What If?
Reflections on Reformation Sunday, October 25, 2009
John 8:31 -36 (The reflection come in 3 parts) and follow in a liturgical progression that are composed of voice 1, voice 2 and C:
John 8:31 -36 (The reflection come in 3 parts) and follow in a liturgical progression that are composed of voice 1, voice 2 and C:
C1) - Christ's Way is the Way of suffering and sacrifice, the Way of Prayer and Death so that others might live.
I really like the idea of freedom. You know "true north, strong and free". You know free to do my own thing - whatever I want, when I want. You know Frank Sinatra's old song, so popular for a long time, "I did it my way!"
We so want to be free - when we are younger, free to get out of our parent's house, then free to drive the car - free to have our own money - FREE!
But where has such so called freedom gotten us. From car crashes claiming life and limb because people have done their own thing in speed and alcohol or other drug consumption - to relationships of promise that have been violated individually and collectively - to obsession with ourselves in eating or not eating, exercising or not exercising - to large chunks of the world with way too much too often forgetting about others who don't have enough - where does our so-called freedom get us?
Do we hear Christ, the words that come down through the community through Him to us. Christ is the One who frees us to be a member of God's family - to follow a path of responsibility and service. Could that be freedom- to actually want to care - to be willing to give of oneself on behalf of others. Sounds hard. Jesus says it is hard - that it is impossible on our own.
So He prayed so that He might be strengthened. So He prayed - and by God's grace so can we. And so He died - and others are given new life. Are we afraid to die in any way? Do we not know that out of death - God can bring new life? Look around - see a baby dying to the womb and to the umbilical chord. Look around - see the alcoholic, the addict admitting they need help - and new life resulting. Look around, listen - Jesus can so free us.
Second dialogue is spoken and concludes with
C2) Christ's Way is the Way of turmoil and change, the Way of the Confession and Forgiveness
C2) Christ's Way is the Way of turmoil and change, the Way of the Confession and Forgiveness
I am not sure about you, but most times I don't like turmoil or change! I like stasis, order. I like all my clothes hanging in the same place, neatly folded. I like my candies in the cupboard and my television remote in a place that I can find even if my hands are full with a newspaper or a sticky bun. I like when our children are happy and getting along - with a career path that is so successful. And I like it when the congregation I serve is humming along like a finely tuned engine.
But let me tell you whether I or we like those things or not - that is not reality. Change is reality - in our bodies, our minds, the earth, our relationships. Often times such change is accompanied by or even caused by turmoil.
The only way to avoid such change is by lying to ourselves. We can work to bury our head in the sand. We could even attempt to disconnect from any of the overarching realities of life. Don't read. Don't watch TV or surf the net. Don't listen to others. Don't care for anyone. Don't' travel to new or different places. But all of those "don'ts" will only serve to lead us towards delusion.
God sends us the Spirit. God's Spirit works through Christ granting us glimpses of God. Such glimpses of Christ may lead us to further questions. Why did he have to die such a horrific death? Do I have any part in His suffering? Do I have any part in the suffering of this world - even of those I love? Can I change? Can we change? Can God change me? How can I respond to this changing love of God through Jesus in my life? How can I reflect and embody the sacrificing love of Jesus for this world - especially for those I know who are in need: physically, emotionally, spiritually?
These are such overarching questions, even mind numbing, humbling questions. O Lord, we believe, forgive our unbelief.
The third dialogue is spoken and concludes with:
C 3) Christ's way is the Way of questioning and new learning, the Way of Baptism and Communion.
C 3) Christ's way is the Way of questioning and new learning, the Way of Baptism and Communion.
Do we dare ask questions? You know when we were young(er) most of us asked all kinds of questions. We would ask almost anyone - our parents, our formal teachers, even our friends, especially God. But as we get older we become more hesitant to ask questions. I am not sure if that's because we think we know so much or if it's because we don't want to look bad or stupid, ignorant or uninformed in the eyes of others. Oh, yes there are always those others, people whose opinions, perspectives of us matter so much.
But if we don't ask questions - how will we grow, how will we be stretched to learn, to see and experience new realities? What if Columbus or the Vikings or the aboriginal forefathers and foremothers had just stayed wherever it was they started out? What if Frederick Banting or Martin Luther King Jr or even Martin Luther hadn't asked if major change is possible? What if musicians, artists and poets hadn't probed reality and dreamed new possibilities? Where would we be now - huddled in caves somewhere, very cold with no dreams?
We shouldn't be afraid of truth. Truth emanates from God. In the most profound way Christ shows us truth: - the truth that God cares for us, is working to liberate us from the slavery of hatred, violence, apathy, greed, insecurity, of all forms of death. God so works in Christ in order that we can love as we are loved, forgive as we are being forgiven, risk being rejected so that others might be honestly included, involved and loved. Our Baptism into Jesus wills to kill that part of us that thinks first, foremost and ultimately only of ourselves. Our Baptism into Christ joins us to his death and resurrection which is for all people and all creation. This new union leads us to communion - yes communion with God - absolutely amazing - but then also to some form of communion - some interaction and care (as uneasy , as complicated as that may be, as enlightening as that might be) with others - and with creation.
Dare we be open to this Jesus and His Way?
Reflect on that with all our beings. Don't be afraid to ask God and even yourself by God's grace - are any of the alternatives life and joy bringing ultimately to anyone?