Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Contemporary Classic

Appreciating different perspectives

Matthew 13:47-53
Jesus said to the disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.” “Do you understand all these things?” They answered, “Yes.” And he replied, “Then every scribe who has been instructed in the Kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.” When Jesus finished these parables, he went away from there.

            People tend to have their preferences; we like what we like and we don’t like what we don’t like.  For instance, some people are traditional and like the old ways while others are progressive and like modern marvels.  Some people virtually live on Facebook, but others haven’t learned how to use a flip-phone.  Some people are staunch Republicans while others are “Yellow Dog Democrats,” which means they will vote for a “yellow dog” before they vote for a Republican.  Some people like vodka martinis, but those with really good taste always drink gin martinis.  One day I was arguing with my older brother, who’s a big fan of modern technology, and I’m still killing trees and sending hand-written notes.  He said, “Ah, John, you just like things that are old.”  I replied, “No, Paul, I like things that are eternal.”  I still remember how wonderful those crickets sounded when I left him speechless with that answer.  In which category would you classify yourself: old school or new school, classic or contemporary?

            In the gospel today, Jesus chimes in on this age-old dilemma – new or old, cash or credit – but with a unique answer.  Jesus says, “Every scribe who has been instructed in the Kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.”  In other words, a good scribe, a good apostle, a good disciple, has to appreciate both new and old, classic and contemporary.  Can’t we see our recent popes as examples of “good scribes” who have held fast to traditions, but willing to embrace modern advances?  I’m still in awe of my parents who moved from India and juggled this challenge constantly.  What Indian traditions will our family hold on to, and which new ways will be adopt in this new world?  My parents taught us to love both curry and also country music!

            My friends, may I suggest to you that this attitude and ability to appreciate both the new and the old, to see value in different perspectives, is the secret to successful marriages?  Couples run into trouble when the husband thinks he’s always right and the woman is always wrong, or vice versa.  It’s like that old saying, “When I want your opinion, I’ll give it to you.”  But successful marriages see the other person’s point of view and respect it, like the good scribe.  Try to be like the good scribe and appreciate both the old and the new, Ford and Chevy, the Cardinals and the Cubs, Shakespeare and Shania Twain, curtains and blinds, paper and plastic, coffee and tea.  But the tea, of course, should be “chai."


            Praised be Jesus Christ!

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