Feb 7th (373 words)
Talking about something other than the weather… let me ask a
question. What is happening in your
life-world? May-be I need to explain a
little before you can answer this question.
I first heard the expression “life-world” in my reading of some German
scholars. A life world has been
described as the social, living, active, thinking, responding, changing,
developing part of society. It involves
the discussions that happen at coffee shops and libraries and bars. It involves telephone calls and texts and
(can I say it?) facebook posts. It
involves the living breathing people responding to life-events in the human
story.
What is happening in your life world? How do you respond to the events and
situations all around you?
Be careful, because there are systems that want to colonize the
life-world – and subdue it for financial gain.
The same scholar (Jurgen Habermas) that has introduced me to the
life-world gives a warning of corporations that want to manipulate the
life-world in order to get money. There
are governments that want to do the same.
There are religions that want to do the same. These are bullies who are smart enough to get
you to give your lunch-money willingly – thinking you are saving the world in
the process.
I was thinking today about climate change (sorry for bringing up the
weather) – and corporations making you believe that by buying a different type
of lightbulb you are saving the world from global warming… Key example of a
system trying to colonize my life-world.
What about Jesus?
This is always a key question in everything – life-worldly.
Jesus came and broke apart system after system – in order to bring
the human life-world in touch with God’s living-world. God can now dwell with humanity because of
what Jesus did – and this breaks apart the power of the world systems.
We have a new, heavenly citizenship.
We have a relationship instead of a religion.
Let’s also stop living as a consumer and start living as a steward
of God’s resources. Don’t let corporate
control colonize your life-world. Live
free in Christ – in touch with life and loving.
Practically: don’t walk by your appetites – but walk by God’s Spirit
– in control of how you feed your hunger.
Feb 13th (298 words)
In and out of this snowstorm, sit back and enjoy a cozy cup of
coffee (best beverage to make a poetic post) as you experience Jesus – and
expect to be surprised! He says: Give to
Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. We can easily miss the brilliance of how he
springs the trap set for him – and in one small line – along with the
object-lesson of a coin – lays out an entire approach to the government and
God! (Mat 22:21). In a day and age when
children were overlooked and worthless in society, Jesus invited them (Mat
19:13-14). In a day and age when men
didn’t talk to women and Jews didn’t talk to Samaritans, Jesus asks a Samaritan
woman for a drink (John 4:7).
Expect to be invited into a loving relationship. Look at how he responds to Martha when Mary
M. is sitting at his feet with the other men instead of serving him in the
kitchen – Jesus affirms that he loves what she is doing (Luke 10:40-41). He forgives his enemies and brings a criminal
on the cross with him into paradise (Luke 23:34, 43). People saw how much he loved Lazarus, Mary
and Martha as he was crying just before bringing Lazarus up from the dead (John
11:35).
Expect to be in awe of Jesus.
Read descriptions of him in Revelation 1:12-18 – the Ancient of Days who
is also the Son of Man. Remember him
walking on water (Mt 14:22-33) and calming the storms (Mk 4:35-41) –
demonstrating authority over the oceans.
Colossians 1:15-20 describe the pre-eminence of Jesus – over everything!
Who is this man? Who is this
God? The same one who loves you (who is
in love with you – in a state of love for you).
Feb 20th (363 words)
Make way! Make way! Clear a space. You’re taking up too much room – give way –
slide your bum over so there is a place for another to sit.
Why? Who is coming?
Who is important enough to inconvenience everyone around him?
Not gentle Jesus meek and mild.
Yes, actually it is he.
This is how the Gospel of Mark opens – a call to make room for the Messiah.
Canadians don’t want to inconvenience anyone. We don’t like causing a disturbance. And we expect others to be like us – not wanting
to disturb us – not wanting to inconvenience us.
Is Jesus like us?
The answer isn’t as easy as it sounds. If we want to respond appropriately to Jesus
we need to give him the space of a king in our daily life. You need to give him the space you would give
a lover. He deserves it. All the space we can give him actually
belongs to him. If we have given our
lives to Jesus – our lives belong to him.
Here is the complication:
Jesus himself isn’t clamouring for attention like a 2 year old
child. Others are speaking for him. His disciples tell us to make a way for him. Isaiah says that a prophet will be sent to
make a way – make a path for the Lord. Then
John the Baptist comes with his message of repentance. He predicts Jesus’ arrival – the one who will
baptise with the Holy Spirit instead of water.
John says he’s unworthy to even
stoop to unlatch the sandal of Jesus!
Make way! Make way! Clear a space. You’re taking up too much room – give way.
Why? Who is coming?
Who is important enough to inconvenience everyone else?
It is Jesus - the tender creator of all creation.
It is Jesus - the omnipotent judge of all the world.
It is Jesus - the lover and friend of our souls.
He will gladly and lovingly take all the space you give him! But he isn’t clamouring for it – you need to
listen to those who witness about him to catch the urgency of making space.
Why not find more space to give him?
