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July 26, 2007
Evolution and Faith
Once again, the sweet breath of reason is exhaled from the precincts of the Vatican on this--admittedly the least of issues, but a sore point for me.
Pope Benedict XVI on Evolution and Stewardship of Earth
This is the first pronouncement from the new pope that has me really thrilled. All the rest have been interesting or wonderful but haven't inspired me much. This one is inspirational because once again it seems as though the Catholic Church is insisting that one need not check one's reason at the door.
Posted by Steven Riddle at 7:02 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
A Reflection on Yesterday's Readings
I write for a site that publishes reflections on the readings of the day and I don't usually reprint these elsewhere because I don't want to seem to be tooting my own horn. Many times I write the reflections and they vanish from my mind as I write them. If someone e-mails me about one that touched them, I have to go and find it again to see what was written.
However, this one stuck with me because I obviously needed the message desperately. I still need the message and so, as a more or less permanent record, I publish it here because I will collect it again in time. May it be of service to you as well.
Whoever wishes to be great among you, shall be your servant . . . . (see Matthew 20:26)
The only greatness that matters is not the ability to lord it over other people, but rather the ability to put oneself aside and serve completely. This greatness is so obvious that too often people cannot notice it.
Think about how difficult it is sometimes to make even the smallest sacrifice--five minutes to listen to the story of a child, a minute to console a co-worker during a rush to job completion, a dollar to a person who has nothing. Sometimes we do these things willingly, easily. But more often than not every demand upon time and resources is a demand.
To be a servant, to give willingly and unstintingly, to be completely at another's call--that is strength, that is greatness. The ability to set oneself to the side and to move forward helping others--it's hard to think of a greatness that could exceed that.
To be truly great, to be great as it really matters to God and to the rest of the world, we must be exceedingly small. Jesus completely emptied Himself on the cross, of dignity, of everything. When we ask for help to put ourselves aside and serve the needs of others, we imitate Jesus.
When we say, "Not my will, but Thy will," we are true disciples. A tower of strength is not the person who stands up for him or her self, but the person who stands up for others, serving them completely.
Posted by Steven Riddle at 7:07 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Seeking the Perfect Line
And my candidates:
Her changes change her changes constantly--Dante speaking of Dame Fortune
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me--John Donne Holy Sonnet XIV
Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm--Song of Songs 8:6
Undoubtedly, there are others, but these are a start and cause me to want to seek more.
Posted by Steven Riddle at 7:16 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
An Explanation
I have fallen quiet of late because I struggle with some facts of faith and life that do not bend to meet my desires. When the arrow of desire is true it pierces the heart of God; but when untrue, it flies like the boomerang to pierce one's own heart--and the rest is silence.
Posted by Steven Riddle at 7:25 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
A Few of My Favorite Things
I relish the shiny darkness of the empty in-box,
the clean, unfettered desktop
unmarred by files, uncomplicated by links
image alone and unthreatening
Posted by Steven Riddle at 9:21 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack