I watched a movie the other day that was set in Australia. Christmas came, and the producers had a very tongue-in-cheek way of acknowledging the conflict between most of the world's understanding of Christmas with cold, snow, ice, bad weather, and that experienced by those in the southern hemisphere. While "Let it snow" was playing they showed shots of people surfing, swimming, and playing in the sand of the beach. The incongruity was jarring, but also really funny.
Jesus' ministry, or for that matter, his whole life, seemed to be incongruous. The world was waiting for Messiah to come riding in on a white horse with armor all around. He came riding on a donkey with just his regular clothes. The world expected him to overthrow the oppressive Roman Empire. He overturned tables in the temple. The world expected fire and brimstone. He brought love and acceptance. He wasn't at all what the world was expecting, and we, as his followers, must also stand outside of the world's expectations. We are called to live humbly, to love mightily, to break down oppressive systems to bring justice to the world, to speak for those who are voiceless, to challenge the status quo. Dangerous? Yes. Look what happened to our leader. But we are not called to live quietly and hide from the world, but to enter it boldly to bring about the change that needs to be made. Are you ready to live in-congruently?
You call us, O God, to live in ministry to your world, and to continue the work of bringing your reign even on Earth. In doing this you do not call us to wear capes and tights with big red S or W on them. You do not call us to get bitten by radioactive spiders or blasted through with gamma rays. You do call us to step out in faith to make changes that need to be made. You call us to be ourselves, but to do that in the strength of your Spirit. With the courage that comes from you we go forward to do your bidding, so that the world will be a better place for all your people....Amen.
Jesus' ministry, or for that matter, his whole life, seemed to be incongruous. The world was waiting for Messiah to come riding in on a white horse with armor all around. He came riding on a donkey with just his regular clothes. The world expected him to overthrow the oppressive Roman Empire. He overturned tables in the temple. The world expected fire and brimstone. He brought love and acceptance. He wasn't at all what the world was expecting, and we, as his followers, must also stand outside of the world's expectations. We are called to live humbly, to love mightily, to break down oppressive systems to bring justice to the world, to speak for those who are voiceless, to challenge the status quo. Dangerous? Yes. Look what happened to our leader. But we are not called to live quietly and hide from the world, but to enter it boldly to bring about the change that needs to be made. Are you ready to live in-congruently?
You call us, O God, to live in ministry to your world, and to continue the work of bringing your reign even on Earth. In doing this you do not call us to wear capes and tights with big red S or W on them. You do not call us to get bitten by radioactive spiders or blasted through with gamma rays. You do call us to step out in faith to make changes that need to be made. You call us to be ourselves, but to do that in the strength of your Spirit. With the courage that comes from you we go forward to do your bidding, so that the world will be a better place for all your people....Amen.
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