Monday, September 6, 2021 (today’s lectionary)
This body of Christ on earth
Looking around at all of them Jesus said, “Stretch out your hand.” (The man’s right hand was withered and useless.) The man did so, and his hand was restored.
Jesus makes it all so simple. There’s no reason not to do this. The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. God does not want anyone to suffer.
Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than destroy it?
Or do the procedures of sabbath precede the doing of good? Due process, rules of engagement, law and order, red tape WILL get in the way of doing good. Procedure or persons? When there is a choice to make, the person gets priority. Jesus was certain about this. He would never pass a Samaritan injured on the roadside, much less walk across to the other side.
The Pharisees became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.
Saul was a Pharisee.
Saul never met Jesus before his vision on the Damascus Road, but even just the stories he heard enraged him. Jesus was dead and gone, but Saul looked for his followers and killed them. And then … Jesus appeared to Saul in his blindness, fell off his horse when the horse reared up, and why did the horse rear up? Because the brilliant light of Jesus fell on him, and on Saul, and in that instant all the world would change.
Brothers and sisters I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake. In my own flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of the body of Christ, which is the church.
I must not forget that the body of Christ is made up of at least three physical entities: Jesus’ physical body, the “bread of Christ’s body in the Eucharist, and God’s Church on earth. The mysteries Paul strives to describe are at last laid bare. Kind of.
God chose to make known to you, his holy ones, the riches of the glory of this mystery. It is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Saul became Paul, and Jesus became the Christ (Messiah). Who cannot speak of this?
It is he whom we proclaim, that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. For this I labor and struggle for your hearts to be encouraged and brought together in love.
Paul loved his friends in Colossae. He wrote to them of grace, mercy and peace, calling them out to be, as he was to them, friends to each other in all hardships and all joy. If they did not understand the mysteries of faith and salvation, no matter.
Assured understanding of the mysteries of God are hidden in Christ, every treasure of wisdom and knowledge.
I hear Paul say to them, and to me, what Psalm 46 also says. “Be still and know that I am God. Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
(Colossians 1, Psalm 62, John 10, Luke 6)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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