tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21224805.post8091201038225066447..comments2024-02-12T00:36:35.803-05:00Comments on Teresa's Two Cents: Moonshadowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11277057132720569896noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21224805.post-80174270718130209772010-09-07T00:04:21.264-04:002010-09-07T00:04:21.264-04:00Matt, I can't ever recall having a fear of hel...Matt, I can't ever recall having a fear of hell or a hope for reward. I'm not saying I'm correct in that. It's just an instance where Jesus' words don't sit right with me.<br /><br />I should have said that I'm just happy to have been invited!<br /><br /><b> if you want to be a saint, act like one.</b><br /><br />Again, <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=hZykVqpl1iIC&lpg=PA101&dq=%22Well%2C%20even%20on%20the%20human%20level%2C%20you%20know%2C%20there%20are%20two%20kinds%20of%20pretending.%20There%20is%20a%20bad%20kind%2C%20where%20the%20pretence%20is%20there%22&pg=PA101#v=onepage&q&f=false" rel="nofollow">Lewis writes</a> to that effect:<br /><br /><i>What is the good of pretending to be what you are not? ... Very often the only way to get a quality in reality is to start behaving as if you had it already.</i><br /><br />But God puts the desire in our heart.Moonshadowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11277057132720569896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21224805.post-79872559359480138072010-09-06T19:14:24.169-04:002010-09-06T19:14:24.169-04:00I view this seat at the table issue this way:
W...I view this seat at the table issue this way: <br /><br />When we go to confession, it is acceptable to go with imperfect contrition - when we are sorry for our sins due to fear of hell. Our sins are forgiven, but it is better for us to achieve perfect contrition - where we are sorry for the love of God. <br /><br />In the same way, our motivation is better if we were to give our seat out of true humility. But it is acceptable to give it up for the lesser motivation in hopes of a reward. <br /><br />The idea here, with the seats, might be that by acting the part of a saint for a just reward will gradually mold our hearts so that we will be more disposed to true humility.<br /><br />Just my own personal thoughts on the matter. I once heard someone say that if you want to be a saint, act like one.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07256869599354039179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21224805.post-7625228998681221372010-09-06T15:17:53.480-04:002010-09-06T15:17:53.480-04:00I'm alright with taking the last seat, Nicola,...I'm alright with taking the last seat, Nicola, but why should my motivation be hopes of being asked to move up?<br /><br />The host/Host connection you make is a false cognate as the words have different origins: <i> hospes</i> (L., guest) and <i> hostia</i> (L., victim).Moonshadowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11277057132720569896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21224805.post-13094911358482018442010-09-06T11:57:40.833-04:002010-09-06T11:57:40.833-04:00Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowe...<b>Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.</b><br /><br />To me this verse emphasizes the first verse you mentioned.<br /><br /><b>Humble yourself the more, the greater you are,<br />and you will find favor with God.</b><br /><br />Humbling ourselves at the table or "anywhere" should become natural. This dinner seating example shows in human terms what Sirach 3:18 is telling us. The host at the dinner can also be an allusion to "the host" at the Eucharist.Nikki in Niagarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13348586723780500367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21224805.post-23179259223779834482010-09-05T20:30:14.864-04:002010-09-05T20:30:14.864-04:00And I was thinking of Peter when he was first intr...And I was thinking of Peter when he was first introduced to Christ. Lk. 5:8Moonshadowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11277057132720569896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21224805.post-7739112830703943142010-09-05T20:27:21.339-04:002010-09-05T20:27:21.339-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.kkollwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17691145638703824456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21224805.post-82490758503991256482010-09-05T20:27:07.448-04:002010-09-05T20:27:07.448-04:00I was especially thinking about David acknowledgin...I was especially thinking about David acknowledging his adultery to Nathan, and Peter's post-Resurrection encounter with Jesus.kkollwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17691145638703824456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21224805.post-31747784687333028062010-09-05T13:44:30.304-04:002010-09-05T13:44:30.304-04:00Evan, I agree with that Merton quote on Colleen...Evan, I agree with that Merton quote on Colleen's blog. <br /><br />But Lewis' <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=OF-YSMKCVwMC&lpg=PP1&ots=ycnO1cl8tY&dq=mere%20christianity%20lewis&pg=PA121#v=onepage&q&f=false" rel="nofollow">chapter on pride</a> took me to school way back. He distinguishes between taking pleasure in praise of a job well done and unbridled pride. He concludes the chapter with these words of caution:<br /><br /><i>"If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realise that one is proud. ... nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed."</i><br /><br />Empirical evidence in support of that statement right here. :-)Moonshadowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11277057132720569896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21224805.post-17771802615073123962010-09-05T13:26:30.680-04:002010-09-05T13:26:30.680-04:00Kkollwitz, name some examples, please. Are the Nin...Kkollwitz, name some examples, please. Are the Ninevites endearing? They were certainly exemplary penitents.<br /><br />Others, more endearing - the Patriarch Jacob, Kings David and Hezekiah, St. Peter - mostly the Bible's a story of righteous people interceding for the unrighteous - there's humility in that - up until the ultimate Righteous Man, Jesus.<br /><br />I get the biggest charge from biblical characters who are brave and confident. Those who "step out in faith," I suppose and are blessed with success.Moonshadowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11277057132720569896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21224805.post-19723065716537029712010-09-05T11:05:39.444-04:002010-09-05T11:05:39.444-04:00Apparently humility is one of the greatest virtues...Apparently humility is one of the greatest virtues. I once heard a Catholic priest say, "Pride is a lie." True. There really is not cause for us to be proud of ourselves, as everything we have is from God. Humility and respect for others tend to get you farther, and I find that a healthy level of self-respect (but not pride) will develop in conjunction with them.<br />I realize that we tend to emphasize giving for giving's sake--"a good deed is its own reward." But strictly speaking, that's not what the Bible teaches. Rather, we are promised reward from God for virtuous living, though we may not receive any recompense in this life. <br /><br />EvanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21224805.post-36289072753163794262010-09-05T09:51:37.817-04:002010-09-05T09:51:37.817-04:00People in the Bible are most endearing and exempla...People in the Bible are most endearing and exemplary when they humble themselves in repentance.kkollwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17691145638703824456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21224805.post-60094628289583494712010-08-30T16:12:00.709-04:002010-08-30T16:12:00.709-04:00I agree, a person who would know their position or...I agree, a person who would know their position or standing in the community. Like I said, if you have to ask whether you're great, then the answer's probably no.<br /><br />Happy birthday, btw. I don't know what to think about Marty Haugen in Latin ... I still like the tune even if the original lyrics are soggy.Moonshadowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11277057132720569896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21224805.post-81910894071830812182010-08-30T15:10:42.849-04:002010-08-30T15:10:42.849-04:00"Humble yourself the more, the greater you ar..."Humble yourself the more, the greater you are,<br />and you will find favor with God."<br /><br />When I read that it makes me think of a seemingly "great" man like a well known statesman, king, or philanthropist, not some kind of moral goodness. <br /><br />The Challoner version, is at verse 3:20, and has a cross reference to Phillipians 2:3 which discusses vain glory. <br /><br />At any rate, humbling yourself in the sight of the Lord is always good advice I think! :-)Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07256869599354039179noreply@blogger.com