Precept and Practice – NOVEMBER 1 – The Pure in Heart Shall see God Is it not promised for ever to the pure in heart that they shall see God? Let any true man go into silence; strip himself of all pretence, and selfishness, and sensuality, and sluggishness of soul; lift off thought after thought, passion after passion, till… Continue reading Precept and Practice – NOVEMBER 1 – The Pure in Heart Shall see God
When we finally learn that the pain of death is the brith pangs of the life after life, then we will dance… and not care if we are naked!
God’s heart goes forth to meet His erring children. The Good Shepherd goes forth to seek His wandering sheep.
As nature with her old mosses and her new spring foliage hides the ruins which man has made, and gives to the fallen tower and broken cloister a beauty scarcely less than that which belonged to them in their prime so human love may be at work too,
Christ risen from the dead, raises all this common work belonging to the order of nature, up to the level of the joy of Grace.
Mary of Bethany on the other hand, though of a poor background, living at home with her brother and sister, maligned by those around her, rejected by others because she was not married and criticised by her sister because she wanted to spend time with Jesus, is the one who in our story today shows by her generosity true nobility. A humble nobility to which all of us wealthy or hard-pressed, Well-educated or not able to complete schooling may aspire.
Sincerity seems our only security against losing those who love us, the only cup in which those who are worth keeping will care to pledge us when youth is past.
The supreme happiness of life is the conviction of being loved for yourself, or, more correctly, being loved in spite of yourself.
The parable of the Rich Fool, and in fact the whole of Luke Chapter 12, is not about money, nor about bread, nor even about barns. It is about being, ‘rich towards God’ and so proving the faithfulness and loving kindness of God by living generous lives of active service. And being ever-ready to do so….
No act or thought of ours stands by itself. It is always related to something else.
Suffolk Vicar 