Since we are often in a continuing section of 1 Peter I will highlight the new stuff here.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In, this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith - being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire - may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
We hold onto the story. Even though it is an old story and there are no witnesses who were there in those days after the resurrection who can verify all that happened - we hold onto the story. That is the history of the Church. We turn to the story of love alive and available and we hold onto it because it is not the same story of the powers of the world that we already know are destructive and self-centered. We do not 'love to tell the story' because it warms are hearts (it does do that) - but rather because it speak of the reality of life in which we are invited to share with other and as part of a new community. Later the writer of 1 Peter will talk more about this means we are aliens. That is true. We claim a joy that comes to us already when we are ones who follow in this way of non-violent love that is odd and strange and contrary to the prevailing winning ways of the world. In the middle of that life comes the healing (the salvation) of your whole life (soul) already. Connection: We will see him. Each day, when we know the vision of God's loving Reign, we will see the life of the Christ alive among us. It may be in the shape of someone not at all connected to 'church.' It may be that in the actions of a stranger that is seen through the lens of the peaceable Reign of God - we are filled with joy because we see the Christ alive. That vision gives us a moment of that healing presence and encourages us to live within it ourselves. In the middle of what is so common, O God, we are able to see you Reign unfolding and it is the power to heal us all. Amen |
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