And to love, forgive, and be gentle with those who think and see things differently in the same darkness.
Love;
-Mark Basil
Fr. Richard gave a sermon recently whereby he discussed a similar topic. He spoke of how people 'outside' the church often point to the fact that people 'inside' the Church don't always act the same or see things the same way, and they use this as a starting point for criticizing christians as hypocritical and consistently divided.
His point, at the end, was that we would cease to be the Church if we were NOT all different - that would be cult. It is the very fact that we are different that allows us the opportunity to love one another - in spite of our differences - and it is this love, which supercedes our differences, which binds us together in Christ.
Seeing the topic arise a second time within a week makes me think I should be paying attention ;)
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