After preaching and leading studies for 40 years I often feel like I have nothing left to say. I dreamed the other night that I was invited to preach in a church, and when it came time for me to go to the pulpit, I couldn't think of anything to say.
I'm glad Mississippi's 'personhood' referendum didn't pass. What a mess that would have been. It shows the wisdom of the traditional Jewish answer to personhood: it begins when the baby is half way out of the mother's womb. In other words, at birth, not at conception. (A question for Mr. Fundamentalist: How can you be born again if you haven't been born once yet?) Of course, this is all just so much sophistry.
Herman Cain doesn't have a chance. It will be Mitt.
I'm leading a study at church tomorrow about the third beatitude: Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Jesus is actually quoting Psalm 37.11, which helps to understand what he's getting at. The meek in Ps. 37 are the 'humbled' -- that is, the powerless peasants who have been 'humiliated' by rich land owners. The Psalmist advises them to wait on God; to be patient; not to fret. It's the same message we get from the Book of Revelation: patience, trust; God will defeat the powers of Evil. And it's not the earth that the meek in Ps. 37 inherit, it is the 'land.' The land they have had to give up from indebtedness; the land that is rightfully theirs. In other words, justice will prevail. As M.L. King used to say, "The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice." The third beatitude is a call to trust the power of Goodness; to live non-violently; to let go of fretful busyness, and to sit in stillness. Be calm.
So, here is a good translation for Matt. 5.5: "God honors the oppressed; justice will be done."
I'm also preparing a sermon for Christ the King Sunday which I will give at the Presbyterian Church in Montevallo. I've been down several dead end roads during my preparation. I think I've finally settled on 'the prepositions of the kingdom.'
We had a pleasant visit with Pat's brother and sister-in-law the last few days. Larry is an engineer, and Susan is a novelist and spiritual teacher. They both do professional photography and have been publishing some articles lately, using their photos. They live in Kansas City. Lovely people.
I'm still trying to understand God. And faith. I know 'understand' is the wrong word--it's all about trust. But I'm a thinking person, and I can't stop trying to conceptualize reality. The traditional word 'God' is so open to all kinds of unacceptable connotations. Yet, as Rabbi Rami says, it's a term we can't ignore. I prefer to think about 'Being.' But few people can relate to ontological terminology. I still like Paul Tillich's term: the Spiritual Presence. All language is symbolic. But I do believe in a Spiritual Reality that permeates everything, that is not 'a' being; yet, is personal. Since the nature of Ultimate Reality is Love, there must be some kind of personal language involved in talking about 'God.'
My daughter was in the paper yesterday. In The Birmingham News, page 3C. The defendant is being charged with mail and wire fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering in a 96 count indictment issued by a grand jury. Here is a quote from 3C: "Wofford, an Auburn University graduate in music and theater, was asked by defense attorney Glory McLaughlin if a dress Campbell had paid for had been intended for her to wear to provide singing and entertainment at a future event." And, "McLaughlin asked Jenkins about whether women involved in a luau event were promised a bathing suit after the event." It's nice to see your offspring's name in the news in a professional capacity. I'm proud of her.
Oh, meek can also mean 'power-under-control' -- like a wild horse that has been tamed by a horse whisperer. And it can mean 'gentle, teachable, relying on divine guidance.'
May you have a meek week.
