Paint A Vulgar Picture! What I Think About Life.
a friend of mine asked me to post some thoughts on 1 Corinthians 13 (a chapter from the Bible written by St. Paul). this made enough sense because we got into pretty serious talk about the notion that “tho I sell all my possessions and give to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, if I have not love I gain nothing”(v.3). sort of the reverse side of the same coin is Paul’s teaching in the very same letter that “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of G-D”(c10, v.31). from all this it seems that performing outwardly noble and charitable acts with ill intentions will not profit us in the least, while seemingly normal, everyday things can be holy if carried out with sincere gratitude and humility.
but the staggering question is, if love is not found in simply carrying out the acts of love, where is it to be found? it’s an idea that can paralyze us. it would make enough sense to putter around my room thinking “I’d sure pray and go visit the sick and feed the hungry today, but I have not love, so what’s the use?” I don’t think we should use the verse that way, as a safeguard against obeying Jesus. he so clearly taught to carry out the works of mercy(in most cases, without any “if we have not love” stipulation), and I’m not sure amount of self-examination of our motives relieves us of our duty. in an answer to a similar question, Dietrich Bonhoeffer insisted that we “take the bull by the horms,” and in acts of “single-minded obedience,” quit theorizing and do what the scriptures teach.
all this I don’t think should complicate our understanding but simplify it: whether doing something lofty or common, make Love the source and the end. but what is this love? I think we already know to some extent, but the chapter explains a bit:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (v.4-7).
but again, how do we find it? if it seems like I’m avoiding the question, I’m sorry. I want to rattle off the disciplines (prayer, fasting, medication, simplicity, service, ect.) or put together a concise sort of summary: “find the proper balance between contemplation and action”-this is alright, but I’m trying to resist the urge to present a neat package, a list of steps to holiness-I’m afraid I don’t have any answers for you. I have questions myself, and the suspicion that I will and should never find complete answers in this life. otherwise in arrogance I may think I’ve come to comprehend that which is beyond comprehension! may G-d grant us this mystery of Love, and keep us humble.
but the staggering question is, if love is not found in simply carrying out the acts of love, where is it to be found? it’s an idea that can paralyze us. it would make enough sense to putter around my room thinking “I’d sure pray and go visit the sick and feed the hungry today, but I have not love, so what’s the use?” I don’t think we should use the verse that way, as a safeguard against obeying Jesus. he so clearly taught to carry out the works of mercy(in most cases, without any “if we have not love” stipulation), and I’m not sure amount of self-examination of our motives relieves us of our duty. in an answer to a similar question, Dietrich Bonhoeffer insisted that we “take the bull by the horms,” and in acts of “single-minded obedience,” quit theorizing and do what the scriptures teach.
all this I don’t think should complicate our understanding but simplify it: whether doing something lofty or common, make Love the source and the end. but what is this love? I think we already know to some extent, but the chapter explains a bit:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (v.4-7).
but again, how do we find it? if it seems like I’m avoiding the question, I’m sorry. I want to rattle off the disciplines (prayer, fasting, medication, simplicity, service, ect.) or put together a concise sort of summary: “find the proper balance between contemplation and action”-this is alright, but I’m trying to resist the urge to present a neat package, a list of steps to holiness-I’m afraid I don’t have any answers for you. I have questions myself, and the suspicion that I will and should never find complete answers in this life. otherwise in arrogance I may think I’ve come to comprehend that which is beyond comprehension! may G-d grant us this mystery of Love, and keep us humble.