Thread by @jeffblack945

#RevThread 09/13/22

A Homily for This Day.

1/ This morning,Tuesday, Sept 13, ’22, on Morning Joe. I heard several thoughtful folks having a political discussion. Often, as someone spoke about what they understood, others would listen and ask for the person to say more.

2/ Also, there was an assumption that everyone was attempting to speak accurately. I learned a bunch of new things about recent events. I changed my mind about some things. My blood pressure didn’t spike.

3/ The participants included Joe Scarborough, David Corn, Eugene Robinson, Adam Kinzinger, and Katy Kay. Black, White, Male, Female, Republican, Democrat, Congressman, reporters, news anchors. Each was intelligent, curious, courteous and committed to learning from one another.

4/ And you know what? It was really enjoyable. It’s fun to listen to intelligent conversation. At first I wondered if the conversation was working so well because they’re all moderates. But that wasn’t it.

5/The goal was not to be in the center of a continuum from left to right. That goal produces boring pablum. The goal was for each person to learn from and to teach one another. And us.

6/There was an absence of something, an absence that allowed the conversation to flow and to produce insight. What was absent was self-righteousness. No one was being the jerk who expects everyone to accede to the truth he or she was announcing.

7/ Self-righteousness throttles community, ends conversations, and imprisons us in loneliness.

8/ Self-righteousness is a major enemy of democracy. If I think that what I believe is right because I, the great and all-knowing self, believe it, then I will try to bend others to my will. Self-righteousness is the engine that drives autocracy.

9/ Here is one of my favorite texts: “Jesus told this parable to those who trusted in themselves, that they were righteous,’Two men went to the temple to pray. The first, a Pharisee, prayed, ‘Lord, I think thee that I am not as other men are - extortioners, unjust, adulterers,..

.10/... or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’...

11/... I tell you, [said Jesus] this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other: for everyone that exalts himself will be abased, and he that humbles himself will be exalted.’” (Luke, Chapter 9:10-14)

12/ Since at least 2015, over half of America has been enduring the interminable, exhausting self-exaltation of the Trump-eter-in-Chief, who has transfixed the media and brought into our homes the noxious noise of the orange lout from morning till night.

13/ He who has exalted himself is finally, at long, long last, being brought low. And he who is a common man, whose speech is sometimes halting, but whose gait is still determined, is presiding over our government and working to bring about a more just society.