She was using all the phrases she had been taught as a child and young adult. Trying to make sense of the language of Christendom just wasn't working. First, the life of faith is one of "trusting" that this way of being in the world leads to new life and reconciliation, to justice and health and wholeness for all people. That's what it means to follow Jesus. It is far from an individual "belief system" that protects you from the fires of hell.
I think this practice of sharing the Good News may be the second most challenging thing we have ever done...the first being actually living as disciples. (Insert old joke here...how do you know Christianity doesn't work? it's never really been tried...yuk, yuk, yuk...) I find myself paying close attention to phrases and scripture passages and explanations that really resonate and don't have the "insider language" barrier attached. There is a time and place to learn some of the insider language (after people are "insiders," probably).
Richard Rohr gave me good food for thought as he teaches about St. Thérèse:
Thérèse rediscovered the same thing that Francis did: We don't come to God by eliminating our imperfection, but by rejoicing in it because it makes us aware of our need for God's mercy and love and it keeps us humble. She called this her "Little Way," a way which everyone can follow. Brother Joe Schmidt describes Thérèse's method as "the way of being aware of your need for love, willing to give yourself to God's loving embrace like a child abandons itself with confidence and love into the arms of its loving parent, and then freely sharing love with others in creative good works of peace and justice. It is the willingness to be the person God calls you to be."[2] (Click here for the whole piece.)Rejoicing in our imperfection which makes us aware of our need for mercy and love.
There's a thought worth sharing.
No comments:
Post a Comment