Tuesday 30 January 2007

Today we move into chapter 3 in the letter to the Colossians.

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (3:1)

I was going to go farther than this one verse but I want to make a point that I think has everything to do with how we see Christ and how we are raise with Christ. Last week I listened to a speaker talk about the theology of the cross. In the context of that lecture he made reference to the second article of the Apostles' Creed "he (Jesus) is seated at the right hand of the Father." This is after Jesus has suffered the disgraceful death on the cross and then he is raised by God from the dead as an eternal word about what life is life within the Reign of God - it is Jesus life. After that "raising" he sits at the "right hand of God." The right hand is the side of power. Therefore, we can easily conclude that Jesus is the power of God - a power that is visible through the incarnation...in human form...as that humanity becomes Jesus, the Christ of God. Well, in the context of that lecture it occurred to me (excuse me for sometimes I am quite slow) that the power of God is not power as is usually demonstrated by "right hand people in authority." Rather it is power through vulnerability. It is power through life in which the power of the right hand is given over to power as God is powerful - in love - in peace - in solidarity with all (even outcasts) - in forgiveness not revenge - in sacrificial love - in bold disagreement with the powers as they stand no matter what will come of this resistance. After the lecture I shared my odd perception with the speaker and suggested that in the middle of the Creed we are listening to a joke. We hear "right hand of the Father" and many take that to be a power that will overcome all powers by way of the same kind of power of the world. And yet, the joke is on us. The power is as Robert Farrar Capon would put it - left-handed power. The power of the Reign of God. When we are raised with Christ through our baptism, we are brought into the story of power that is vulnerable for the sake of the transformation of all things. It will be the way we love that becomes the way of a new power - a risen power - a life-saving power. Whenever we wonder how we are to be among other - strangers, outcasts, enemies, neighbors - we are urged to seek things above...that is...carry the vision of Christ at the right hand of God - the power that cannot be overwhelmed or defeated by any power of the world. Remember, the power of the world (even religious power) lives by threatening, frightening, abusing the integrity of each person. The power of the right hand of God lives in the world by way of a love that lets no one go - no one. The religious and secular powers of the world do not want to hear such things. They want right-hand power and all the ways it tries to control all things.

Connection: If you hear someone speak words of threat and try to offer it as "Christian," tell them you will pray for them so that they can let go of trying to control the love of God that is eternally available to all - no conditions.

Come, Lord of all Power and Might, for you reveal yourselves in the common and ordinary so that we do not have to raise ourselves up to try to be like you. We give you thanks for risking to come down to us and be with us and promise to never leave us behind. Today, inspire to see you powerful Reign in, with, and under the opportunities of this day. Amen.