It is the end of the week so why not offer a bit more on "New Spirituality: life against death" in The Source of Life by Jurgen Moltmann. Since the raising of Christ from the dead, the Spirit of God is also the Spirit of Christ, and the Spirit of Christ is the Spirit of resurrection of the dead and of eternal livingness. The Christian hope is foundationally and in essence the hope of resurrection. In this it is universal, and expects what Hildegard of Bingen finely calls the ultimate 'springtime of all creation'. This ultimate springtime of creation is experienced here and now in the Spirit in the charismatic quickening of our own life and the life we share. I just received some strange e-mail quoting the book of Revelation and trying to pin down a precise meaning to the gospel. It is obvious from the e-mail that the writer of it takes the book literally and cannot see the fullness of words and images that is meant to free up our view of God's gracious Reign so that it is not captured and melted down to one "gotcha" kind of theology. Having said that, I am once again caught up in the wonderful 'now' of this 'springtime of all creation." Rather than having the Good News wrapped up for a day that will come - sometime, we are invited to be wrapped up with this time at hand. Here and now the hope of the resurrection is the power of transformation and renewal. There were days when I did not like the word charismatic. I think it is because I was once sold on a version of that word that really wanted something other than what is. We were always planning on going somewhere else. But now, this word of grace (charis) becomes more of a reality check. Is this Spirit of resurrection bringing life to me and you today? Yes it is - so let's live within it. Connection: The dead - all of us - will be raised up to new life. That is a universal promise we must stop refusing to hear in all of its power. Lord of New Life and the Spirit of Resurrection, take us along the way within your promise and be our source of comfort and transformation both now and forever. Amen. |
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