We continue with pieces from “Holy People” by Gordon Lathrop.
…the Christian practice of holiness must always involve the subversion of all religious ideas of holiness. If Jesus Christ is our holiness, then holiness is no longer separation and ritual purity and perfect observance. In Christ, holiness is connection with others. It is the unclean cross and life through death and welcome to the outsiders and transformative mercy for the world. If the meeting constitutes just us as the insiders, then Christian holiness involves the subversion of the meeting. It involves the transformation of the meeting to be much more than our social conventions of gathering from any culture, could ever make it. The practice of holiness involves the constant work on the open door, both that all others may come in and that what is seen in the liturgy may flow out. The practice of holiness is the discovery of God’s gift to all of us together.
Rarely do I hear holiness as “connection with others.” It may be used as connection with a certain group of people but that group is always considered separate from the “others.” Here we see holiness as the ongoing openness to others that opens up the world - not just my corner of it - but the whole world to the life of God Reign. This may be the first time I have heard the expression “transformative mercy.” It is the whole story of Jesus and his actions with any and all people during his life. It is the walking into the homes of “sinners and tax collectors” and touching the “untouchable.” This mercy cannot be something left within a club or a special meeting of just a few people. It is the power to change all things. No wonder Lathrop sees holiness as connection with others. We praise our God for such a gracious action on our behalf and then we are invited to take that gift out into our world and embody it.
Connection: The one verse from “This Little Light of Mine” goes: “Hide it under a bushel – NO! I’m gonna let it shine…” Well!
By your mercy you touch the whole world and give life and hope and place to all your people. Gracious Lord, open our hearts that we may boldly be instruments of your holiness that does not fear touching and holding and loving our world. Amen.
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