"We cannot see love itself, but we can see what happens to those who have been loved." (R. Rohr "Radical Grace" p. 151)
Certainly I know that being loved makes my life worth living. I feel loved by my family. I feel beloved by my parish, and it is that love that makes me want to do for others. What keeps me smiling most days. Which gives me patience to deal with just about everyone and everything that comes up, though even I have my limits.
I can't see the emotion of love, but I know a love in action when I see it. I also know hatred when I see it, and I know the direct results of being hated. I can see the damage done to those for whom the hatred is aimed, but also on those who are motivated to action by hatred. And it is generally true that currently manifested hatred is just another series in a long line of continuous hatred within that person or groups life.
What is truly tragic for me is to come across those who claim to love Jesus and call themselves beloved of God, but cannot bring themselves to extend that love to others. Words of hate spewing forth from the hearts, minds and mouths of those who claim the faith of Jesus, seems to me to tell a very different story.
That is for me a great challenge of faith, to actually live into the love you claim.
Blessings,
Ed
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Reflections for 4/6/10
"In the risen Jesus, God reveals the final state of reality. God forbids us to accept 'as-it-is' in favor of 'What-God's-love-can-make-it.' To believe means to cross and transcend boundaries. Because of Jesus we realistically can have a passion for the possible." (R. Rohr "Radical Grace" p. 150)
That phrase a passion for the possible caught my eye. So often we hear folks talk about what can't be done. They operate out of a place of scarcity and pessimism. I try to see things from a place of abundance and optimism. I do not believe that everything always works, but I'm more impressed when folks at least try. When they risk saying yes to trying. When they shed their inner Eeyore and embrace the yes of God.
All great attempts must start from the belief that things will work out. If we start off believing we will fail, we usually have self-fulfilling prophesies. When we started with a more optimistic approach, tempered with some of the potential problems, we are often surprised by how things turn out.
Blessings,
Ed
That phrase a passion for the possible caught my eye. So often we hear folks talk about what can't be done. They operate out of a place of scarcity and pessimism. I try to see things from a place of abundance and optimism. I do not believe that everything always works, but I'm more impressed when folks at least try. When they risk saying yes to trying. When they shed their inner Eeyore and embrace the yes of God.
All great attempts must start from the belief that things will work out. If we start off believing we will fail, we usually have self-fulfilling prophesies. When we started with a more optimistic approach, tempered with some of the potential problems, we are often surprised by how things turn out.
Blessings,
Ed
Monday, April 5, 2010
Reflections for 4/5/10
"Jesus tells them to take away the stone, then he asks of them a further sign of faith. Do you believe that I can do it? Can you be with me as I do it? Step out. Make a bit of a fool of yourself, move away the stone. 'Untie him,' Jesus told them, 'and let him go free'(John 11:44). Notice what John may well be saying to the community. Though Jesus brings us to life, he needs us, the Body of Chris. He needs the community to unbind Lazarus. We now share in the power of resurrection. The eternal Christ says to the eternal Church: Unbind the suffering world and let it go free! That is the meaning of Church. It is our call, our burden, our task in human history. The risen Christ invites u on his path of liberation." (R. Rohr "Radical Grace" p. 149)
While I'm fairly familiar with the passage of the raising of Lazarus, I hadn't thought about the fact that there is within it an invitation for the church to finish the work.
Yes it is Jesus, through the power of God, that raised Lazarus, but he doesn't remove the grave clothes etc. The people standing there have to finish the work. Our shared mission is to live into the Isaiah commission.
Where do we encounter folks who are bound by circumstances that keep them from being fully human? What can people of faith do to be the hands and heart of Christ in our day?
Blessings,
Ed
While I'm fairly familiar with the passage of the raising of Lazarus, I hadn't thought about the fact that there is within it an invitation for the church to finish the work.
Yes it is Jesus, through the power of God, that raised Lazarus, but he doesn't remove the grave clothes etc. The people standing there have to finish the work. Our shared mission is to live into the Isaiah commission.
Where do we encounter folks who are bound by circumstances that keep them from being fully human? What can people of faith do to be the hands and heart of Christ in our day?
Blessings,
Ed
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Reflections for 4/4/10
" If you have ever been rejected, you know how unlikely it is to come back into the midst of those who have said, We do not want you. Yet that's the eternal mystery we celebrate. God is always coming back into a world that for some unbelievable reason doe not want God."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p. 146)
Well I certainly have been rejected in my lifetime. Dumped by more than my share of girls before finding the right one. Rejected by plenty of jobs. Granted I've never been kicked out of any organization, and certainly never rejected in such a way that made me believe that someone wanted me dead.
Yet that is what happened to Jesus. But today we celebrated his showing up again, albeit in a new way. Easter for me is about letting go of what once was and embracing the where do we go from here.
No matter how many times things go wrong, somehow God seems to always show up, even when I think I can fix it by myself. That I don't need God or anyone else. It is simply a self-deception.
But on this absolutely beautiful day in Southern New Jersey, I certainly felt Jesus breaking on through, coming back again, even though he never really left.
The key will be to keep wanting him to stay.
Blessings,
Ed
Well I certainly have been rejected in my lifetime. Dumped by more than my share of girls before finding the right one. Rejected by plenty of jobs. Granted I've never been kicked out of any organization, and certainly never rejected in such a way that made me believe that someone wanted me dead.
Yet that is what happened to Jesus. But today we celebrated his showing up again, albeit in a new way. Easter for me is about letting go of what once was and embracing the where do we go from here.
No matter how many times things go wrong, somehow God seems to always show up, even when I think I can fix it by myself. That I don't need God or anyone else. It is simply a self-deception.
But on this absolutely beautiful day in Southern New Jersey, I certainly felt Jesus breaking on through, coming back again, even though he never really left.
The key will be to keep wanting him to stay.
Blessings,
Ed
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Reflections for 4/3/10
"To be a Christian means to be an optimist because we know what happened on the third day. We know that it worked, that Jesus leap of faith was not in vain. His trust was not in vain and that the Father raised him up." (R. Rohr "Radical Grace" p. 145)
I generally am a glass half full if not completely full person. I have a firm belief that most things work themselves out. And often try to see how the journey plays out. Sometimes a lack of a clear plan is very unnerving to my "J" oriented friends and family, who like minutiae covered.
I'll have to say that I'm usually affirmed in my not overly controlling ways, when things work out positively if not always as I originally pictured it.
My hunch is the disciples had a hard time being optimistic once Jesus was laid in the tomb. Very hard for them to see how this would work out, even though they'd been given hints if they'd paid attention.
Optimism is very much in shortage right now. I hear more pessimism, fear, anger and frustration, than I do a patient hope.
What would happen if everyone actually pictured the glass at least half full. That would mean that you frame the vision differently. It doesn't indicate perfection, but it does mean you might have to enjoy the ride a little more.
Blessings,
Ed
I generally am a glass half full if not completely full person. I have a firm belief that most things work themselves out. And often try to see how the journey plays out. Sometimes a lack of a clear plan is very unnerving to my "J" oriented friends and family, who like minutiae covered.
I'll have to say that I'm usually affirmed in my not overly controlling ways, when things work out positively if not always as I originally pictured it.
My hunch is the disciples had a hard time being optimistic once Jesus was laid in the tomb. Very hard for them to see how this would work out, even though they'd been given hints if they'd paid attention.
Optimism is very much in shortage right now. I hear more pessimism, fear, anger and frustration, than I do a patient hope.
What would happen if everyone actually pictured the glass at least half full. That would mean that you frame the vision differently. It doesn't indicate perfection, but it does mean you might have to enjoy the ride a little more.
Blessings,
Ed
Friday, April 2, 2010
Reflections for 4/2/10
"the cross is our obedience to the price of truth and love-with no assurance that it is going to 'work.' As in the life of Jesus, the cross leads us to perfect faith. Love led to its logical conclusion demands that we trust in a goodness and a life beyond our own. The doctrine of the cross says that no life can last forever, but there is a price to the breaking down of the lie." (R. Rohr "Radical Grace" p. 144)
Today is Good Friday. The day that the church remembers the death of Jesus on the cross. Killed by the religious and secular powers of his day. Killed for being a threat to the status quo. Yet that threat was never one of violence, but one of love for the people within those structures and for those shut out by those same structures.
That kind of sacrifice is not the norm in our country. There is little dying for one's faith, but sometimes killing for one's faith has been witnessed here.
The cross for me continues to be a sign of change, perhaps that's why they call it a cross road. Almost every day could be a good Friday, where we are given an opportunity to let go of the way we live that is in fact killing us and allow a new vision and direction to emerge.
Good Friday also is a reminder that when the world thinks its taken care of an inconvenience, God has the final word.
Blessings,
Ed
Today is Good Friday. The day that the church remembers the death of Jesus on the cross. Killed by the religious and secular powers of his day. Killed for being a threat to the status quo. Yet that threat was never one of violence, but one of love for the people within those structures and for those shut out by those same structures.
That kind of sacrifice is not the norm in our country. There is little dying for one's faith, but sometimes killing for one's faith has been witnessed here.
The cross for me continues to be a sign of change, perhaps that's why they call it a cross road. Almost every day could be a good Friday, where we are given an opportunity to let go of the way we live that is in fact killing us and allow a new vision and direction to emerge.
Good Friday also is a reminder that when the world thinks its taken care of an inconvenience, God has the final word.
Blessings,
Ed
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Reflections for 4/1/10
"Sometimes we think we are being heroic in not letting God love us. We want to do the loving thing ourselves. Yet only when Peter capitulates and allows Jesus to minister to him does he experience the meaning of Jesus." (R. Rohr "Radical Grace" p. 143)
Today is Maundy Thursday, the beginning of what is called the Tridiuim in the church. At many liturgical churches (Roman Catholic, Episcopal and Lutheran) foot washing will occur, following the example of Jesus to his disciples as told in Gospel of John.
This year I will not be doing it. For one thing, I usually had to twist arms to get people to come up, and two I want to try something different this year.
Many of my parishioners seem to have Peter's attitude, "you will never wash my feet." There's a level of uncomfortableness in it. This probably is an example of how hard it is to let anyone do anything for us. While this is just a ceremonial act, it is true that most of us, have a hard time letting anyone do something unsolicited for us. Part of it may also be that we may have to do something in return that we may not be prepared to do.
I also find it interesting that it is the feet that get washed. In Jesus' time of course everyone was either walking barefoot or with sandals and feet got quite dirty. It was proper etiquette to wash your guests feet or at least have the servants do so. Now we're not as loving to our feet.
Yet our feet bear all of our weight. When they really hurt, it is hard to move. So it is interesting to me that they usually get ignored except when they cry out.
Where in our lives do we need to allow our feet to be taken care of. Where do we need to let go of our pride and self-reliance and let God take care of us, usually in the form of other people. Where can we be Christ for someone else, doing something for others that they may need, but are afraid or ashamed to ask?
Blessings,
Ed
Today is Maundy Thursday, the beginning of what is called the Tridiuim in the church. At many liturgical churches (Roman Catholic, Episcopal and Lutheran) foot washing will occur, following the example of Jesus to his disciples as told in Gospel of John.
This year I will not be doing it. For one thing, I usually had to twist arms to get people to come up, and two I want to try something different this year.
Many of my parishioners seem to have Peter's attitude, "you will never wash my feet." There's a level of uncomfortableness in it. This probably is an example of how hard it is to let anyone do anything for us. While this is just a ceremonial act, it is true that most of us, have a hard time letting anyone do something unsolicited for us. Part of it may also be that we may have to do something in return that we may not be prepared to do.
I also find it interesting that it is the feet that get washed. In Jesus' time of course everyone was either walking barefoot or with sandals and feet got quite dirty. It was proper etiquette to wash your guests feet or at least have the servants do so. Now we're not as loving to our feet.
Yet our feet bear all of our weight. When they really hurt, it is hard to move. So it is interesting to me that they usually get ignored except when they cry out.
Where in our lives do we need to allow our feet to be taken care of. Where do we need to let go of our pride and self-reliance and let God take care of us, usually in the form of other people. Where can we be Christ for someone else, doing something for others that they may need, but are afraid or ashamed to ask?
Blessings,
Ed
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