I had read an essay the other day comparing the 'theology' of Huxley and Bradbury. Both proposed a frightening vision of the future. In both interpretations men and women would be little more than cogs in a machine. The ideals and meaning of humanity would be diminished. While Bradbury saw a place where government would be in total control of the person, Huxley viewed a world whereas human concerns would center on the trivial and mundane.
I am reminded of the passage from, I belief it is, in Luke's Gospel whereby Jesus chastises his hearers for being lukewarm. We can in our faith life rally our emotions around actions or attitudes that add little to our faith or relation with God or others. But we forget about matters of charity, chastity, peace-making, and reconciliation. This past week we celebrated the beheading of John the Baptist. John's challenge to Herod was not in regards to matters which were minor, nor did he soften his approach. His speaking faithfully cost him his life, but it advanced the dignity of the faith entrusted to him.
Our faith needs to be approached with a sense of passion. Years ago I had jokingly made a comment about the Chicago Bears, to which a gentlemen took great offense. We really need to be offended and even disturbed at poverty, injury, the lose of human dignity, and the degradation of our faith. Too often we allow for others to make moral decisions for us, or to direct our consciences. We are made in the image and likeness of God and need to act like it.
Last week in the Gospel some of Jesus' disciples left because his teachings were 'hard.' But if there is going to be growth or direction they need to be hard.
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