Lenten Meditation - #40
The suggested gospel lesson is John 13:21-33 and 36-38 in which Jesus predicts the betrayal of Judas and the denial of Peter. This lesson is, I think, at the heart of the Lenten season. Us humans are the only species of life which refuse to accept themselves as they are. History is rife with examples of us attempting to pretend to be more than or better than each other and even other species of life. The irony or paradox is that because we do not think of ourselves as enough we distance ourselves from ourselves and each other. We then attempt to fill the void with power, money, sex or food. We may numb ourselves with alcohol, other drugs, a physical pain, some other substance or temporary filler. This leaves us more disconnected and with the pain of shame and even disgust. We distance ourselves even more which necessitates more shameful behavior which leads to more disconnection. Obviously, it can be a never-ending vicious cycle. No wonder we often find it difficult to admit that we were wrong; that we hurt someone; that we did whatever it is that we did. Often it seems as if our way of hurting ourselves and others is so much worse than what others have done that we cannot possibility admit what we did. Daily it seems we betray our own humanness. That is, when we judge ourselves and others we reject ourselves as the humans we are. As humans, we get impatient, fearful, jealous, spiteful, blaming, shameful, resentful, angry and hurtful. Daily we are kind, generous, gracious, welcoming, accepting and loving. We are capable of all these emotions and actions. Yet, we are shocked by our humanness and all too often slithter off to a shameful corner or build a shield of a combination of steel, self-righteousness, anger and blame.
The sub-title of Greg Boyle book Barking to the Choir is Radical Kindship. This is the relationship Jesus is offering to all those including Peter, Judas and even those responsible for sentencing him to death by crucifixion. From the cross he will ask, “Father Forgive them for they know not what they do.” This is the relationship which Jesus is suggesting that the God of His understanding has offered to each of us. This is the relationship that Jesus says we are to offer each other; a relationship of radical kindship; a relationship of equals; a relationship which accepts and loves unconditionally; a relationship which always sets a place at the table without asking that one first undergo a drug test or a background check. Others may ask, “Do you know who that person is? Do know what they done?” We will reply, “This is a human just like you and me. That is all we need to know. Set the table for a special guest. Your brother or sister is coming home.”
This relationship of radical kinship is what we are offered. This is the relationship we are called to offer each other this week and every week.
April 15, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
The suggested gospel lesson is John 13:21-33 and 36-38 in which Jesus predicts the betrayal of Judas and the denial of Peter. This lesson is, I think, at the heart of the Lenten season. Us humans are the only species of life which refuse to accept themselves as they are. History is rife with examples of us attempting to pretend to be more than or better than each other and even other species of life. The irony or paradox is that because we do not think of ourselves as enough we distance ourselves from ourselves and each other. We then attempt to fill the void with power, money, sex or food. We may numb ourselves with alcohol, other drugs, a physical pain, some other substance or temporary filler. This leaves us more disconnected and with the pain of shame and even disgust. We distance ourselves even more which necessitates more shameful behavior which leads to more disconnection. Obviously, it can be a never-ending vicious cycle. No wonder we often find it difficult to admit that we were wrong; that we hurt someone; that we did whatever it is that we did. Often it seems as if our way of hurting ourselves and others is so much worse than what others have done that we cannot possibility admit what we did. Daily it seems we betray our own humanness. That is, when we judge ourselves and others we reject ourselves as the humans we are. As humans, we get impatient, fearful, jealous, spiteful, blaming, shameful, resentful, angry and hurtful. Daily we are kind, generous, gracious, welcoming, accepting and loving. We are capable of all these emotions and actions. Yet, we are shocked by our humanness and all too often slithter off to a shameful corner or build a shield of a combination of steel, self-righteousness, anger and blame.
The sub-title of Greg Boyle book Barking to the Choir is Radical Kindship. This is the relationship Jesus is offering to all those including Peter, Judas and even those responsible for sentencing him to death by crucifixion. From the cross he will ask, “Father Forgive them for they know not what they do.” This is the relationship which Jesus is suggesting that the God of His understanding has offered to each of us. This is the relationship that Jesus says we are to offer each other; a relationship of radical kindship; a relationship of equals; a relationship which accepts and loves unconditionally; a relationship which always sets a place at the table without asking that one first undergo a drug test or a background check. Others may ask, “Do you know who that person is? Do know what they done?” We will reply, “This is a human just like you and me. That is all we need to know. Set the table for a special guest. Your brother or sister is coming home.”
This relationship of radical kinship is what we are offered. This is the relationship we are called to offer each other this week and every week.
April 15, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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