Today's Scripture Reading
1 John 2: 7-11 (NRSV)
Blog Reflection
There are some theologians who think that we should set aside the language of darkness vs. light. They suggest that both are terms that are much too outdated.
I tend to both agree and disagree. I think many things like this are not a matter of either/or, but, both/and.
To suggest that God is not able to deal with darkness because it is the evil one's "territory" so to speak, is much too limiting of who God is. There are also those wonderful verses in Psalm 139:10,11 that read: "If I say, "Surely the darkness will cover me, and the light around me turn to night," darkness is not dark to you, O Lord; the night is as bright as the day; darkness and light to you are both alike."
Whatever our opinion of darkness vs light might be, I think there is room to agree that hate is the product of some kind of darkness. A darkness that can be compared to the inability to see clearly what our attitudes are producing when hate is at work in and through us.
Just recently I had a conversation about the words people use when discussing minorities. An individual who has her/his prejudices towards a non-white person, but does not want to be exposed for such, will say something like: "I am not a racist, but I just think black people want too much from us". Someone who has issues with sexism will say: "I really love women, but, they belong in the kitchen or at home with the children." I heard someone say of a transgender woman once: "I am not against someone having gender reassignment surgery, but she still looks like a man." It is so common to hear someone say of lesbian and gay people: "I have nothing against lesbian or gay people, but, I just do not think they should be allowed to get married."
When Jesus was born of Mary, he was not born of a couple who conceived him in wedlock. He was not born in the middle of Canterbury Cathedral in England, or St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. He was not Caucasian. He was born in a middle eastern country of Jewish origin, and definitely was not white. He and his parents were refugees in Egypt during the slaughter of the Holy Innocents. He was welcomed by shepherds and given gifts by wise men from the east. He was baptized by a man who was dressed in camels hair, and ate locusts and honey. He loved people that were so often unloved. This is how Jesus brought the light of God into the world, in the midst of the darkness.
As Christians celebrating the arrival of Christ, we are called to do nothing less than to welcome the stranger. We should look to the example of Christ to receive the refugee and love the unlovable. Whether someone is black, copper skinned, brown or white, female or male, LGBT or straight and/or cisgender, sick or healthy, poor or wealthy, Christian or some other religion, it doesn't matter. What matters is that we are all created, redeemed and sanctified by God's work of salvation in Christ. That is why we must love one another and live in the light of Christ.
Prayers
1 John 2: 7-11 (NRSV)
Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word that you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new commandment that is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says, ‘I am in the light’, while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness. Whoever loves a brother or sister lives in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates another believer is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness.
Blog Reflection
There are some theologians who think that we should set aside the language of darkness vs. light. They suggest that both are terms that are much too outdated.
I tend to both agree and disagree. I think many things like this are not a matter of either/or, but, both/and.
To suggest that God is not able to deal with darkness because it is the evil one's "territory" so to speak, is much too limiting of who God is. There are also those wonderful verses in Psalm 139:10,11 that read: "If I say, "Surely the darkness will cover me, and the light around me turn to night," darkness is not dark to you, O Lord; the night is as bright as the day; darkness and light to you are both alike."
Whatever our opinion of darkness vs light might be, I think there is room to agree that hate is the product of some kind of darkness. A darkness that can be compared to the inability to see clearly what our attitudes are producing when hate is at work in and through us.
Just recently I had a conversation about the words people use when discussing minorities. An individual who has her/his prejudices towards a non-white person, but does not want to be exposed for such, will say something like: "I am not a racist, but I just think black people want too much from us". Someone who has issues with sexism will say: "I really love women, but, they belong in the kitchen or at home with the children." I heard someone say of a transgender woman once: "I am not against someone having gender reassignment surgery, but she still looks like a man." It is so common to hear someone say of lesbian and gay people: "I have nothing against lesbian or gay people, but, I just do not think they should be allowed to get married."
When Jesus was born of Mary, he was not born of a couple who conceived him in wedlock. He was not born in the middle of Canterbury Cathedral in England, or St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. He was not Caucasian. He was born in a middle eastern country of Jewish origin, and definitely was not white. He and his parents were refugees in Egypt during the slaughter of the Holy Innocents. He was welcomed by shepherds and given gifts by wise men from the east. He was baptized by a man who was dressed in camels hair, and ate locusts and honey. He loved people that were so often unloved. This is how Jesus brought the light of God into the world, in the midst of the darkness.
As Christians celebrating the arrival of Christ, we are called to do nothing less than to welcome the stranger. We should look to the example of Christ to receive the refugee and love the unlovable. Whether someone is black, copper skinned, brown or white, female or male, LGBT or straight and/or cisgender, sick or healthy, poor or wealthy, Christian or some other religion, it doesn't matter. What matters is that we are all created, redeemed and sanctified by God's work of salvation in Christ. That is why we must love one another and live in the light of Christ.
Prayers
O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth
of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully
receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence
behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen. (Collect for the Nativity, Book of Common Prayer, p. 212).
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, p.815).
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