October 10th, 2019

“For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.” (2 Corinthians 4:5)

Lauding a person or an institution is always a mistake. While we can most definitely give thanks to God for a source of goodness in this world, heaping praise is bad for both the praise giver and the praise bearer. The praise giver often has sycophantic (or at least self-oriented) motives and the praise bearer will more often then not begin to believe his or her own press clippings.

Hagiography in any form is a poor substitute for plain gratitude. Laud and praise is to be directed to God alone.  Paul continues this line of thought in his 2cd letter to the Corinthians. “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” (2 Corinthians 4:6-7)

There is only one name under heaven by which we are saved.  And it’s not yours or mine. Thankfully.

“Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illuminated by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (Second Sunday after the Epiphany – BCP p. 215)