Jeremiah 31:31-34
Lent 5 - Year B
Interesting imagery with this business of G*D carving the law on hearts. That's pretty close contact. One might almost say that G*D has curled up within our hearts and is there, closer than our breath. The imprint of G*D is that forgiveness.
When forgiveness is covered up by the plaque of easy living, of taking in more than is needed, of not exercising the gift of "remembering no more," then the carving on the heart gets filled in and makes it unreadable.
Exercise your forgiveness, keep G*D alive and flexible and beating within you.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2003/april2003.html
We live in anticipation of a new covenant. One aspect of this is the sense that there is more than what we currently experience. There is a larger vision within which we might better make sense of the present. It is this more-ness that will make a next covenant different than any one or combination of previous covenants.
A part of the struggle of emergent theologies and communities is to articulate a key element of a next or new covenant. This is something that will coalesce our sense of more-life beyond whatever stage of maturity we currently posit as ours.
There will be something about this new covenant that will break the barriers we currently affirm, the dilemmas we are currently between. Here it is forgiveness that sets the least and the greatest into a new relationship.
Today we hear much about an increasing gap between the least and the greatest, economically and in many other ways. Where do you see the fulcrum point to place the lever of your life to again nudge us into new, common relationships? It is at this point that you help the rest of us figure out how to hear a far-off hymn (covenant), pick up its tune and lyric, and join in the singing. Until then we continue to deconstruct the hymns, covenants, scriptures we have used that have gotten us to our current gap.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2006/april2006.html
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm 51:1-12 or 119:9-16
Hebrews 5:5-10
John 12:20-33
G*D: "I have glorified, I will glorify; I have been who I have been, I will be who I will be." And so the bookends are in place.
Self: "I am beloved." And so the content is in place.
Now comes the living with new covenants, steadfast love, abundant mercy, clean hearts, joyful salvation, and a willing spirit. Thrown into these qualities that open us to an expansive future are those elements that narrow us down: strayless commandments, sinless statutes, reverent submission (with cries and tears), and learned obedience.
As we go along there will be requests to take folks to Jesus. What will you show these inquiring hearts and minds first, second, third, finally? Will you start with something from the expanding list or the narrowing list, and why? Will it depend on the nature of the searcher and begin with where they are (if looking for more, start with the expansive), or begin with where they are not (if looking for more, start with the narrower)? Both have their appeal and effectiveness, but they are probably both equally incapable of being turned into a technology to be applied universally.
Will you start with where you are instead of where the questioner is? Here the questions of application may be even more difficult.
Finally, will any of this impact the kind of life you are going to live (which may have an impact on what kind of death you will have)?
- - -
someone is coming to dinner
they wish to see what makes me tick
that of course cannot be seen
it must be planted and replanted
grow unseen and burst dark bonds
a fruit here and there and everywhere
may yet appear in miracle and mystery
fed and encouraged
some choose to dive
into the dark
of a miracle self
invested as fallow seed
until tears of pain
waken it to bloom
a bloom of thunder
echoing from the past
awakening a future
with morning glories
twining upward
drawing beauty with them
here today gone tonight
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html
We will know G*D through forgiveness (31:34). This is the most powerful image in this passage.
The first part of this pericope talks about not having sins passed on to the generations, but each generation and person having immediate feedback or consequences for behavior that is harmful to them and others and creation. This sounds idyllic, but taken just a half-step further leads to greater constraint and self-censorship. To connect behavior to consequences too strongly and quickly may make us obedient puppets but loses the living nature of G*D and ourselves as Partners.
It doesn't take much immediate correction, like an electrified fence, before we shy away from even coming close to it. It may no longer be active, but our past experiences with it have effectively kept us from pushing the boundaries of life. Pavlovian responses, even in the supposed service of G*D are more detrimental than helpful.
So how does G*D's heart become our heart, and vice versa? It comes through the beating process of trial and error and forgiveness received and forgiveness given and trying again. So we stand and walk, so we ride a bicycle, so we build community. Let's get to the heart of the matter – loving kindness revealed in many ways and forgiveness is near the top of its revelatory presence.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2009_03_01_archive.html