There is a form of this life that becomes real in Jesus and then is handed to us. The last verses of this passage go there. This was to go out last Friday - but my day
was a bit dazed and confused.
Slaves, accept the authority of your masters with all deference, not only those who are kind and gentle but also those who are harsh. For it is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. If you endure when you are beating for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God's approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.
"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."
When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls
Jesus acted differently from the ways of the world around him. This was no 'act', it was a deliberate life inspired by the vision of God's Reign. It was and is a life that refuses the violence of the world in all of it many forms. In this section of the letter we hear about abuse and threat. It is quite normal in the world to act out as the examples of life around us. We mimic such life. Often it is to fit in - often it is just the way we react to the world. Before we have a chance to 'prayerfully consider' what is taking place and how we have the power to act in a different way than reacting, boom - we do it. In Jesus we do not see some kind of magic here. We also do not see a robot who is incapable of any life outside of a 'mandated pattern.' Rather, Jesus is fully human and could - like any of us - return abuse when abused or threaten when he suffers. What we are gifted to see is that Jesus does break the cycle of violence in everyday, real life ways. I find that encouraging. We can be out in the world engaging life as it is and also be people who live within another set of expectations and patterns that honor the loving Reign of God of which we are a part. I also find that to be encouraging even when I know I will stumble and fall and be as broken as the world.
Connection: There can be a difference. The new being in Christ is one that comes alive and is a part of the transformation of the day. We may not think we can be a part of that - but, it is a promise. It is the life that is called eternal - available now and forever.
In the middle of what is so common, O God, your way of an embracing love is indeed embracing us and empowering us to embrace the day in that same graceful manner. Amen.
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