Sunday Post 2

 

Things That I have Unlearned 

 

As I have aged I have discovered a number of things that I have had to unlearn.

 

Here are a few. The list is by no means exhaustive but at least it will give you an understanding of where my thinking is today. Maybe this will give you an opportunity to reflect and perhaps respond. I do welcome comments no matter what they may be.

 

l That God is a (male, white) being separate from humanity dwelling in a separate realm who, like a patriarchal puppet master, controls all that happens for humanity and judges our individual actions.

I don’t think that I have ever believed this in its crudest form but I certainly have had to unlearn some of ‘omni’ prefixes that we generally associate with God the controlling, judging being. God is not a being, and it seems to me that for humans to try to comprehend God is simply us trying to control and limit God. I am happy at this stage of my life just to rest in the mystery of God.

 

l If we have sufficient faith and pray hard enough God will intervene in the world on our behalf to bring about everything we desire provided it is in accord with God’s will.

 

I do believe that God intervenes in the world but not in this way. This is the way to a ‘success ministry’ mentality and we have recently seen where that leads. This is cargo cult ideology. And I do believe that prayer is very important but it is not about ensuring that I get what I want. We have to be very careful about what we pray for in intercessory prayer. I actually think that prayer has much more to do with me than those who I pray about, in centering my thinking and maybe making me more compassionate. God does enter into my life and being always especially when I or those around me or those elsewhere in the world, suffer.

 

l Jesus of Nazareth is the only Son of God, the promised Messiah, God in human flesh

 

I have unlearned much of this. In this regard a quote from Richard Rohr will suffice.

 

“We worshipped Jesus instead of following him on his same path.

 

We made Jesus into a mere religion instead of a journey towards union with God and everything else.

 

This shift made us into a ‘religion of belonging and believing’ instead of a religion of transformation.”  (Richard Rohr)

 

l The Church is always an open community ready to welcome everyone without reservation and includes everyone as a vital member of the family of the Church.

 

For me this is very much a work in progress because I continue to live in hope that this will always be the case. However, my experience over many years has made me realize that the church is rarely an open community because communities seek stability and it is difficult to find that when new people are always coming along and disrupting the status quo especially when they are ‘not like us’. And try suggesting to a person from the LGBTQIA+ community that the church is always an inclusive community.

 

There are many other unlearnings that have been part of my journey into older life but they will have to wait for another day.

The Sunday Post

  “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.                                                                                                                        Matthew 5: 9 (NRSV) 

 

During this past week we have celebrated the great festival of All Saints’ Day followed the next day by the lesser festival of All Souls’ Day. They are both celebration of the lives of those who have gone before us as bearers of light to the world and guides on our path. Whereas All Saints’ Day celebrates the holy women and men of all ages, All Souls’ Day is a more personal day of remembrance. It allows us pause to remember all those who are of special memory to us as individuals because they have particularly influenced our lives and guided our journey. 

The Gospel reading for this year for All Saints’ Day is Matthew 5: 1 - 12, the Beatitudes. This short passage gives us insight into what it means to live a saintly life, a life full of meaning. By embodying the Beatitudes we follow in the footsteps of the Saints in every age. 

The vision of Matthew 5 - 9 stands out particularly at this time when all public discourse seems to be based on the assumption that war and strife are inevitable as nations stand in enmity toward each other, where one nation seeks to impose its worldview upon others. 

War is not inevitable and enmity between nations is a political and diplomatic expedient. As globalization increases we recognize the greater commonality between us and our shared future and destiny. We are all in a position to disrupt the narrative of conflict. We don’t need to buy into it. We can and must stand against it. We become peace makers by living our lives for others in unconditional love for all and proclaiming peace. 

Standing against the narrative of conflict is risky because it necessarily puts us at odds with the powerful of our world. But isn’t that what we are called to do - to risk everything in the search for truth, peace and justice for all?

 

Every blessing as you continue on your journey.

 

(Any thoughts you wish to share krbatterham@gmail.com  All comments most welcome.)