Month: June 2017

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WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE

Suggested Scripture Reading Micah 6: 6-8
Scripture Emphasis:
John 6:28 – Then they asked Jesus, “What must we do to
do the works God requires?” (1)

Viktor E. Frankl, the founder of the Viennese school of Psychiatry known as ‘Logotherapy,’ suggests that it is not at all’ belief’ in God that is most important. It is, instead, the portrayal of God in a person’s behaviour that makes God irresistible. Therefore, Frankl concludes: “If religion is to survive, it must be profoundly personal.” (2)

It is an exciting journey from mere belief to an authentic portrayal of God that is irresistible. It is something of this journey that I wish to share with you now. All I ask of you is the use of your imagination. Let it be the door through which the Spirit of God will lead you to a more authentic experience.

I am Ezra Ben Sirach.

In the New Testament lesson of today, I am one in the crowd. Most of those in Capernaum today experience the charismatic effect of Jesus’ presence. However, we believe in Jehovah God, which is our proud Jewish inheritance. However, there is no denying; there is something beautifully challenging about how this man Jesus, speaks of God. It is so different, considering that Jesus is himself a fellow Jew. It is as if God is right there beside Him. I believe God seems far away and distant in the best of times. I think I would do anything if my faith could impact others like he is impacting me!

I confess I am the one who steps out of the crowd and asks Jesus: “What must we do to do the works that God requires?” I felt compelled to do something. What follows is one of the most incredible happenings of my entire life. Today I move from being a respectable believer to becoming fully alive for the Glory of God. But I am getting ahead of myself in my story. All of this experience is so exciting that I can barely contain myself.

I remember, as a child receiving instruction on obeying the Law. I understood that to mean doing something to please God or not doing anything to displease Him. The Ten Commandments are the primary focus of everything I know about God. I always make a concerted effort to do good work. But then I wonder if what I do is ever sufficient. I fear that doubts began long ago to get the best of me. In the company of other worshippers, I keep saying that I do believe, but  Oh! I do so earnestly want to feel that God sometimes smiles at me

Today I meet the man Jesus! And God is right here. Jesus’ life is entirely effortless. He never produces a checklist to ensure that he strictly complies with some written Law consisting of things He had to do or not do to have a good relationship with God. Today it seems to me that He reaches into the crowd, lifts my heart, and holds it ever so tenderly in His hands. That is the moment when I find the courage to ask Him,” What must we do to do the work that God requires?” What follows is best understood as a glorious light that comes flooding my mind. I experience such tender compassion from Him. He addresses me as though I am the only one present with Him there. He doesn’t single me out in the crowd; He permits me to remain anonymous. Is it the tender compassion of Jesus that prevents John from identifying me in his Gospel? I doubt not that that day Jesus’ witness had many pondering what might be required of them to be like Him. I am glad to be a spokesman for the many!

“My brother ( He calls me His brother! I am so honoured),  it is not a matter of doing that is required, but rather it is all a question of ‘being.’ Be my faithful follower, then you will learn what to do. Live as habitually and as simply as possible on that level of your being where I dwell. For it is there ‘where Spirit with spirit meet, you will find God is closer than breathing, nearer than hands and feet! ‘”. (3)

“I’ve found a Friend, oh, such a Friend!
He loved me ere I knew Him;
He drew me with the cords of love,
And thus He bound me to Him.
And round my heart still closely twine
Those ties which nought can sever,
For I am His, and He is mine,
Forever and forever.” (4)

A Prayer To Follow This Meditation

Saviour, speak the word only but not for the benefit of our physical ears. Instead, fine-tuning the sensitivity of our Spirit’s hearing will command lasting allegiance to You.
As long as our spirits are disengaged, the Good News is lost in the world’s too-familiar hum. “Where the Spirit rests unknown, fatal is
 the letter “.
Awake us to the beginning of a new day in Your Presence,
O, Christ. Then shall we come to know God even as He knows us, and He will show us the gifts bestowed upon us to complete our tasks, like You did, for the Glory of our Father. Amen

Ascription Of Glory
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present without blemish before the presence of His glory with rejoicing, to the only God, our Saviour through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and power now and forever.” Amen. Jude 24.

1. The Scripture quotes are from The NIV Translation
2. Viktor E. Frankl . In “The Unconscious God.” p.15f
3. Alfred Tennyson. In “Higher Pantheism”
4. James G Small. in “I’ve Found A Friend, O Such A  Friend.”

 

 

Psalm 8:4. What is humankind that You are mindful of them? You made them a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
Matthew 28:19.  Go and make disciples of all nations .

The Hebrew narrative of creation is at the same time both poetic and extremely challenging. With broad strokes, the created order emerges from a formless void. Then and only then does God create humans in His image. People, through the use of their unique and particular endowments, are now co-workers with God to fill in the details of the broad framework of God’s creation. Therein, the challenge of the narrative begins to focus more clearly.

Through the life force given by God to people, all creation will, with one voice, bring glory to God.  God bestows upon the human race alone the unique capacity to draw the riches of the created order unto themselves – not to selfishly possess them as their own but to hold them in their spirit. When these riches return to the world, they bear the enhancement of the human spirit.

Of all creation, the human being alone possesses a spirit, which is the dwelling place of the eternal Creator.

All material things emerge from the incredibly fertile soil of this world, and through connection to an individual’s spirit are refreshed and animated anew. This process enables the entire earth to participate in the Sanctus.

The Old Testament is rich in the expression of how things less than human acquire human attributes to contribute to their Maker’s praise:

The trees of the forest will clap their hands. (Isa. 55: 12)
The young lions seek their meat from God. (Ps 104:21)
the morning stars sang together. (Job 28:7).

It is as though those who temporarily adopt those earthly things impart something of their spirit to them. In this way, humans who are bearing the Image of God continue His work towards completing creation.

If such is the truth of things less than human, what about those individuals who for some reason have forgotten or who disregard Imago Dei, the image of God?  Is it not a supreme challenge above all others, to engage in the creation of angels by seeking to help restore contact with God (who yet dwells within them) those who may absent themselves from Him?

God does not remove from any living person the ability to respond to spring’s return. Let the words of St. Irenaeus be the impetus for service: “The Glory of God is a man ( or woman) fully alive.”

It was a bitterly frosty winter evening several years ago when the police spotted a young man most unsuitably dressed for the raging storm.  He was seeking what little shelter he could find in a local storefront, but there was no hiding the fact that his chances of surviving the night were minimal.

He was too cold to engage in any explanation for his plight, other than that his father had severely beaten him and had forced him from home, which was several miles from his present location.  It quickly became evident to the police that the lad needed medical attention, and they immediately transferred him to the local hospital, where he remained under care for several weeks.

It was during this time that I became involved in the situation, invited by the staff to offer assistance to a frightened, hurting, lonely young man, who consistently resisted every approach suggested.  It took many long and painful weeks for this young man to relive the horrid experiences that resulted in our being together.

His fifteen years were devoid of any verbal expressions of love that he could recall, or even the slightest recognition of the fact that he mattered.  His clothes were hand-me-downs, and he could not recall ever having footwear that was especially his very own.  Many times a detailed plan of escape was in his mind, but he was aware of how much his little income meant for his younger siblings. That concern kept him a hard working employee of the local fish plant and the victim of gross abuse.

Over the weeks, one of the most heart-wrenching tales of human abuse I ever heard emerged.  In measured, painful syllables often punctuated with bitter sobs, it all came forth.  But even more than that, it became evident that deep inside, in spite of everything, there was a kind and compassionate person who would bring much beauty into this world if only afforded the dignity of being a somebody, and a valued child of God.

One afternoon towards the end of his lengthy stay in the hospital, I suggested we spend some time at a local mall, just as a change of setting.  At first, he reluctantly declined, and soon I came to understand his reason. There beside his bed there lay a pair of ragged and completely worn out sneakers – his only footwear.  Not a word was spoken as he bent down and slowly ties the tattered sneakers to his feet.  A pleasant afternoon ensued, and I heard the music of laughter from my friend for the first time.

We were about to leave a store when we noticed a large display of winter boots directly in our path.  My friend slowed and stopped for a moment to look.  His longing gaze touched my heart. “Would you like to have a pair of those?”, I quietly asked. “Yeah, but I can’t.”, he concluded and abruptly turned to leave.

I tell you what, man, you pick them out, and try them on, and let’s see if we can knock the ‘t’ off that “can’t”!

Considerable persuasion was necessary, but the look on that face as we headed to the check-out is one of the most rewarding things I can remember; that memory coupled with a call I received from my friend’s nurse later on that same evening.

“I thought of calling you last night to invite you to come down to see something.” she quietly began. “I went into Lewis’s room rather late at night and was so surprised to find him lying on his bed still wearing his new boots. ‘Lewis,’ I protested, ‘it’s time you were asleep. Now remove your boots and get into your bed.’ ‘No, miss,’ he responded, ‘these are boots my buddy bought for me and I ain’t goin’ to part with em.’ If indeed, God’s whole plan of creation  employs the human spirit to enliven the inanimate or even lifeless objects to celebrate the divine, how more  far reaching is the effect  of holding a lost and broken  human being in your spirit until they too are reawakened to experience God and offer their celebratory praise to Him.

My part in this whole story is minuscule. This world is in need of ‘Angel Makers’ , and I assure  you that there is no shortage of ‘raw materials ‘ available.

My prayer remains to this hour that Lewis has found the One who prepares the  feet  with readiness for the  Gospel of Peace through Jesus Christ.(Ephesians.6:15) And I do believe he has.