“Willing, not Separated, from You” by Beth
DeCristofaro
Brothers and sisters: If God is for us, who
can be against us? For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels,
nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor
height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the
love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the
prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your
children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were
unwilling! (Luke 13:34)
Piety
Lord, help my unbelief to surmount my fears,
my disinterest, any barriers I erect. Hide me within your wings of mercy and
propel me to reach out in love to draw others into your saving haven. Help me not
to impede anyone seeking you.
Study
Unwilling! Jesus tells us clearly who can
separate us from God’s love – ourselves. We can choose, as did Herod, as
Jerusalem chose to refuse the salvific safety of God’s merciful wings. How
dejected Jesus must have felt with continued rejection yet it did not cause him
to abandon his business: Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and
the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of
Jerusalem.’ (v33) His business was salvation for all, even those who
rejected him should they turn around and desire the love of God in Christ
Jesus our Lord. Which means, of course, to follow His will while laying
aside ours.
People often read Paul’s words from Romans 8 at
funerals. They are comforting and consoling. They remind us that there is a
greater good encompassing the loss of a respectable life or mitigating an unscrupulous
one. These words also give us the hope that God’s mercy is there, waiting for
the one who died but is available to us right now. How do we choose? Are we
grateful for the gifts of beauty and community God gives us or are we
self-indulgently seeking more for ourselves? Do we seek the greater meaning in
the chaotic events of the day or do we sink into anger, dejection, judgment? Do
we answer injustice and immoral systems or look away? Do we extend Jesus’
merciful wings through our own hands and arms or leave those in need to pull
themselves up by their bootstraps? Are we going along to get along? Are we
indifferent?
Jesus chose because he was so sure, so
immersed in God’s presence that his human life could not be without God. We can
also be as assured! God gifted Paul with sight; God gifts us also. But it takes
a leap. When I listen to my inner voice, do I hear love or self-aggrandizement?
Action
How do I respond when someone rejects my
overture of care or love? Can I sincerely pray for the other and try, try, try
again?
No comments:
Post a Comment