October 30, 2017 Chapter 10 Getting Slavery Out of the People
Greetings Fellow Pilgrims:
Several things strike me about the readings for this week and it might seem a like a bit of hodgepodge.
Thought 1: Beginning with the scripture reading from Exodus...When I went to my Bible to look up this reading (normally I go to my phone), I had written a note in the margin of chapter 19 verse 7...which says, "...Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God..." At one time it struck me that part of their problem in the Exodus story is contained in that verse. Why did they have to go out of their camp to meet God? Why wasn't God in their camp? I think that one way out of slavery and into freedom is to make sure God is living with us in our "camp."
Thought 2: On page 42, McLaren writes: "We must remember that the road to freedom doesn't follow a straight line from point A to point B. Instead it zigzags and backtracks through a discomfort zone of lack, delay, distress and strain." I see this as a continuation of his comment that he often used in the last chapter...happily ever after right? Wrong. We never reach happily ever after on this side of heaven....there is always another road to walk, another journey to embrace.
Thought 3: McLaren writes (pg. 43) "Through the ten plagues, we might say, God led the people out of slavery. Through the ten commands, God got the slavery out of the people." I tell people all the time the 10 commandments are not given to us to keep us in line, but because when we follow them we are happier people. We are free.
Thought 4: Referring to communion, McLaren writes on page 44: "Around this table, we remember where we've been, where we are, whom we're with, and where we're headed, as we make a new road by walking...together." I think this is why Eucharist is so powerful for me. Every so often, usually because I'm a little sick and don't want to spread germs, I'll sit for communion and have someone else distribute in my place. I love being able to watch others go to communion...I love to pray for others as they go to communion. It always reminds me that we are united around the table.
Those are my thoughts...what are yours?
Monday, October 30, 2017
Monday, October 23, 2017
October 23, 2017 Chapter 9 Freedom
There have always been wisdom figures in my life. One such figure is a man named William Schaefer, Sr. I met Bill when I was pastor at Good Shepherd Parish in Indianapolis. Once, when we were talking about a project we were planning someone said, "We just need to 'let go and let God.'" To which Bill responded with this story. There was a man working out in his garden. It was a beautiful garden. Lush plants. Well trimmed. Just magnificent. Another man walks by, sees the garden and says, "My, what a beautiful garden God put here." To which the first man replied, "Yeah? You should have seen when God had it by himself."
Mclaren writes on page 37, "In other words, God gets involved by challenging us to get involved." There is a fine line between "Let go and let God," and "God helps those who help themselves."
One of the first truths of the Bible is that God works through the human person to create a world. We are privileged to be co-creators with God. First it was Adam and Eve given the right to name all of creation. Next it was Noah who assisted in humankind's salvation by building a boat. Followed that with Sarah and Abraham, parents of a great nation. Joseph and his role as reconciler with his brothers. And now Moses who renews creation by leading God's people to freedom.
God consistently chooses to work with us. The obvious question is: Do we consistently choose to work with God?
There have always been wisdom figures in my life. One such figure is a man named William Schaefer, Sr. I met Bill when I was pastor at Good Shepherd Parish in Indianapolis. Once, when we were talking about a project we were planning someone said, "We just need to 'let go and let God.'" To which Bill responded with this story. There was a man working out in his garden. It was a beautiful garden. Lush plants. Well trimmed. Just magnificent. Another man walks by, sees the garden and says, "My, what a beautiful garden God put here." To which the first man replied, "Yeah? You should have seen when God had it by himself."
Mclaren writes on page 37, "In other words, God gets involved by challenging us to get involved." There is a fine line between "Let go and let God," and "God helps those who help themselves."
One of the first truths of the Bible is that God works through the human person to create a world. We are privileged to be co-creators with God. First it was Adam and Eve given the right to name all of creation. Next it was Noah who assisted in humankind's salvation by building a boat. Followed that with Sarah and Abraham, parents of a great nation. Joseph and his role as reconciler with his brothers. And now Moses who renews creation by leading God's people to freedom.
God consistently chooses to work with us. The obvious question is: Do we consistently choose to work with God?
Monday, October 16, 2017
October 16, 2017 Rivalry or Reconciliation?
I grew up in a big family. There were ten of us kids and I was the seventh born. So I had older brothers and sisters and I had younger brothers and sisters. Growing up in a big family we had our share of fights and disagreements. We were competitive and we fought hard to stay on top. Today, however, I think that is all behind us...at least I hope it is.
Is it simply a sign of "growing up" or is there more to it than that? I think there is more to it. Like the stories of Jacob and Esau and Joseph and his brothers, reconciliation comes when we are able to see the face of God in one another. The older I get, the easier that is to do.
Each of my siblings in their own way shines the light of Christ. We are far from a perfect family...yet most of the time we are able to look beyond one another's faults to find the good that is in each one of us. It makes those childhood dramas seem a little silly.
Another piece of all this comes from Engage Activity 6. As I reflected on that it struck me how often I know I need the joy of being forgiven. When someone asks me how I can be a good confessor, I tell them that it is because I'm a good sinner. I know how much I need the forgiveness of God and others. And it is in that need for forgiveness, that I get any grace I have to be a good confessor.
Pope John XXIII was once asked how to get along with someone you disagree with in the Church and he said this: "See everything. Overlook a lot; correct a little." I try, even to this day, to do that in my family of origin, in the larger (universal) Church family, and in my own parish family. To not do so, is to often miss the face of God.
I grew up in a big family. There were ten of us kids and I was the seventh born. So I had older brothers and sisters and I had younger brothers and sisters. Growing up in a big family we had our share of fights and disagreements. We were competitive and we fought hard to stay on top. Today, however, I think that is all behind us...at least I hope it is.
Is it simply a sign of "growing up" or is there more to it than that? I think there is more to it. Like the stories of Jacob and Esau and Joseph and his brothers, reconciliation comes when we are able to see the face of God in one another. The older I get, the easier that is to do.
Each of my siblings in their own way shines the light of Christ. We are far from a perfect family...yet most of the time we are able to look beyond one another's faults to find the good that is in each one of us. It makes those childhood dramas seem a little silly.
Another piece of all this comes from Engage Activity 6. As I reflected on that it struck me how often I know I need the joy of being forgiven. When someone asks me how I can be a good confessor, I tell them that it is because I'm a good sinner. I know how much I need the forgiveness of God and others. And it is in that need for forgiveness, that I get any grace I have to be a good confessor.
Pope John XXIII was once asked how to get along with someone you disagree with in the Church and he said this: "See everything. Overlook a lot; correct a little." I try, even to this day, to do that in my family of origin, in the larger (universal) Church family, and in my own parish family. To not do so, is to often miss the face of God.
Monday, October 9, 2017
October 9 Chapter 7 It's Not Too Late
When speaking about the story of Abraham and Sarah, McLaren says God kept his promise and they received the blessing of their child, Isaac. Then he writes,: "You might expect a happy ending at this point, but it was not that simple."
That line resonates with me. How often do I think, "I'm glad that's over, things will be a little easier now." It seldom is. Because we are a people always on the journey. When we get past one situation a new one arises. If it were any other way, it seems to me that we would stagnate. Yes, Abraham and Sarah got by one hurdle (no children) only to encounter another (showing a new image of God as one who does not require human sacrifice).
As a parish we are venturing out to build a new church building, a new worship space. It will solve some problems, but there will be more. It seems to me that we should look at this as not a completion of everything but simply as another step on our journey. When we reach this goal, there will be more goals to achieve. But like Abraham and Sarah, God walks with us too.
Where has God led you on your journey? What things have you completed? What more do you hope to do?
When speaking about the story of Abraham and Sarah, McLaren says God kept his promise and they received the blessing of their child, Isaac. Then he writes,: "You might expect a happy ending at this point, but it was not that simple."
That line resonates with me. How often do I think, "I'm glad that's over, things will be a little easier now." It seldom is. Because we are a people always on the journey. When we get past one situation a new one arises. If it were any other way, it seems to me that we would stagnate. Yes, Abraham and Sarah got by one hurdle (no children) only to encounter another (showing a new image of God as one who does not require human sacrifice).
As a parish we are venturing out to build a new church building, a new worship space. It will solve some problems, but there will be more. It seems to me that we should look at this as not a completion of everything but simply as another step on our journey. When we reach this goal, there will be more goals to achieve. But like Abraham and Sarah, God walks with us too.
Where has God led you on your journey? What things have you completed? What more do you hope to do?
Monday, October 2, 2017
October 2, 2017 Plotting Goodness
First of all, thanks to all who posted this week. Keep it up...and don't be afraid to comment on one another's posts as well...on to this week's post.
"When we drift from that high calling and start thinking only of me, only of our clan or our nation or our religion, our sense of identity begins to go stale and sour, even toxic." (Page 25)
When I am being honest, I catch myself thinking exactly this way: my parish, my faith, my religion. It's never overt, but too often it is there. How often do I push for my way under the guise of "it is for the common good?" Of course, I push hard for my way because I believe it is the best way. But here's the catch: Am I always sure it is God's way?
A couple of thoughts keep percolating in my head. The first is based on the Mark passage--the cleansing of the temple. In Divine Renovation, Fr. James Mallon reminds the reader that this was an intentional act...Jesus walked into the temple the night before, looks around, and then leaves. The next morning he comes back and cleanses the temple. He thought about it for the whole night. This was no spur of the moment decision. This was an intentional act to change the culture of the temple. For the last few years I have been thinking about how much we need to change the culture of our Church and of our own parish. We need to move away from an "our parish exists for us" mentality to an "our parish exists for the good of others--the common good" mentality. A parish is one institution that exists not for itself and its members but for those that are not yet members. We are called to make new disciples. We exist for the common good. It is a tough culture to change.
The other thought that comes to my mind is this. There is a song in our hymnal and you'll find it in the "Patriotic and National" section. It is called "This is My Song." I really like this song because it speaks of the greatness of our country, but reminds us that we are only one country among many...I've copied the first two verses here because I think they are so powerful.
This is my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for lands afar and mine.
This is my home, the country where my heart is;
Here are my hopes, my dreams my holy shrine;
But other hearts in other lands are beating
With hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.
My country's skies are bluer than the ocean,
and sunlight beams on clover-leaf and pine;
But other lands have sunlight too, and clover
And skies are everywhere as blue as mine.
O hear my song, thou God of all the nations,
A song of peace, for their land and mine.
That too me is true patriotism...to remember that we are one nation among many nations. To believe that we exist not only for ourselves but for the other...the other person, the other parish, the other religion, the other country...We exist for the common good.
Abram and Sara were told that they would b e a blessing for others. My hope and prayer is that I and our parish will be a blessing for others as well.
First of all, thanks to all who posted this week. Keep it up...and don't be afraid to comment on one another's posts as well...on to this week's post.
"When we drift from that high calling and start thinking only of me, only of our clan or our nation or our religion, our sense of identity begins to go stale and sour, even toxic." (Page 25)
When I am being honest, I catch myself thinking exactly this way: my parish, my faith, my religion. It's never overt, but too often it is there. How often do I push for my way under the guise of "it is for the common good?" Of course, I push hard for my way because I believe it is the best way. But here's the catch: Am I always sure it is God's way?
A couple of thoughts keep percolating in my head. The first is based on the Mark passage--the cleansing of the temple. In Divine Renovation, Fr. James Mallon reminds the reader that this was an intentional act...Jesus walked into the temple the night before, looks around, and then leaves. The next morning he comes back and cleanses the temple. He thought about it for the whole night. This was no spur of the moment decision. This was an intentional act to change the culture of the temple. For the last few years I have been thinking about how much we need to change the culture of our Church and of our own parish. We need to move away from an "our parish exists for us" mentality to an "our parish exists for the good of others--the common good" mentality. A parish is one institution that exists not for itself and its members but for those that are not yet members. We are called to make new disciples. We exist for the common good. It is a tough culture to change.
The other thought that comes to my mind is this. There is a song in our hymnal and you'll find it in the "Patriotic and National" section. It is called "This is My Song." I really like this song because it speaks of the greatness of our country, but reminds us that we are only one country among many...I've copied the first two verses here because I think they are so powerful.
This is my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for lands afar and mine.
This is my home, the country where my heart is;
Here are my hopes, my dreams my holy shrine;
But other hearts in other lands are beating
With hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.
My country's skies are bluer than the ocean,
and sunlight beams on clover-leaf and pine;
But other lands have sunlight too, and clover
And skies are everywhere as blue as mine.
O hear my song, thou God of all the nations,
A song of peace, for their land and mine.
That too me is true patriotism...to remember that we are one nation among many nations. To believe that we exist not only for ourselves but for the other...the other person, the other parish, the other religion, the other country...We exist for the common good.
Abram and Sara were told that they would b e a blessing for others. My hope and prayer is that I and our parish will be a blessing for others as well.
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