A few more reflections on the piece from yesterday.
Alison continues to look at the mechanism of exclusion.
We have here, then, a further subversion from within. Just as Jesus subverts the notion of judgment from within, so also the notion of sin is subverted from within. Jesus doesn't abolish the concept of sin or simply define it much more strongly than before. The notion of sin is subverted from within, in the light of the resurrection of the crucified one, in such a way that what sin is is shown to be much more drastic than previous interpretations, but from quite a different direction. Sin is not what excludes in the person of the excluded one, but the dynamic act of excluding in the persons of the excluders.
It is this resurrection that changes everything. The power of those who accuse and exclude is impotent. Yes the power of those who are able to condemn can appear to be the power that wins the day and will continue to shape all things, but not. That which was labeled as outside what can be including is now revealed as worthy and blessed. Strange how the table turns. God says 'Yes' to the one who was rejected and the 'No' of those who claimed that they knew what was right and wrong and could make those judgments is what is ultimately silenced. Jesus takes on all that is thrown upon him - he takes on the accusations and the lies and the well-manufactured judgments - he takes on all that they can do to him. And then (this is an important transition) - and then, he turns their judgments upside down. The resurrection is never meant to beat down the excluding powers. Rather, resurrection is always meant to give them another way to see life to its fullest. The judgment of the resurrection is one that will be eternally for all people - even when we resist hearing ourselves or hearing for the sake of others.
Connection: Wrapped up in that resurrection is the possibility of life that freely welcomes and nurtures and rescues. That is quite contrary to the way of the world. Too often, self-proclaimed good and holy people (religious and non-religious) will not welcome, refuse to nurture, and turn away from opportunities to rescue (especially if they are not considered worthy of being rescued). The empty tomb shows us what deserves to be put away and throw out - nothing, nothing is in that tomb.
No comments:
Post a Comment