{"id":23432,"date":"2013-05-29T11:48:30","date_gmt":"2013-05-29T15:48:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/deaconsbench\/?p=23432"},"modified":"2016-09-30T16:51:30","modified_gmt":"2016-09-30T20:51:30","slug":"a-light-that-is-well-placed-does-not-repel-others","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/deaconsbench\/2013\/05\/a-light-that-is-well-placed-does-not-repel-others\/","title":{"rendered":"“A Light That Is Well Placed Does Not Repel Others…”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

There\u2019s been a lot of buzz<\/a><\/strong> lately about Strange Gods<\/em><\/a><\/strong>, the first book by our own Elizabeth Scalia<\/a>. \u00a0<\/strong>(I\u2019m working my way through it now and hope to write about it in the next few days; I can report that my wife, who rarely reads anything other than her Bible, read the book in one sitting on our flight to Los Angeles last week!)<\/p>\n

Anyway\u2026Kathryn Lopez has her own take<\/a><\/strong> on the book and its relevance to our times:<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the nation is troubled and if our polarization is stranding us, we must ask whether it\u2019s because we are enthralled with our ideas and ideologies, obscuring God and leaving no room for the Holy Spirit to maneuver,\u201d author Elizabeth Scalia writes in her new book\u00a0Strange Gods: Unmasking the Idols in Everyday Life<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe Christians are not suppose to hide our lights under a bushel basket,\u201d she continues, \u201cand we\u2019re also not supposed to glare at others, sending them scurrying back into the shadows.\u201d<\/p>\n

She points to the Transfiguration as a model, where \u201cJesus\u2019 dazzling brightness did not sting the eyes of the apostles.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA light that is well placed does not repel others; it attracts from out of darkness,\u201d Scalia adds.<\/p>\n

\u201cToo many of us,\u201d she cautions, \u201chaul the light of Christ about like a burning cross, seeking to confront \u2018them\u2019 and repair the times, believing that political engagement is the perfect impetus for correction.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIncreasingly,\u201d she reflects, \u201cI am coming to realize that the corny old song, \u2018Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me,\u2019 is speaking a truth.\u201d She bolsters the contention with Pope Benedict XVI, who has said: \u201cGod does not force us to believe in him, but draws us to himself through the truth and goodness of his incarnate Son.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And Lopez concludes:\n

And they will know we are Christians by our love. And they will know what that means if they see it made manifest in our lives!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Check out the rest over at Catholic Voices<\/a><\/strong>. \u00a0And you will want to check out Elizabeth\u2019s book<\/a><\/strong>, too. \u00a0The Anchoress is on to something here\u2014something important that demands attention.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s been a lot of buzz lately about Strange Gods, the first book by our own Elizabeth Scalia. \u00a0(I\u2019m working my way through it now and hope to write about it in the next few days; I can report that my wife, who rarely reads anything other than her Bible, read the book in one […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":132,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,9],"tags":[11167,314],"class_list":["post-23432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blogging","category-books","tag-books","tag-elizabeth-scalia"],"yoast_head":"\n"A Light That Is Well Placed Does Not Repel Others..."<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"There's been a lot of buzz lately about Strange Gods, the first book by our own Elizabeth Scalia. \u00a0(I'm working my way through it now and hope to write\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, 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