From “The Cross in our Context” by Douglas John Hall
In writing about the human condition, Hall centers his conversation on this thesis:
The cross of Jesus Christ represents simultaneously a high estimate of the human creature, a grave realism concerning human alienation, and the compassionate determination of God to bring humankind to the realization of its potentiality for authenticity.
This past Sunday the letter to the Hebrews described the human condition as “a little lower than angels.” God in Christ, Jesus, enters into our predicament and makes much of who we are. It is an utterly realistic adventure in which all of our humanity is exposed and we are invited to enter into every bit our humanity. We so often speak of our sinfulness and brokenness without getting to what is wonderful about who God creates us to be. To be authentically human is to be exactly who God fashions. Our place is still “lower than angels” but it is our place and in that place we unfold as God’s beloved. In the TV show “Joan of Arcadia,” God attempts to help Joan step into her potential by having her sign up for an AP class – something she would never consider on her own. She does. Her potential seems not to be that she is a smart as her brother, who is in the class also, but rather she is a catalyst for things to happen between people – a real gift of her personhood.
Connection: So in the run of things today, remember your place in God’s creation. Such remembering will bring us all into the wonder and grace and humility that is a part of our humanity.
Creating Lord, you fashion us into a unique people whose lives are meant to be connected so that we may begin to see the potential given to humanity as a whole and each of us as individuals within your grand creation. Remind us of the beauty of the place in which we live. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment