Wednesday, April 7, 2004

We continue with pieces from “Holy People” by Gordon Lathrop.



John, the seer of the Apocalypse…is an exile on Patmos, presumably alone as a Christian. “In the Spirit, on the Lord’s day: (Revelation 1:10), the day of Christian assembly, this exile encounters the risen one. But this encounter is no a lonely engagement with the divine. It is also, from the outset, full of the presence of the churches – the churches in the midst of which the risen one stands, the churches held in his hand, the churches to which the letters are then addressed (Rev. 1:10-20)… Being “in the Spirit,” encountering the risen Christ, means contact with the assembly, direction toward the assembly, evocation of the presence of the assembly.



One of the beautiful aspects of our faith is that we are not to be alone…ever. Some read that as Jesus will somehow be with us even when we are alone…literally alone. That is indeed the case. But also, the promise has to do with the assembly. With “all y’all” in the picture, how can I be alone? We sing…we listen…we gather…we are called to be concerned with the overall well-being of each other. Even as our memories go back to a time and place when the lone “me” was a part of a “we” it is a source of empowerment and hope. I’m reminded of the people who suffer from dementia and yet when we are in the middle of the Lord’s Supper in their room, they are present within the assembly as they still are able to join in the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father…”



Connection: One of the best ways to be an evangelist is to simply invite people to come to where we gather and listen with us to what has to be said…and sing if you like…or simply listen…and come to the meal with us…or simply watch and listen. The assembly has this Spirit present that gathers and inspires and changes us.



O how wonderful it is that you, O God, are present with us. Just as you lead the people, Israel, out of the clutches of Pharaoh when they appeared to be alone and abandoned in slavery, you are present here to lead us into this day by your gracious and loving power. We give you thanks for your eternal faithfulness. Amen.