Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 5—The Georgia Bulletin, August 18,1983
Paul Karnowski
Word This Weekend
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)
Isaiah 66: 18-21 Luke 13: 22-30
Hebrew 12: 5-7,11-13 August 21,1983
It sometimes happens
with sale items that are
priced exceptionally low,
but it almost always
happens with items that
are to be given away.
“FREE”, an advertisement
will proclaim in large bold
type. When it does, odds
are we will find a small
line of disclaimer type; it
will say “limited
quantities” or “while
supplies last.” As
consumers, we greet the
word “free” with a
healthy skepticism.
But sometimes we take
our skepticism with us
when we read the
scriptures. In today’s first
reading from the book of
Isaiah, we raise an
eyebrow of doubt at the
opening line. God says, “I
come to gather nations of
every language.” It seems
that the prophet envisions
a day when all men and
women will worship in
Jerusalem. All nations will
become one under God’s
domain. It sounds a little
far-fetched, a little too
good to be true.
When we get to today’s
gospel, we think we have
found the disclaimer we
were looking for. When
someone asks Jesus if only
a few will be saved, He
says that we should strive
to enter through the
narrow door. He implies
that only a few will be
saved. The Lord warns us
to be on our toes, warning
us not to be “too late”,
lest we are locked outside.
The two readings seem
to parallel the parts of a
giveaway advertisement. In
the first reading we are
told that all will be
welcomed into God’s
kingdom. And in the
gospel we get the
disclaimer. Only a few will
be admitted.
However, if we interpret
today’s readings in this
fashion, we miss the point.
Both readings address the
issue of our presumption.
Like the Israelites before
us, we often make
assumptions about the
likelihood of our salvation.
After all, we are baptized,
believing members of a
“chosen people.” And we
think the odds are pretty
good.
Isaish and Jesus try to
counteract our attitudes,
even if they use different
methods. Isaiah diminishes
the exclusiveness of
salvation by emphasizing
the number of those who
are to be saved outside the
faith. And the Lord
reminds us that just
because we have the faith
there is no guarantee that
we will be saved.
When it comes to
admission tickets for
salvation, we need not
worry about a short
supply or “limited
quantities.” We need only
worry if we presume that
we need no ticket.
3
Cnterffirougfi
ffie narrow door
21st SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
AUGUST 21, 1983
Let us follow that vocation by which we are
called from life to the fountain of life. Christ is the
fountain, not only of living water, but of eternal
life. He is the fountain of light and spiritual illumi
nation; for from him comes all these things: wis
dom, life and eternal light .... Let us seek the
fountain of light and life and the living water by
dispising what we see, by leaving the world and by
dwelling in the highest heavens.
From an instruction by St. Columban, abbot
Dolores Curran
This Little Electronic Light Of Mine
I get a lot of anonymous mail in my line of work. Much
of it comes from religious idealogues trying to save me or
from movements, groups and individuals wanting
publicity.
But every so often someone sends me an article or a
gem that is so tantalizing, so outrageous or so ludicrous
that it begs for a column. Without quite knowing why, I
am succumbing to this one.
An anonymous pastor sent me a brochure he received
on which he wrote, “Surely there’s a column in here
somewhere.” It came from an electronics firm that
describes itself as, “Designers and manufacturers of
electronic votive lights.”
True, I swear it. And it gets better - or wonse,
depending upon your viewpoint. Under a full color photo
of the Sacred Heart of Jesus statue with outstretched arms
framing a brace of votive lights is this message,
“Electronic vigil lights are a most traditional way for
worshipers to express their devotion due to our
electronically induced, pulsating light resembling the
actual flame of a burning candle.”
Is nothing sacred anymore, as we’ve come to hear so
Father Gerald Peterson
"COPS" Out To Stop Paraquat
often since Vatican II? Inside, the pitch goes on. “Safety:
Fire risk and fear of fire from burning candles are totally
eliminated, resulting in peace of mind and substantially
lower insurance rates.
“Cleaning: No more carbon deposits on walls and
ceilings. No more dripping wax on floors and chapels.
Time previously spent for tedious cleaning can be put to
far better use.
“Profit: Electronic vigil lights are highly profitable and
pay for themselves within a few short months. Stop the
combat with ever increasing candle prices and worries
about storage space.”
Finally, for those worried about getting their candle’s
worth, the manufacturers proclaim, “Our electronic vigil
lights are available in various colors and can be
programmed to burn anywhere from 60 minutes to ,7
days. Each unit has a built-in memory and candles shut
off electronically in the same sequence they were lit.”
Ah, the wonders of a computerized society. Put in our
quarter, say our prayer, and get a flicker without smoke,
wax or fear of getting a bum candle. As long as the
electricity stays on, we’re okay. Why do I want to laugh
and cry at the same time?
Please don’t write me for the address to obtain this
abomination. Electronic bingo is one thing, but vigil
lights? It’s only a short step to electronic choir music
(cheaper, louder and immensely easier to accomplish), to
taped homilies, to recycled holy water in fonts, to flashing
lights on pews with room for one more and to
Mastercarded collection baskets. The possibilities are
endless.
On Sunday, August 14, over 400 residents of the north
Georgia mountains met in Sautee Presbyterian Church
near Helen. They organized themselves and came up with
their colorful name, “The North Georgia COPS” (Citizens
Opposed to Paraquat Spraying). They are protesting the
spraying that took place over several mountain acres on
Friday, August 12. And they vow to prevent any future
spraying of paraquat even if it means impounding federal
helicopters.
I join them in their efforts. Apparently the U.S. Drug
Enforcement Administration has decided to use the
controversial -- and extremely toxic - herbicide paraquat
to destroy illegal marijuana crops on government-owned
lands in Georgia. It should not.
As stated in a fine editorial in The Gainesville Times of
Sunday, August 14: “Granted, paraquat is an effective,
quick-acting and cheap tool in the fight against illicit
drugs; it destroys marijuana plants within three days of
application. But the herbicide is so toxic that when it is
ingested by humans, it can cause serious disability or
death within a few hours. It attacks the lungs and the
damage it does is irreversible.”
On July 26 and 27, I spent two days hiking 30 miles in
those mountains now sprayed with such a i toxic
herbicide. At the time, I felt perfectly safe eating the
blueberries growing wild along the trail and drinking the
spring water flowing down the mountains. But this kind
of governmental action causes me to wonder whether our
mountain water is safe. Folks in Atlanta and all of Georgia
should be disturbed over the paraquat spraying in the
mountains because what happens to these mountains of
north Georgia affects the water supply in Atlanta through
the Chattahoochee River and on further south.
One of the reasons given for spraying marijuana patches
with paraquat, as I understand it, is that the federal
government wants to impress on countries like Colombia
and Jamaica that it is perfectly safe to use paraquat to stop
the production of marijuana.
Paraquat has been used on marijuana crops for years in
Mexico, and the fields are supposedly guarded after they
are sprayed. Yet we still get a lot of paraquat-laden
marijuana in this country. In fact, the U.S. Center for
Disease Control estimated that between 1975 and 1979,
more than 9,000 Americans were exposed, annually, to
paraquat which had been sprayed on Mexican marijuana,
(cf. The Gainesville Times, editorial August 14,1983.)
In 1979 the U.S. Congress suspended its support for the
Mexican spraying program because health questions were
raised.
I’m not against a manufacturer trying to get a share of
the church market but do we want a church of muzak and
flickering lights? We can get those at a disco or
McDonald’s.
We escape these for a church rich in sensuality. I want
my senses touched with the odor of candles and incense,
the beauty of art, the sound of rich liturgical music from
live voices and the closeness of community.
Progress may be inevitable but so is tradition. I don’t
want a church frozen in the middle ages. Beeswax candles
and pure linen altar cloths sensibly gave way to non-drip
and polyester. Computerized collection envelopes don’t
disrupt my liturgical experience. But I’ll fight electronic
vigil lights and drive-in churches with vigor.
And I thank the anonymous pastor who sent me the
brochure. He’s right. There was a column in there
somewhere.
“No one questions the right of the government to
control illegal substances, but the tools used for that
control should not pose as much - or more - of a
potential health hazard than the substances being
controlled,” the editorial said.
In conclusion let me say I’ve joined the “COPS”
(Citizens Opposed to Paraquat Spraying).