tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504838501064016605.post1687970661026062247..comments2024-01-30T07:27:35.186-06:00Comments on Codex Justinianus: From The Professor: On the Topics of Faith, Scandals, and CommunionJustinianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207103546838127832noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504838501064016605.post-92024667353471774502010-02-18T13:26:07.759-06:002010-02-18T13:26:07.759-06:00You are welcome! I was greatly touched by it, and ...You are welcome! I was greatly touched by it, and felt compelled to share.Justinianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18207103546838127832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504838501064016605.post-38779479631891275662010-02-18T12:38:48.848-06:002010-02-18T12:38:48.848-06:00I'm amazed...thank you so much for sharing thi...I'm amazed...thank you so much for sharing this.GretchenJoannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13641677400029070452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504838501064016605.post-36517585804039893242010-02-10T20:14:56.259-06:002010-02-10T20:14:56.259-06:00Hi Suz! Thanks for the kind words here. There'...Hi Suz! Thanks for the kind words here. There's a lot of good stuff in this whole letter (not just the pieces I pulled out to share), but one of the things that really struck me is his assertion that the more easily tempted toward apostasy we are, the more 'scandalized' we are by others. Given the scandals in our Church in recent memory (and the reaction that it gets--especially on online forums, that orthodox 'news' site, &c.), that really puts things into perspective, I think. I may be a vicious, wicked sinner...but I know I am the only place where I can possibly get better. Leaving the Church would be the same as committing suicide; not only is it just unthinkably wrong, but I'm not strong enough for an act like that.<br /><br />The second paragraph makes another great point; get out of situations where you are surrounded by "showy" piety, and go commune with the truly lowly. And love and pray for them. This makes me feel better about my parish, which often distresses me because people don't take it seriously, and on occasion, we are liturgically sloppy...but it is done with a sort of earnestness that I have not experienced in more "established" and orderly parishes.<br /><br />I love you very much, my friend--and over the last year or so, I have often been encouraged and humbled by your words (and, the one or the other at just the appropriate time--the work of the Holy Spirit, I have no doubt!). God be with you!<br /><br />-jJustinianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18207103546838127832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504838501064016605.post-23724233362527219962010-02-10T12:47:05.114-06:002010-02-10T12:47:05.114-06:00Wow. The temptation to unbelief is the wish to un...Wow. The temptation to unbelief is the wish to unring the bell. Can't be done, no matter even I wanted to.<br /><br />I'm certainly capable of leaving a parish that has problems, or when I don't get on well, or feel some pull toward another for wahtever reason. And I have gone for long periods of not attending DL at all (the longest has been 3 years.) Those periods are often the ones that "grow me" the most --- when I am denied (either by choice or circumstance) and it always in the drives me back to the Heart. (This is a path I don't recommend but I am just honest about admitting it.) But in the final analysis I'm not sure I'm even capable of leaving the Faith. Leaving a parish or even in some cases, leaving the Church, is not the same thing as leaving the faith which is embracing unbelief. That's sort of like embracing a vacuum and I don't think I have the "strenth" for that. Isn't that a twisted/upside down concept??<br />Much love always and I deeply appreciaite your friendship, your thoughtful and insightful blogs and your words...<br />SuzanneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504838501064016605.post-58726118551220319852010-02-10T08:33:25.683-06:002010-02-10T08:33:25.683-06:00While it would be an exaggeration to say that I...While it would be an exaggeration to say that I've read everything of JRRT's work, I've definitely had a good bit of experience with him. The collected Letters are a treasure trove, not just of knowledge about the mythology (and there is a lot of that), of the things that show him to be a very humble, pious man.Justinianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18207103546838127832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504838501064016605.post-21148750759326523112010-02-09T19:52:28.434-06:002010-02-09T19:52:28.434-06:00That's good! I haven't read anything of To...That's good! I haven't read anything of Tolkien's other than his well-known works of fiction. I really appreciate the perspective in that last paragraph. And life really does boil down to perspective. May God give us eyes to see as He does. Thank you for this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504838501064016605.post-51961389609303583482010-02-08T20:10:06.993-06:002010-02-08T20:10:06.993-06:00And also with you.
Thank you very much. The Codex...And also with you.<br /><br />Thank you very much. The Codex is less about me and my thoughts than it is about sharing with others some of the great stories and inspirational moments that have fallen by the wayside with modern, liberal society.Justinianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18207103546838127832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504838501064016605.post-23085365735383166442010-02-08T19:04:31.455-06:002010-02-08T19:04:31.455-06:00Your site is enlightening, and very thoughtful. Ni...Your site is enlightening, and very thoughtful. Nice place, indeed. Peace be with you.cmblake6https://www.blogger.com/profile/02044180267336342019noreply@blogger.com