Thoughts from Christ Church in Southgate, London
1 Phil. 1:9-11
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is right and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God.
How then shall we live? In love. Sharing the fruit of righteousness that comes from Christ. We look, not for love or light in the kingdoms and powers of this world, where blood of human life tarnishes the sword and riches of gold collect dust. No, we seek love and light where it is most brilliant - in darkness. Where Jesus sits on the floor to enjoy the common meal and where the cold wind enters the home from the outside. Among the earthen ones - who know need - and know the meaning of enough and abundance - there sits Christ. Therein dwells love - the love which crosses all borders, surpasses evil, and transforms lives - the love which is from Christ and is the fruit of righteousness.
Woe to us who think we are wiser than we are, who accept lives of privilege without grace - who serve for self-improvement and seek that which cannot fulfill.
Woe to us who live lives of privilege and cannot find ways to share - who think good thoughts can save the world.
Have mercy on us, O Lord. For we have fallen and are unworthy. Break our crystal glaze and fire our hearts for action, serving as a natural reflection of our conviction in Hope over Fear and Love over Hate. Draw near to us, O God, show us your face of light, love and truth. Guide us towards life that conquers death, towards joy that blossoms out of sorrow, and of peace that is birthed out of pain. Draw us toward wholeness in and with you in a world of brokenness and separation.
Call to us, Lord. Ask us to serve for Your everlasting Kingdom. Shake our confidences in this world and teach us reliance on You for all sustenance. Grant us strength for the journey, wisdom for the way, and your eyes to see the world as you see it.
How then shall we live? In love.
My faith cannot be separate from this world, O God. I see your children in pain and hurting - I see your disciples in need while I am satisfied - am I to correct my errors and straighten my path in the midst of this? Because I have been able to receive education, to live without want, and critically examine our world, does that mean that the burden - or privilege - of change is mine in their midst?
Perhaps more likely is that our lives are firmly woven together - that my salvation is also dependent in some way on them. I cannot live cocooned seeking after my own enlightenment and refinement. I must seek to grow in fellowship and communion with others - particularly my sisters and brothers in faith who live in need and want in this physical world.
May I have the grace, wisdom, and strength to live authentically in my faith - in communion with those in need and dependent upon them, not exclusive from them.
May I realise too that it is not just I and them - but an earthen we who together strive to follow the Christ of the people.
May I also - in my desire to commune as a person of privilege with those in want that I not neglect the needs of those directly around me even in lives of privilege.
Your kingdom is vibrant, Lord, and your communion welcoming for all divergents. Grant me Your wisdom to see with Your eyes so that I may discern what you have asked me, Sharon Kniss, your disciple, to do - and grant me the strength, grace, and diligence to listen, to hear, and to act according to Your will.
I am Yours to serve in Love for creation. Speak, O Lord, and help me to hear.
Amen.
24-11-06
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is right and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God.
How then shall we live? In love. Sharing the fruit of righteousness that comes from Christ. We look, not for love or light in the kingdoms and powers of this world, where blood of human life tarnishes the sword and riches of gold collect dust. No, we seek love and light where it is most brilliant - in darkness. Where Jesus sits on the floor to enjoy the common meal and where the cold wind enters the home from the outside. Among the earthen ones - who know need - and know the meaning of enough and abundance - there sits Christ. Therein dwells love - the love which crosses all borders, surpasses evil, and transforms lives - the love which is from Christ and is the fruit of righteousness.
Woe to us who think we are wiser than we are, who accept lives of privilege without grace - who serve for self-improvement and seek that which cannot fulfill.
Woe to us who live lives of privilege and cannot find ways to share - who think good thoughts can save the world.
Have mercy on us, O Lord. For we have fallen and are unworthy. Break our crystal glaze and fire our hearts for action, serving as a natural reflection of our conviction in Hope over Fear and Love over Hate. Draw near to us, O God, show us your face of light, love and truth. Guide us towards life that conquers death, towards joy that blossoms out of sorrow, and of peace that is birthed out of pain. Draw us toward wholeness in and with you in a world of brokenness and separation.
Call to us, Lord. Ask us to serve for Your everlasting Kingdom. Shake our confidences in this world and teach us reliance on You for all sustenance. Grant us strength for the journey, wisdom for the way, and your eyes to see the world as you see it.
How then shall we live? In love.
My faith cannot be separate from this world, O God. I see your children in pain and hurting - I see your disciples in need while I am satisfied - am I to correct my errors and straighten my path in the midst of this? Because I have been able to receive education, to live without want, and critically examine our world, does that mean that the burden - or privilege - of change is mine in their midst?
Perhaps more likely is that our lives are firmly woven together - that my salvation is also dependent in some way on them. I cannot live cocooned seeking after my own enlightenment and refinement. I must seek to grow in fellowship and communion with others - particularly my sisters and brothers in faith who live in need and want in this physical world.
May I have the grace, wisdom, and strength to live authentically in my faith - in communion with those in need and dependent upon them, not exclusive from them.
May I realise too that it is not just I and them - but an earthen we who together strive to follow the Christ of the people.
May I also - in my desire to commune as a person of privilege with those in want that I not neglect the needs of those directly around me even in lives of privilege.
Your kingdom is vibrant, Lord, and your communion welcoming for all divergents. Grant me Your wisdom to see with Your eyes so that I may discern what you have asked me, Sharon Kniss, your disciple, to do - and grant me the strength, grace, and diligence to listen, to hear, and to act according to Your will.
I am Yours to serve in Love for creation. Speak, O Lord, and help me to hear.
Amen.
24-11-06
posted by Sharon at 1:16 PM
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