Tuesday of the Twenty First Week in Ordinary Time
But these you should have done, without neglecting the others. Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!"
Yesterday, my return flight from Chicago back to Dallas was scheduled to depart at 2:30 pm. Due to "pending" bad weather, we ended up grounded. We taxied around the airport for over two hours. Stopping and starting, even changing directions on the runway, didn't help us get to our destination. Not one drop of rain or one flash of lightning during the time period. Eventually we ran out of fuel, taxiing back to the gate. After waiting around for a new flight crew, we finally took off around 6:30 pm. I didn't make it home until nearly 11:30 pm. Nothing worse than wasting time at an airport....
Let's just say I thought of the people working for American Airlines as blind guides, hauling us around like camels. At least camels can store water in their humps. I was dying of thirst. Oh, how'd I'd enjoy a nice cup of water if a flight attendant offered it to us. No such luck. Keep that seat belt fastened and secure at all times even while coasting around and around on the tarmac merry-go-round.
I miss the days when air travel was a pleasant, luxurious experience. We didn't have to worry about 3 oz liquids on carry-ons, baggage fees, or rude flight attendants. Flying was a privilege, and not everybody could afford it. People were required to wear their Sunday best while flying.
The Pharisees and scribes basically went around in hypocritical fashion, flaunting their wealth and power by tithing herbs and spices. Yet, they neglected the important things about the law such as faithfulness, non-judgment, and mercy toward others. I think of the CEO of major companies, such American, advertising a "new" way to fly; big fancy new airplanes with seats that lay all the way back along with iPad access and even a glass of champagne. Most of us can never afford such luxury, but of course the service is catered more toward the business travelers and those with the big wallets.
Somehow the skies don't seem so friendly anymore. Travel is more of a pain than a convenience. Blind leading the blind through endless cancellations and delays.
I wonder what the common every day person thought of the privileged Pharisee and scribe. Did they think of them as hypocrites just as much as Jesus and his disciples? Were they like the modern CEO's of major corporate giants making millions of dollars "selling" a flawed product to consumers? A product that is very much needed (like air travel) but supplied to us in an uncomfortable and often annoying manner?
Blind guides and friendly skies...I think if we want friendly skies in terms of our Catholic faith we need to open our eyes and notice what's happening around us. Make an effort to eliminate the hypocrisy within our own actions. Don't announce something is "new and better" when it's still old and worn. Fix it and make it exceptional for the Kingdom of God.
-J.
The Pharisees and scribes basically went around in hypocritical fashion, flaunting their wealth and power by tithing herbs and spices. Yet, they neglected the important things about the law such as faithfulness, non-judgment, and mercy toward others. I think of the CEO of major companies, such American, advertising a "new" way to fly; big fancy new airplanes with seats that lay all the way back along with iPad access and even a glass of champagne. Most of us can never afford such luxury, but of course the service is catered more toward the business travelers and those with the big wallets.
Somehow the skies don't seem so friendly anymore. Travel is more of a pain than a convenience. Blind leading the blind through endless cancellations and delays.
I wonder what the common every day person thought of the privileged Pharisee and scribe. Did they think of them as hypocrites just as much as Jesus and his disciples? Were they like the modern CEO's of major corporate giants making millions of dollars "selling" a flawed product to consumers? A product that is very much needed (like air travel) but supplied to us in an uncomfortable and often annoying manner?
Blind guides and friendly skies...I think if we want friendly skies in terms of our Catholic faith we need to open our eyes and notice what's happening around us. Make an effort to eliminate the hypocrisy within our own actions. Don't announce something is "new and better" when it's still old and worn. Fix it and make it exceptional for the Kingdom of God.
-J.
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