The image of the "body of Christ" continues as our focus for reflection.
Bonhoeffer begins with commenting about how God's word was sent to the people in order to reconcile our lost humanity with God. Then then writes:
The the miracle of all miracles takes place. The Son of God becomes a human being. The Word became flesh.... He takes on humanity by taking on human qualities, human 'nature', "sinful flesh," human form. Now it is no longer only through the word of preaching that God accepts humanity, but also in the body of Christ... In the body of Jesus Christ humanity is now truly and bodily accepted; it is accepted as it is, out of God' mercy.
The emphasis on the body of Christ - the humanity of Jesus, the Christ - we are drawn to see the significance of what it means for the followers of Jesus to be called the body of Christ today and through all time. This is where God's mercy and love and saving power abides. This is one way to look at how life among us is to unfold. The whole body - not merely a piece of it - is now how humanity is accepted by God. And yet, having written that, it places on all of us a responsibility that is indeed quite beyond us. We are a part of this saving body. But are we?! Yes, we are and yet we are not always known as a body of mercy and grace and redemption. The temptation is great to put conditions on the body...who can be a part of its presence...who can benefit from its presence. But then, that would not be the body of Christ at all. How is it that something like "given and shed for you" can become a selective you rather than a you that is the whole of humanity?
Connection: Let mercy Reign among us today.
It is by your grace, O God, that we are renewed and sent out into the world to be a witness to your gracious Reign. As a witness, we may speak of you but we really are sent out to reflect you mercy and grace through our own humanity that is now a part of the body of Christ. We are always in need of the encouragement of the Holy Spirit and therefore we ask for that presence of new life today. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment