Comments for Among Thorns at http://www.thecatholicthing.org , comment 1 to 3 out of 3 comments http://www.thecatholicthing.org Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:02:07 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/among-thorns.html#comment-11002 The things of this world will all pass away (and often just after the extended warrantee has expired). How tragic to make things and matters of this world the measure of a life. We have had two-thousand years to realize that the incarnation could not have gone any other way. Jesus did not come to perfect state power; he came to show a more perfect love. The crown of thorns was a specific insult. It was intended to humiliate and torture the individual who threatened the power and privilege of the elite, not only of his time, but also through all time right down to the present. The culture war has always been about worldly power and privilege. The elite measure human value against an image in the mirror and the elite rule that some lives are not worth living because they are not interested in living such lives. Jesus came in service to all, but especially to the poor of spirit – many of whom live lives considered not worthy of the food and breath required to sustain them. Had He come as a conqueror (in full worldly glory as expected), He would have ended free will and ended love and suffocated our humanity. When He comes again in full glory, He will end time (it is promised) and thus end the purpose for faith, free will and love. Blessed indeed are those who believe and yet have not yet seen. When it shall be that they have seen; it will be too late. - Other Joe Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:32:03 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/among-thorns.html#comment-10999 This is the post I have been waiting for. Thank you. The Messiah was neither the charismatic political or military figure that the Jews hoped for. He came to die for our sins so that we could have everlasting life. There is a strong message here for both liberals and conservatives who would have our church become a political action committee. The church needs to focus on being a salvation action committee especially now in our pre-apocalyptic world. - will manley Mon, 23 Apr 2012 04:12:03 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/among-thorns.html#comment-10997 As Pascal says in the Pensées, “"It is not in this manner that He has willed to appear in His advent of mercy, because, as so many make themselves unworthy of His mercy, He has willed to leave them in the loss of the good which they do not want. It was not, then, right that He should appear in a manner manifestly divine, and completely capable of convincing all men; but it was also not right that He should come in so hidden a manner that He could not be known by those who should sincerely seek Him. He has willed to make himself quite recognisable by those; and thus, willing to appear openly to those who seek Him with all their heart, and to be hidden from those who flee from Him with all their heart, He so regulates the knowledge of Himself that He has given signs of Himself, visible to those who seek Him, and not to those who seek Him not. There is enough light for those who only desire to see, and enough obscurity for those who have a contrary disposition." – Is. 45:15. "Verily, thou art a God that hidest thyself." - Michael Paterson-Seymour Sun, 22 Apr 2012 22:28:57 +0100