Firday 14 September 2007

Tuomo Mannerma keeps pressing us to consider this interesting image from Luther - being in union with Christ and what means for us.



The idea that Christ is both God's favor and God's gift permeates the entire theology of Luther. "Favor" signifies God's forgiveness and the removal of God's wrath. In other words, "favor" is the attitude toward the human being in the "subject" of God. Christ as a "gift," in turn, denotes the real self-giving of God to the human being. The presence of Christ in faith is real, and he is present in it with all his essential attributes, such as righteousness, blessing, life, power, peace, and so forth. Thus, the notion of Christ as a "gift" means that the believing subject becomes a participant in the "divine nature."



Today as I was driving past a church building the sign out front had this message: We love like Jesus Loves. My first thought was, "Yeh, sure." My second thought was, "Well, if Christ is really present with us in faith, I would expect this is right on target." Then I thought about how all of our congregations attempt to say we follow Jesus...just like the first disciples...but we usually turn around and go in another direction - especially when it looks like Jesus is headed for the cross. At the same time, Luther would have us understand that this "gift" is something we do not rule. We do not and cannot change it. The "gift" is a part of the whole adventure of faith. We participate in the "divine nature." Rather than hold everyone up to a litmus test, we are invited to trust this reality in our own lives. That becomes the way the gift is now present for others. We are the presence with and in and alongside the world in which we live. We don't work ourselves into that place/presence. This is who we are - so let the living begin again.



Connection: It can be so easy to judge others and ourselves when we do not meet up to some goals or ideals. And yet, we begin to be a part of this gift of God when we let this gift be who we are. Imagine how it changes the day...me...you...everyone.



Lord of forgiveness and presence and life, we are so aware of how we fall down. We are even more aware of how other fall down. But now, you come again to remind us of how we remain within the realm of your very being and how, in the midst of our falling, you abide in union with us. That becomes a reality that has a future of great possibility and hope. Amen.