Today - the surprising aspect of Christ's Reign - William Willimon.
Recently, a professor of Islamic studies at the University of North Carolina, in a radio interview, declared, "If you live a good and righteous life here on earth then hopefully there will be no surprises in the afterlife." He was obviously not talking about the Christian faith where, according to Matthew 25, there will be surprises for everyone! Surprising Jesus was notorious for welcoming whores into the kingdom of Go and telling the presumed righteous that they could go to Gehenna. The Judge who sits on the throne surprises because his judgments are unlike ours.
The surprising aspect of this Judge is that we have no way of controlling what this Judge will do. We have been told that there is already a decision for us. That kind of judgment is surprising. We can always come up with reasons why we should or should not be a part of the Reign of God. Then again, none of our arguments or concerns or opinions matter - do they. And yet, the temptation is so great. We want to somehow - know and be able to help it along...just a bit. When this is all about us and our goodness, the storyline never changes. We become chained to it and miss the life that comes when we start each day as already on the beloved list - a list that always surprises us because we (and all of them) are one it. Surprise!
Connection: Within the gracious Reign of God, we need only close our eyes for a moment and then open them. Everyone we see (including the reflection in the mirror) has been judged as one of the beloved. That is the power that ignites life within God's Reign among us.
As you come to us, O God, you open your arms and we are made welcome into the heart of your promises and into the life that comes through promise. That is beyond our understanding but it is within the faithful imagination you have given us as a gift. Amen.
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