15 February 2005

Another piece from Jurgen Moltmann in "In the End - The Beginning"

True, we are told that the original sin was arrogance - that human beings wanted to be like God. But that is only half the truth. The other half is the resignation, which is much more widespread, the dejection which leads to inertia, the despondency which infects everything living with the germs of decay. The temptation today is not so much that human beings want to play God. It is much more that they no longer have confidence in the humanity which God expects of them. It is the fearfulness fed by lack of faith which leads to capitulation before the power of evil.

What an important reminder - we are to be the humans God expects us to be...not more...not less. This is so vital to our life together because it hints at the the possibilities available to us...as us. There is a grand call - a vision - that comes from being human as God created us. Talk about the need to "bring down the mighty and lift up the lowly." The justice of God's Reign is that we are each expected to be who we are and from that expectation the community can expect new life to keep flowing all around us. When that is the power among us, then evil will never be safe to create separation and division because we will step up to demand the welfare of each person and in that the welfare of all. The Holy Spirit is the power that pulls and pushes us into a more profound sense of who we are as creatures called human beings.

Connection: Don't sell yourself short - you are beloved and that makes you...able to be you. That is what others need from you and that is what you must expect from others. How do we nurture the fullness of our humanity among us.

Creator of All, we turn to you for the strength to be who we are. We long for your love to move us and we pray that in the face of all the powers of this day we will be encouraged by who you have made us to be for this day. Amen.