Here are some notes for our December 14th gathering:
We reflected on the experiences we have had together, their impact on our understandings of what it means for each of us to be a disciple, and where the Living Word will continue to hit ground in our lives.
For at least one of us, meaningful questions were more plentiful than concrete answers, which reminded me of Robert Raines' observation that the life of faith isn't so much about "finding the answers" as it is living the questions. We make daily decisions of faith; we live and act with intention (which is supple and creative, quite different than certitude); our communion with God reveals deeper connections we can experience with one another.
I offered Matthew 5: 48 as a powerful text for our consideration: "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." What sounds at first like an impossible demand is actually revealed to be an "invitation to wholeness." The Greek term teleios, translated in the NRSV as"perfect," is not about flawlessness at all, but rather wholeness, fulfillment, or completion. What will it mean for us to be "whole" or "fulfilled" (wounds and all) in the image of our God? To be fully ourselves, individually and together, as God intended in our loving creation. We must note that Matthew 5:48, is placed at the heart of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, a sermon in which Jesus reveals the true character of our Creator.
One of us reflected on what it might mean to "perfect my vulnerability;" she pointed to the life of Jesus as example. Powerful, wonderful stuff!
A community that is "whole" will be one that offers encouragement, with the opportunity to discover and become the promised and gifted people we are, freely and lovingly with one another. The difficulties, tragedies, errors and pains in our lives are not to be denied; rather, they are part of our "becoming" and are claimed/blessed by God! We grow and commune in our trials and in our losses at least as much as in our successes. We become a commune-ity!
The assessment that "in a faith community, people aren't useful," was challenging and hard for some of us to accept. The point being that we do exist to bless, lift up, and enrich one another; our value, however, is never to be measured by "utility." Dynamic new understandings of self/others are available, rather than "fitting people in" to existing expectations and often tired routines. We get to explore the "new life' that God promises through Jesus!
Thanks to Karen and Charl for the excellent lunch, and to Debra for the cookies. And thanks to each of you--for you.
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I believe that in this final meeting of this course the members of the group wanted to share with each other what they had discovered about themselves and were confortable sharing with each other. It was a learning experience for me and I thank Pastor Scott for having the course.
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