If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.1
This a tiny publication that is largely only read by friends and family, for which I am grateful. I do, however, aspire to a wider audience.
The Internet is a wild and interesting place, but also a cesspool for angry people to say unhelpful things. I’m always nervous when I sit down to work on these missives. I am very concerned about being a noisy gong or clanging cymbal.
It is a trap for me, to think that cleverness or knowledge or more books are the answer to the ills of the world.
If they just knew… *insert an esoteric piece of knowledge*… is not the answer to those questions. Knowledge of the faith is insufficient, indeed it is nothing, without love.
I am struck by this, especially when thinking about the example of St. Nicholas (yes, that Nicholas) and St. Spyridon at the Council of Nicea.
In 325 AD, Emperor Constantine called the First Ecumenical Council to address Arius and his heresy regarding the nature of Christ and the Trinity.
Nicholas the Bishop of Myra, and Spyridon the Bishop of Trimythous were among the hundreds of clergy who attended the council.
Both of these pillars of the Church labored against Arius and his heresy at the council but with very different impacts.
St. Nicholas was from a wealthy family and was a well-traveled man of letters.
But Nicholas lost his temper during the back-and-forth debate with Arius and his supporters. He became so agitated that he famously struck Arius and was removed from the assembly.
Only after an angelic vision did Emperor Constantine allow St. Nicholas to return to the council and defend the right teaching of the Trinity against Arius.
In contrast, St. Spyridon was an uneducated shepherd, whose great piety was an example to those he served as bishop.
While defending the right teaching of the Trinity, he silenced the Arian he was debating when he miraculously displayed the unity of the Trinity.
He held up a brink, flames arose from it and water dripped to the floor until only dust remained. There was only one brick, he said, but it was made up of three elements. The Arian heretics were without argument before this miraculous display.
The Holy Spirit worked a great miracle through the piety and humility of St. Spryidon, while the better-educated and traveled St. Nicholas lost his temper (yes, the saints were people with passions to overcome) and punched Arius.
When I think about this, I’m afraid I would be more likely to swing at Arius than show humility.
I have work to do. That’s why I write, it helps me to process these ideas.
I have work to do, so I hope these pieces aren’t a noisy gong from the internet in your inboxes.
1 Corinthians 13:1-2