Paris from Place de la Contrascarpe, 2007
(Photo krb)
I am reading Richard Rohr's very recent book, 'Jesus' Alternative Plan' (Franciscan Media 2022). It provides an excellent insight into Jesus' understanding of the Reign of God as expressed in the Gospel according to St Matthew Chapters 5 to 7 which we know as the Sermon on the Mount. He seeks to apply the lessons from the Sermon on the Mount for our world today.
As usual with all of Richard Rohr's writings it is an outstanding work which is very accessible which makes those of us who are engaged in the life of the church sit up and take notice and seek to do better. For those not engaged in the life of the church it opens an alternative view of the spiritual journey.
It is one of those books where the reader needs to keep their wits about them. His writing is not always linear. Rather to enter into the book is to enter Rohr's world of ideas and they come thick and fast and for me I often have to stop and reread because he has said something very significant, and I need to take it in before I move on to the next idea. It is amazing and mind-blowing all at once.
Before turning to the issues raised by the Sermon on the Mount he writes about Jesus' Baptism. I have always thought that Jesus' Baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River was a pivotal moment in Jesus understanding of who he was and what he was called by God to do and to be but according to Rohr it was not only that, but it was also revolutionary.
Here is an extract from what he has to say.
"Matthew's Gospel continues, 'Then Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole Jorden district made their way to [John]' (Matthew 3:5). {This is} why he would be a threat. These pilgrims are supposed to be making their way to Jerusalem and instead they're making their way out to hear this upstart in the desert! Among the crowd comes Jesus himself: .... 'to be baptized by John.'
"In effect, Jesus is legitimating what John is doing, saying it's OK to pour water over people and tell them their sins are forgiven. That's revolutionary. (my emphasis) Jews were supposed to follow the Levitical law of Holiness, and suddenly John is making it far too easy to get God to love them, to get God to forgive them. God becomes available as Jordan River water. And, of course, the irony is that the water is in the desert, where water isn't supposed to be. In other words, we can find God everywhere - outside of institutions, official priesthood, or formal observance" (My emphasis).
Peace, justice and blessings to all.
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