Tuesday 26 January 2010

This reading about Jesus' Ubuntu takes me in many directions - again Michael Battle.

Then tendency to strip Jesus of his Jewish identity found in Enlightenment-era theologians and biblical scholars prevents understanding the particular as access to the universal by denying that Gentiles were saved through God's election of Israel. Holding to Enlightenment sensibilities, salvation in Christ no longer challenges corrupted forms of identity. In this light, Tutu's Christology becomes an apologetic against theological accounts which seek to justify one racial identity over another.

More and more I find myself moving in the direction of sharing the importance of the sociological and cultural situation of the life of Jesus. Understanding the bits and pieces of the context that help us to see what simple words or actions meant carry us into a widened understanding of what might have been the context of the day. Battles comment about the sticking with the Jewish identity of Jesus as being vital to hearing the the wonderful universal story that claims the world is a part of this study and reflection. We never are to deny the place of the 'chosen' within the story of our Scriptures. Jesus was one of them. And then...in the storytelling that continues, the world is let in and there no longer is a need to keep up ethnic and racial barriers. No longer are some to be insiders and others outsiders. Rather, the doors have been opened and saving God of one particular people is revealed to be the saving God of All. I cannot even imagine what it was for Jesus the Jewish man to step into the life path that he did with intention and a strong sense of calling. Every step would have been out of step. And yet, he walked as though what he was doing was supported by everything he had been taught in his ethnic faith.

Connection: So too is it important to see Jesus in this light as we attempt to step out and be a part of a faithful community that will not abide by the cultural and social guidelines of the day.

Come, O Spirit of the Living God. Come and wrap us all up within the power of your love that will not cease to call us together as one people. Come and bring us all home to you. Amen.