PODCAST - Press sideways triangle below to
listen
Solemnity of Christ the King
Dominican Retreat House
November 23, 2014
GOD AS DISTANT +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
Religion
can seem like a cold business, emerging flash-frozen, like Birds Eye spinach or
broccoli from some distant corporation
Ø
“Believe this.” “Do this.”
“Refrain from this.”
Ø
Sometimes
we imagine our role in the religion business is simply to buy in or opt out
Ø
It’s
nothing personal
Ø
All
it requires of us is a decision – and perhaps down the road, a check for the
weekly collection
GOD AS CLOSE +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
There
is a flaw in this line of thinking, however
Ø
The
flaw erupts from our sacred story and it cracks the religion business wide open
Ø
It
comes from the very character of God and God is not a biblical Actor to be
dismissed lightly
Ø
For
it is God who says by means of a faithful prophet, “I myself will tend my sheep”
Ø
Yes,
I, God, will rescue, pasture, give them rest
Ø
I
will seek out the lost, bring back strays, bind the injured, heal the sick
GOD AS INTIMATE
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
God
not only pledges to do the dirty work of shepherding, but also the work of judgment
Ø
G
doesn’t employ mediators 2 “handle” universe
Ø
Creation
is a hands-on operation
Ø
It’s,
as my Italian mother used to say, “uno
alla volta” with the sheep of God’s flock: “one at a time,” each one
distinct, precious, and irreplaceable
Ø
But
wait! It gets even more intimate than this
Ø
It’s
not merely that the Eternal One prefers to rule the universe like a shepherd
reeking and smelling like the sheep…
Ø
The
King of the Universe also chooses to identify with the humblest, neediest lambs
in the flock
Ø
With
that hungry one, thirsty one, naked one, sick, and incarcerated one…
Ø
Yes,
the Most High is encountered in the most low
CONCLUSION ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
Christianity
isn’t clinical at all
Ø
Christianity
is personal
Ø
And
where do we encounter this God, this shepherd?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
