Fr. Maloney Writes of an Upside Down Church

“…The new world announced by the gospels abounded with such paradoxes.  Jesus, his apostles, and the early Christians loved to use them in teaching.  In the Kingdom of God the last are first and the first last.  Those who save their life lose it; those who lose their life save it.  The humbled are exalted; the exalted humbled.  Those who mourn will rejoice; those who laugh will cry…. Clearly, Jesus’ use of paradoxes startled his listeners, shook their presuppositions, and drew them to examine their lives in light of his puzzling statements.”
            The evangelists, especially Luke, see the world upside down, so to speak.  The coming of Jesus ushers in a new era: the reign of God is at hand.  In it the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame leap, the gentle are conquerors, sinners become saints, the dead rise ) all paradoxes.

            Clearly, Jesus’ use of paradoxes startled his listeners, shook their presuppositions, and drew them to examine their lives in light of his puzzling statements.  As he challenged the way they viewed God, the world, material goods, and life itself, paradoxes were one of his favorite instruments for sounding the call to repentance.1

            The challenge for the Church, sign and servant of the Kingdom, is to live these paradoxes.  The Church is a vivid sign and an effective servant to the extent that the energies of the Kingdom work within her.  As she preaches God’s word, she herself is subject to it.  Consequently the paradoxes of the New Testament must find a prominent place in her life.

For the full text visit http://www.famvin.org/cm/curia/vincentiana/1998/98-3-mal-paradox.html