Is it a literal end of times preoccupation? Or an end of who you truly are? The moment when that which we should deny, our shadow self takes full root as our actual being. When the love of material wealth and corporeal power overwhelm us…and we see it as a blessing from and through the Holy Mystery.
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.
-Epistle of 2 Timothy 3:1-9 (New King James Version)
The seeking and hording of knowledge, but not in a critical thinking vein to discern where a path lays. Rather the constant cherry picking only that which supports your path, illogical, unethical behaviour. It is entering into that which Pseudo-Peter in 2 Peter would call irreverent babble. That is the entrenchment by labels, and yelling removing the divine incarnation from the example completely. One of the starkest contrasts in this is the faux pro-choice/pro-life entrenchment. I write as one who is a firm believer in pro-choice, even having had a child aborted on me as the mother-to-be deemed her need of her addiction, and desire to inflict harm (not wanting me to be a Dad) led her choice. Why? Because I do not control another’s body, I am only in control of myself, and what I do with the injuries (physical, emotional, spiritual and mental) in the journey of holistic health.
But why open up this can of worms with this passage?
Simple, because it is the false dichotomy that one who is pro-choice, is not pro-life. That is the fallacy. Now those who “pro-life” with the posters, the (proven in Alberta court) lying statements and images on posters, and rolling trauma trucks on roads are not pro-life. It is an argument against a medical procedure. One the body will also naturally do, with a miscarriage (I have been present for the after effects of both medical and organic abortion, and I can say journeying with those affected involves the same medical holistic care). I digress. As one who stands against a medical procedure, I see the entrenched ideology as nothing more than the hogwash that anti-vaxxers spout, so they are anti-abortionists.
Pro-choice is about freewill, and community. It can be pro-abortion. It can also be pro-life of all involved, for part of it is exploring adoption. Advocating for social programs to ensure if a baby is wanted, that there is supports for those socio-economically disenfranchised. It is about building a world of mutual respect, love and support around sexual intercourse that creates life. It is also knowing at times, decisions are made by a person for a medical procedure, and yes that is how it is governed in Canada, not a law, but under the Health Act.
As for the pro-life argument. I expand that as part of pro-choice. For it also looks at life after birth. It looks to one’s stance upon the death penalty. The value of life based on universal basic income; socialized-universal health care; public education; and cradle to grave social services and yes can also and does in my heart, include dying with dignity. Pro-life is about embracing and honouring the life throughout the lifespan.
But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long suffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
-Epistle of 2 Timothy 3:10-17 (NKJV)
What is scripture? It is the stories of God’s people, interacting, and living within and through the Holy Love. At times missing the mark, at others hitting it. It shows how one grows and changes throughout life, but also that we are writing our own story today. It is about our own wrestling with the Great Commandments laid out by Brother Jesus of Love of God, self and neighbour…and answering the eternal question each day of who is my neighbour?
Who is your neighbour?
And as you understand your story within the Holy Mystery. Living in the heart of the sacred. What completes you? How are you equipped?
Paul Vargis
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A Monk's Musings 