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JMJ
The Readings for the Friday after Ash Wednesday (B2)
Station at Santi Giovanni e Paulo
Ecce ad lites et contentiones jejunatis, et percutitis pugno impie.
Behold you fast for debates and strife. and strike with the fist wickedly.
I have to be fast. It’s far too late for me to be up writing. So, here’s a sketch. On Ash Wednesday, an Atheist tweeted something mildly off-putting to a Catholic Nun. And Catholic Twitter played Dogpile on the Rabbit. Then, for most of yesterday, there was some fight between two groups who shall remain nameless. All in all it’s been a good Christian Lent already, here on Day Three.
St John says “let the mouth fast from criticism…”
St Paul says (in I Corinthians 6:1) Audet aliquis vestrum habens negotium adversus alterum, judicari apud iniquos, et non apud sanctos? Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to be judged before the unjust, and not before the saints?
And yet we expose each other before the Unjust on Twitter and Facebook.
And that’s only after one day of fasting for most of us, because the Roman Practice in the USA is Way Lenient.
Food, however, is not the point, as St John says and so does Isaiah.
Look, I know: it’s the internet and everyone does it. I do it, making fun of My Favorite Martin. Forgive me. I don’t mention it to scandalize anyone, but to say there’s a difference between mature adult discussion of faith and disagreements entre nous and airing our dirty laundry where the media and the nattering nabobs of negativity can get at it.
So rend your hearts (and not the garments of the church). We totally have work to do before we can get to our Easter Joy:
Dissolve colligationes impietatis, solve fasciculos deprimentes, dimitte eos qui confracti sunt liberos, et omne opus dirumpe; frange esurienti panem tuum, et egenos vagosque induc in domum tuam; cum videris nudum, operi eum, et carnem tuam ne despexeris. Loose the bands of wickedness, undo the bundles that oppress, let them that are broken go free, and break asunder every burden. Deal thy bread to the hungry, and bring the needy and the harbourless into thy house: when thou shalt see one naked, cover him, and despise not thy own flesh.
One reason for giving up actual food during lent (and not chocolate or coffee, etc) is so that there is actually money left in your hands to feed the poor. As the Pope has taught: after you pay your bills, and set aside a small stash for emergencies, the rest of your money is for feeding the poor.
Fr Alexander Schmemann said the same: after paying for a modest apartment and groceries, give your money to the poor; to individuals rather than foundations.
So giving up the food is logical – as would be giving up netflix, or internet etc, as long as it saved you money to give to the poor.
Peace.
Stop fighting with each other.
Stop fighting in public.
Feed some poor people with your left-over money.
Behold you fast for debates and strife. and strike with the fist wickedly.
I have to be fast. It’s far too late for me to be up writing. So, here’s a sketch. On Ash Wednesday, an Atheist tweeted something mildly off-putting to a Catholic Nun. And Catholic Twitter played Dogpile on the Rabbit. Then, for most of yesterday, there was some fight between two groups who shall remain nameless. All in all it’s been a good Christian Lent already, here on Day Three.
St John says “let the mouth fast from criticism…”
St Paul says (in I Corinthians 6:1) Audet aliquis vestrum habens negotium adversus alterum, judicari apud iniquos, et non apud sanctos? Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to be judged before the unjust, and not before the saints?
And yet we expose each other before the Unjust on Twitter and Facebook.
And that’s only after one day of fasting for most of us, because the Roman Practice in the USA is Way Lenient.
Food, however, is not the point, as St John says and so does Isaiah.
Look, I know: it’s the internet and everyone does it. I do it, making fun of My Favorite Martin. Forgive me. I don’t mention it to scandalize anyone, but to say there’s a difference between mature adult discussion of faith and disagreements entre nous and airing our dirty laundry where the media and the nattering nabobs of negativity can get at it.
So rend your hearts (and not the garments of the church). We totally have work to do before we can get to our Easter Joy:
Dissolve colligationes impietatis, solve fasciculos deprimentes, dimitte eos qui confracti sunt liberos, et omne opus dirumpe; frange esurienti panem tuum, et egenos vagosque induc in domum tuam; cum videris nudum, operi eum, et carnem tuam ne despexeris. Loose the bands of wickedness, undo the bundles that oppress, let them that are broken go free, and break asunder every burden. Deal thy bread to the hungry, and bring the needy and the harbourless into thy house: when thou shalt see one naked, cover him, and despise not thy own flesh.
One reason for giving up actual food during lent (and not chocolate or coffee, etc) is so that there is actually money left in your hands to feed the poor. As the Pope has taught: after you pay your bills, and set aside a small stash for emergencies, the rest of your money is for feeding the poor.
Fr Alexander Schmemann said the same: after paying for a modest apartment and groceries, give your money to the poor; to individuals rather than foundations.
So giving up the food is logical – as would be giving up netflix, or internet etc, as long as it saved you money to give to the poor.
Peace.
Stop fighting with each other.
Stop fighting in public.
Feed some poor people with your left-over money.
Doxos 