Monday 21 May 2007

Sorry for the miss on Friday - computer problems.


With Jesus' ascension and the new rule in place, Brueggemann suggests three urgent issues where we may take into account this regime change. Here is #1:

Jesus has come that we may have an abundant life. His feeding narratives attest that the generosity of God is assured wherever Jesus rules in the earth and we count on that generosity. And that means...that our common practices of greed, of the pursuit of consumer goods, of the frantic effort to acquire more, are both inappropriate and unnecessary. Our society hungers always for more: more body surgery, more cosmetics, more cars, more beer, more sex. more certitude, more security, more money, more power, more oil...whatever. This hunger for more is a true sign that we do not trust the goodness of God to supply all of our needs; we do not trust that the generous rule of Jesus who has ascended to power is in effect.





We are really a people so called into a new life for all...that our life together is invited to be a completely new creature. This abundant life is to be for all God's people. And yet, we can so quickly be turned by words and stories that attempt to bring the ways and values of the world into our own lives as foundational aspects of our community. But we are not called to be self-focused. We are invited to be a generous people. That may be in the area of "goods." That is, we may be called to be generous with what we have been given in order to make sure that those with less than what we have will begin to be supported and uplifted. Generosity means we do not feel compelled to hold on. Rather, we can be free to let go and risk be generous with our lives and our goods. I would like to include in this notion of generosity the possibility that our communities might become more generous with our space - how it is used and who is welcome into it with us. This may even mean we become overwhelmed by a generosity of heart. This is a great leap. This is when we begin to take that which is most central to the life we have and we begin to open it up for the well-being of others...to let it go for others...to experience the transforming power of giving something up for the other - for us all.





Connection: We already have been given an abundant life. Now, we are faced with a day in which we are invited to live within that abundance - share it - celebrate it - reach out and take note of how much more abundant it becomes when we are graced by the abundance of gifts in those around us. Wow.





Spirit of Life, you bring life that we have the difficulty accepting as our own. You gift us with time to reflect on whose we are and what we have as your children. Then as we gather in your name and when our gifts are all gathered together, you inspire us to give them away in acts so generous, we look to the world to be a strange people. We simply say we are a blessed people. Amen.