Monday 29 January 2007

In the letter to the Colossians we turn this week into a section often considered one containing "ethical" material.

If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations, "Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch?" All these regulations refer to things that perish with use; they are simply human commands and teachings. These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-imposed piety, humility, and severe treatment of the body, but they are of no value in checking self-indulgence. (2:20-23)

This is more of a statement of fact - we have died with Christ...and we are brought into new life. That is the reality in which we live. Now...that being the case, why do we listen to any other word about us? The place in which we live is one that is shaped and nurtured by the new life of our baptism in Christ, Jesus. No other power has power among us. And yet, it is very easy for all of us to listen to other voices and let those voices control us. These "powers" attempt to tell us how we can get along in this world. They try to tell us how we gain worth or how we can qualify for various degrees of living. But these voices/powers really cannot rule us - that is the baptismal promise. We are named and claimed by the God who tells us about God's love for us even as we and others may not love us. It is meant to be a reality that has no end...and has not conditions stapled onto it. Unfortunately, even with this truth of God's claim on us and our place before God through baptism, there are too many times when we try to live according to other news and other notes of qualification. For example: the simple question we have all heard (or said) when something goes really wrong in our lives, "What did I do to make God do this to me"...or..."Why is God doing this to me?" This all adds up to the stinking-thinking of the "elemental powers." They cannot and will not let go of the control they claim to have over us or want to give us. Rather than face the reality of our days (good & bad) within the blessed assurance that God is for us in and through all things, we - at times - want to figure out something else. We are not content to hear the Good News. We want to hear news that fits our own thinking and acting.

Connection: All that matters - you are blessed and beloved of God. That is the news of the day that helps us to be shaped for life within God's Reign today.

It is by your word alone, O God, that we entertain the great truth of the love of your Reign. In each of our days guide us as we prayerfully consider how your love shapes us in all things. Amen.