Here's a clip of part of a sermon by Karl Barth as William Willimon continues this look at "all."
"Joy is born when you renounce any attempt to be something more than one among all those whom God has made prisoners of disobedience, that he may have mercy on all." There is great joy in knowing that one's greatest claim upon God is that "I'm disobedient" because we now know a God who has mercy only for the disobedient.
All the perpetrators of disobedience; all the recipients of mercy. "This salvation of God" (Acts 28:28) is the great mystery of a God who refuses to be God alone. All sin; God's mercy is actively available for all sinners.
Joy is that deep...deep, reality that creates a place to stand and be the fullness of who we are. It is from this joy that living begins within the Reign of God. The angels sing out "Joy to the World" because the world in which we live is about to change and never be the same." This is not merely on the hillsides of Bethlehem, it is today...it is here...it is in the middle of our turning away and running off to make something of ourselves. Our God brings joy even when we would have things be quite otherwise. It is a gift - completely. It is without speculation on what could be...it is a living will for life that will not expire and cannot be controlled. Just a moment of this joy is enough to give us a space to breathe when all the breath has been knocked out of us. I think that might be called resurrection.
Connection: Breathe. It is the beginning of promise and the rich beginning of joy dancing around us and within us.
God of All Times and Places, you continue to draw us in because you long for that which you created to be that with whom you enter into play and utter joy. Grant us again that joyfulness that is your Reign. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment