From William C. Placher’s “Narratives of a Vulnerable God”
…the God we learn about in Mark’s Gospel is not a God defined first of all in terms of power. “For responsible Christian usage of the word ‘God,’” Eberhard Jungel has written, “the Crucified One is virtually the real definition of what is meant with the word ‘God.’” If we take the Gospel of Mark as one trajectory toward understanding the God whose self-revealed identity it narrates, then we encounter a God defined by perfect love and perfect freedom. Love means a willingness to take risks, to care for the other in a way that causes the other’s fate to affect one’s own, to give to the other at real cost to oneself, to chance rejection.
"Love means a willingness to take risks, to care for the other in a way that causes the other’s fate to affect one’s own, to give to the other at real cost to oneself, to chance rejection.” This is yet another good way to look at what it means to love as followers of Jesus. This is God-type-of-love…Jesus love. It takes us out of what can be the status quo of self-centered love that is the prevailing wind of life in our society. Self-love is important…and yet it is the beginning point of God’s love for us. Self- love is magnified as we are told of God’s love for us – God…the Creator of all things, loves me! Then, that love…loves. God’s love for us is always a love that moves through us. We are loved and God’s love transforms us into the love that God creates. God creates “Jesus Love” – self-giving, sacrificial, life building, and life liberating. We are invited into such a power…of love.
Connection: Sometimes it is important for each of us to come at an event or a moment in our day…again. Look at it again…step into it again…review it again. Then, we may be able to see the avenue of God’s love upon which we can walk.
Lord of Love, it is by your Spirit that our hearts long for the reuniting of all your people. That reuniting power is a love that will not stand by to watch the world as it is. Touch us with that Spirit of Love and transform our lives into your Holy image. Amen.
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