5 August 2005

Friday is upon us and Paul is still working on building the life of the community as we continue in 1 Corinthians.

Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy. For those who speak in a tongue do not speak to other people but to God; for nobody understands them, since they are speaking mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, those who prophesy speak to other people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. Those who speak in a tongue build up themselves, but those who prophesy build up the church. Now I would like all of you to speak in tongue, but even more to prophesy. One who prophesies is greater than on who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up. (1 Cor. 14:1-5)

Let's not read prophecy as the ability to look into the future and be able to see what is going to happen...like magic. Rather, the gift to be able to read the times...to read how people can play a part in the community...to be able to see what is needed to make things within the community fit together...to also be able to see how we lack things and therefore, what we must give more attention. For example: if we are not caring for the weak in the community, they will easily be pulled into lives that will not be good for them or others. Those who prophesy are able to pick up on where we need to pay attention to the needs of the community...but also, what kind of lies are out there that can become very seductive to people. On the other hand, these tongues of which Paul speaks are a good thing. One friend once described "tongues" like crying & weeping & wailing that cannot be understood but the profound depth of pain, sorrow, joy, freedom, and such often comes without words to express it completely. These "tongues" are a gift to cherish for oneself and nothing to be forced on other as though a person is not "really" a Christian or baptized unless these "tongues" come to them. I would suggest that all of us would do well if we allowed ourselves the freedom to simple give up on our words and open up to the babblings of infants...we are all in such need of that we do not know. But for the sake of the life of the whole community it would be good to hear from some of the prophets among us.

Connection: Sometimes we do not listen to the words of those who prophesy for the welfare of the congregation or the whole church. When was the last time that you heard someone speak the word of the Lord God...maybe you didn't even catch it as it happened.

Your bring your word of life to us so that we may live in peace and harmony and create new expressions of you love in each of our days. We give you thanks, O God, for the many ways and times you inspire people around us so that they can offer insights into the vision of your unfolding Reign. Amen.