“Can You Spell Theological?”

Sometimes theology can seem so academic and so stiff. At times discussing theology  can feel like I’m sitting in a classroom listening to a lecture, taking notes, trying to figure out what’s being said, knowing that the exam is coming and I better be ready. Gee, theology can seem so – well — so  “theological”… hmmmmmmm.

The theological virtues can also seem very “theological”…. ah yes, the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love. I guess these virtues were meant for the academics to analyze, not for the poor slob in the street, who’s trying to carve out a living in a desperate world. Well, it may seem that way at times, but that’s not true. All the things of God are meant for all the people of God….rich and poor, smart and dim, handsome and ugly. That includes you and me. If this wasn’t the case, the only people that made it to heaven would be the learned, the brilliant, the wealthy, the beautiful, and the religious. Yet remember the story of the little nun and the bishop:

The little nun arrived at Heaven’s Gate and St. Peter quietly said “okay Sister, go on in, the door on the right”. Later a bishop showed up and the heavenly choir burst into the Halleluiah Chorus with loud thunderous applause and an escort of angels carried the bishop into heaven. Woe, St. Peter that just doesn’t seem fair to the poor nun; St. Peter replied, “well, you see, we get nuns here all the time, but we haven’t seen a bishop in 500 years.”  (P.S. Be careful in telling this story to the bishop.)

Well, let’s get back to the point of the BLOG. The theological virtues are meant for the average Joe & Josephine Blow, not just for some “smarty pants.”  Faith, hope, and love are at the essence of knowing the Lord. 

Isaiah proposes the following questions:

• “do you want strength so you don’t faint, 
• do you want vigor so you’re not weak, 
• do you want to soar like an eagle, 
• do you want to be able to run? 
• If you do, let me give you a cue…… HOPE IN THE LORD! 

“He gives strength to the fainting; for the weak he makes vigor abound. Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall, They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles’ wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.” (Is. 40:11-38)

God doesn’t care whether we can spell “theological virtues”, but he really wants us to live them. As we embrace our faith in the Lord, trusting in hope, and allowing him to love us, we will have a magnificent life on this earth and one day in heaven. And that is very good news.