The hOME Chapter Blog is back. Facebook just wasn't cutting it for Chapter discussion on the lectionary so let's see if this works better than it did last Chapter year! We'll set up a feed so it appears in the Chapter facebook page too.
Today's readings:
Acts 17.15, 22-18.1
Psalm 148.1-2, 11-end
John 16.12-15
Comment away.....
2 comments:
struck again - whilst reading the Acts 17 passage today - that Paul, who is clearly preaching the gospel to these Athenians - doesn't mention the cross. He talks about creation, he talks about the need to repent, and he talks about the resurrection. But no cross. What's going on?!
You're right about the focus being resurrection all the time. I had not seen it so clearly until you mentioned it.
Personally, I have been somewhat struck by the gospel accounts this week (John 15 and 16), which anticipate an intimate identification between Jesus and us as his followers, to the extent that we will be treated as he was.
Also notice that zeal can be horrifically misdirected. See John 16:2. This was precisely Paul's problem before encountering Christ: zealously persecuting people, thinking he was serving God. Passion may be good, but if you are mistaken in your belief, the more zealous you are the more damage you do!
In today's world there are fundamentalists and supremacists of all sorts (christian, islamic, zionist, hindu, jewish, humanistic, atheistic) each claiming to serve their own "god" or cause. Christ's words should not only warn us of potential opposition, but equally caution us against being rampant fanatics ourselves.
Convictions may be deeply held, but should be carried with humility and grace.
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