Jesus' compassion, a downward pull

Once again, the folks over at the "Inward/Outward" Blog (the Church of the Saviour of Washington, DC) have offered up a quote that has struck me in a profound way. As we move toward Holy Week, the "downward pull" of Jesus' compassion is clearly an important way to reflect upon the journey of next week. Check out Henri Nouwen's quote below, and do check out "Inward/Outward" Blog, they have wonderful postings, quotes, and reflections -- and they have an amazing church as well!

Peter+

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By Henri Nouwen, et al

Jesus’ compassion is characterized by a downward pull. That is what disturbs us. We cannot even think about ourselves in terms other than those of an upward pull, an upward mobility in which we strive for better lives, higher salaries, and more prestigious positions. Thus, we are deeply disturbed by a God who embodies a downward movement. Instead of striving for a higher position, more power, and more influence, Jesus moves, as Karl Barth says, from “the heights to the depth, from victory to defeat, from riches to poverty, from triumph to suffering, from life to death.”

Jesus’ whole life and mission involve accepting powerlessness and revealing in this powerlessness the limitlessness of God’s love. Here we see what compassion means. It is not a bending toward the underprivileged from a privileged position; it is not a reaching out from on high to those who are less fortunate below; it is not a gesture of sympathy or pity for those who fail to make it in the upward pull. On the contrary, compassion means going directly to those people and places where suffering is most acute and building a home there. God’s compassion is total, absolute, unconditional, without reservation. It is the compassion of the one who keeps going to the most forgotten corners of the world, and who cannot rest as long as he knows that there are still human beings with tears in their eyes. It is the compassion of a God who does not merely act as a servant, but whose servanthood is a direct expression of his divinity.

Lambeth 2008..WWJI? Who would Jesus invite?

Did Jesus have anything to say about who to invite to a party?
WWJI
Who would Jesus Invite?

Lambeth 2008; have we really reverted to 18th century schoolhouse disciplinary measures?

From Dave Walker's Cartoon at the Church Times Blog

What is next, Scarlet Letters and Stocks?

U2: Sometimes you can't make it on your own

My students shared some great music with me while I was teaching a class on Music and Social Justice over the last two weeks. I plan to share some of these songs as we approach Holy Week and then Easter. One of the great songs was this one by U2, "Sometimes you can't make it on your own." It's really pretty good. There is a lot of atonement theology alluded to in the song (which I will reflect upon, soon). And a deep sense that we are NOT alone, and that we don't have to feel like we have to do IT all on our own. This sentiment reminds me a bit of Desmond Tutu's Ubuntu theology of "I am because you are" which means that individuals are constituted relationally, and that individuals need other people to be fulfilled. I have been reminded of this truth at many times in my life, with family, with friends, on sports teams, in workplaces, and in seminary at Virginia Theological Seminary. I am because you are, and when I begin to think that "I can make it on my own," is when I cut myself off from others, and can even feel like I've cut myself off from God's grace. Is there any lesson here for us in the church? Is there an implied ecclesiology within this theory of ubuntu? Who is claiming that they can "make it on their own"? Hmmmm...perhaps Bono has something to teach us that does not solely relate to the MDGs (Millenium Development Goals)?

Some gems from the lyrics:

"you don't have to always be right"
"let me take some of the punches for you, tonight"
"you don't have to go it alone"
"sometimes you can't make it on your own"

Check it out below in the Youtube posting of it,




Peter+

Why Elect a Young Bishop, by the Rev. Andy Doyle

From the Canon to the Ordinary in the Diocese of Texas, the Rev. Canon Andy Doyle, who is seeking to be the next Bishop of the Diocese of Texas. He offers a wonderful argument for youthful and young leadership in the church:

Why Elect a Young Bishop?

Our vision of being one church in this diocese is going to continue to need energy, creativity and time. I have hope for this vision and the church it describes. I have energy for the work this vision requires. Whether you choose me to be your bishop or not, over the next fifteen years of my ministry I will continue to work to fulfill this vision. I believe in what we are doing and believe we are engaging in work that changes the world.

Some people worry about electing a long tenured bishop. They worry that the bishop will become entrenched or burned out. But it will take an energetic, long tenured bishop to nurture the promise of our diocese and hold the vision that promise brings to our future.

Thomas Friedman makes the case that the world is flat in the sense that globalization has leveled the competitive playing fields between industrial and emerging market countries. The same flat world dynamic gives us the opportunity to build real relationships with partners throughout the Anglican Communion where we can share our vision of the church and our ministry. Sharing vision across the Communion will take creativity and energy. With an energetic leader, a diocese in the 21st century can engage in this work now.

We will create a younger church together. Our flat world gives us new tools and technologies to create new and widening conversations with young people inside and outside the church. We will become the evangelical church of the Great Commission as we make our mission the real life experience of young people both locally and abroad. We will develop new ministries that relate real life to real vocation, going deeply into the lives of young people so that they can be guided by their own rules of life. Vocational discernment will not be for church professionals alone; it will be for anyone who wants to experience transformation in his or her life. In this way we will create a church that lives in the real world, sharing the Good News of Jesus and leading others in the miraculous transformation of life.

Read the rest HERE.

UNC vs. Duke

Two players in the Duke / UNC game tonight were students at Episcopal Academy when I taught there. Wayne Ellington from UNC and Gerald Henderson, Jr. from Duke are great players and great people as well. I love the March Madness of College Hoops and it's great to see these great games!