tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004309.post5582827730065893923..comments2009-03-31T10:57:22.343-05:00justinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900499486656677787noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004309.post-48859203991589560192009-03-31T10:57:00.000-05:002009-03-31T10:57:00.000-05:00Love is what is primary, for all appropriate action grows out of it. Love for Simon's mother and love for the Lord. I doubt the disciples could even distinguish the act as something requiring effort. Obviously, all acts, even deliberate inaction, requires some form of effort (ask anyone trying quit smoking), but for love relationships men can make plenty of sacrifices and yet count it as nothing, for making a loved one whole is more gratifying than building up oneself.Augusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08758314961163692341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004309.post-47187593884244494632009-03-30T21:51:00.000-05:002009-03-30T21:51:00.000-05:00True, I'd like to avoid limiting Jesus to that. But I do think there is some truth to it. It just doesn't belong by itself. In terms of culpability, it is primarily effort that counts, isn't it? I know that can still result in evil, so the story cannot end there. <BR/><BR/>Sorry this sort of dialog is not the most clear in comment boxes.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Don: I think you would really like Ignatian meditations. I'll have to send you more info with an explanation.justinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900499486656677787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004309.post-60265607650031048692009-03-30T17:26:00.000-05:002009-03-30T17:26:00.000-05:00I didn't think the sentence fit with your other description. It sounds more like something someone trying to immanentize the eschaton would say. It seemed to diminish Jesus' role as brother, healer, etc... and instead place Him in the role of task master- one not necessarily satified by completed tasks either, but by whatever metric one could dream up for measuring effort.Augusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08758314961163692341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004309.post-35447736606725943192009-03-30T14:41:00.000-05:002009-03-30T14:41:00.000-05:00I enjoy meditating on the idea of coming to God not to be holy, but to feel better, in the many connotations that wording can take on, provides good reflections.Donhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11979849100747302956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004309.post-89544392256543338462009-03-30T08:54:00.000-05:002009-03-30T08:54:00.000-05:00I gleaned that particular characteristic from verse 38 where they asked Jesus to help Simon's mother. In thinking more about it, I guess that's a pretty arbitrary statement. What I meant is that they asked him for help, they didn't just leave her be and pay attention entirely to him. They were open with their brother and their leader about their concerns. To me that translates as effort, but I suppose that's because of who I am.<BR/><BR/>What were you getting at?justinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900499486656677787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004309.post-90675011965147369012009-03-30T08:35:00.000-05:002009-03-30T08:35:00.000-05:00Are you sure it's the text that leads you to believe what matters to Jesus is effort?<BR/><BR/>Is it His effort, or someone else's?Augusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08758314961163692341noreply@blogger.com