"As time goes on they get into a fair way of business or other mode of making money; then they marry and settle; and their interest coinciding with their duty, they seem to be, and think themselves, respectable and religious men; they grow attached to things as they are; they begin to have a zeal against vice and error; and they follow after peace with all men.
Such conduct indeed, as far as it goes, is right and praiseworthy. Only I say it has not necessarily anything to do with religion at all; there is nothing in it which is any proof of the presence of religious principle in those who adopt it; there is nothing they would not do still, though they had nothing to gain from it except what they gain from it now: they do gain something now, they do gratify their present wishes, they are quiet and orderly because it is their interest and taste to do so; but they venture nothing, they risk, they sacrifice, they abandon nothing, on the faith of Christ's word."
John Henry Newman
"Beware the leaven of the Pharisees, which is a pious, hollow hypocrisy."
Luke 12:1
"The problem Newman addresses here is with those long time believers who have grown in the faith, and may exhibit many of its gifts, but stop there without bearing the kind of fruit of which they are capable. And why do they do this? Simply because they never grow to fully love Him and His, more than they love their own fears, desires, and selves.
They always hold some better portion of themselves back and in reserve. They love God as they think that they must only in order to avoid punishment and to be comfortable, while being blinded to their own sinful shortcomings, never fully growing into the love which is the substance and the salvation of their true selves.
And in the worst cases, they become self-righteous, being proud in their gifts and their selection as they think it in their own minds. They may even harbor private hatreds, sins against the Spirit, judging others and seeing admonitions to take up the cross of His obedience with love as intended for all those others, but not for themselves. They are imbued with the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy and spiritual pride. And it is the road to a dwindling of the spiritual life, and a gradual erosion of faith as a vital element of our every action."
Jesse, 5 April 2017
Stocks were mixed again today, with a narrow group of tech names powering the NDX to new highs, while the broader market and mundane, non-tech muggle world was lackluster at best.
The Dollar powered higher, and took back the 96 handle.
Gold and silver were lower.
The VIX rose a little but is below its key moving averages.
There will be an important option expiration for the precious metals on the Comex next week on Tuesday 23rd.
Need little, want less, love more.
For those who abide in love abide in God, and God in them.
Have a pleasant weekend.
