I always find it rather odd when people insinuate that we shouldn't offer the best we can for the glory of God.
When Mary Magdalene anointed Christ with ointment "of great value," which of the Apostles was it, according to the blessed Apostle John, who protested that the ointment should instead have been sold and the money given to the poor? One Judas Iscariot, the man who would soon betray the Lord.
As for the temporal, materialistic argument against the Church owning glorious, beautiful, edifying works of liturgical and religious art, it would be ridiculous to suggest selling these items to give money to the poor would be in any way beneficial. A work of art in a Church is open for all to visit and admire; a work of art in private possession of one wealthy individual is only open for its owner to admire. Should beauty really be reserved only for the wealthy? Bread may feed the body, but only beauty (and its inseparable parter Truth) feed the soul. Both are necessary for a joyful life.
Let the Church offer me the splendour which I could not afford were it to fall into the hands of private collectors.
3 comments:
...just as Jesus had in mind...(wink wink)
You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.
I always find it rather odd when people insinuate that we shouldn't offer the best we can for the glory of God.
When Mary Magdalene anointed Christ with ointment "of great value," which of the Apostles was it, according to the blessed Apostle John, who protested that the ointment should instead have been sold and the money given to the poor? One Judas Iscariot, the man who would soon betray the Lord.
As for the temporal, materialistic argument against the Church owning glorious, beautiful, edifying works of liturgical and religious art, it would be ridiculous to suggest selling these items to give money to the poor would be in any way beneficial. A work of art in a Church is open for all to visit and admire; a work of art in private possession of one wealthy individual is only open for its owner to admire. Should beauty really be reserved only for the wealthy? Bread may feed the body, but only beauty (and its inseparable parter Truth) feed the soul. Both are necessary for a joyful life.
Let the Church offer me the splendour which I could not afford were it to fall into the hands of private collectors.
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