"so let us confidently approach the throne of grace..."

[the following is proof that i kind of miss writing papers. also i'm a theology nerd. also this blog is for things i think are interesting.]

Brothers and sisters:
Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens,
Jesus, the Son of God,
let us hold fast to our confession.
For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
but one who has similarly been tested in every way,
yet without sin.
So let us confidently approach the throne of grace
to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

In the days when Christ was in the flesh,
he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears
to the one who was able to save him from death,
and he was heard because of his reverence.
Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered;
and when he was made perfect,
he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
- Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9

okay, so let's take a moment on today's second reading. so "we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses." this is for everyone who feels bad about praying for stupid shit. i swear, jesus feels our pain, no matter what it's about. this came up this week, and as always, it's really important to me - "similarly been tested in every way" means not just big suffering, but also the everyday stuff. and jesus "offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence." it is still reverent to ask for things we want. it is still reverent to want to avoid our own suffering. there is room for us to "learn obedience" through suffering when things don't go our way. and that's a whole nother thing. obedience and acceptance, yes. but we don't have to want the suffering ourselves before it happens.

i don't want to downplay the importance of sacrifice. but suffering is something different. this is going to take some more thought - it all comes from a conversation i had this week about "should i pray for this?" and yes, you can pray for God's will and also your own.

i saw two supercute guys leaving the taco bell drive thru as i was driving home, and they were both in the act of taking a huge first bite. well, either they were supercute or i'm starving.

paul's dad calls the pope "eggs," as in eggs benedict. love it.



Now I find hidden somewhere away in my nature something that tells me that nothing in the whole world is meaningless, and suffering least of all. - Oscar Wilde