As we continue our journey through the chapter on Baptism, I found myself thinking about what many say when a friend or loved one has died: may they rest in peace and rise in glory.
In the Gospel of John we hear these words: Did I not tell you that you will SEE the glory of God?
This question reminds me of the Simon and Garfunkel song (The Boxer) lyrics: still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest. I think the same holds true for our vision. We see what we want to see. Again this is tied to our interpretations and the prominence that we give to ourselves in this universe.
I am continually amazed by those who interpret things, people, so negatively. Many string together imagined slights, deliberate offenses where in actuality human frailty is at play for both parties. If I speak to someone and they don't speak back could it be that their ears may be stopped up or they were lost in their own thoughts?
I am continually amazed by those who interpret things, people, so negatively. Many string together imagined slights, deliberate offenses where in actuality human frailty is at play for both parties. If I speak to someone and they don't speak back could it be that their ears may be stopped up or they were lost in their own thoughts?
I like the devotional story of Bach's signature on his great musical pieces: Soli Deo Gloria=Glory to God alone. I am reminded of a conversation that a Bishop asked on a Clergy Facebook page: "in your opinion, what gods do we worship most in American culture?" Answers included: the gods of our own making=my way, my body, my, my, my; money, food, individualism, sports, heroes, violence, television, pride, numbers, entertainment, success, happiness, comfort, sex, intellect, Prada, Coach, Disney and HDTV. As you might imagine, the list was quite long.
Do we have the patience to trust in mystery, to trust in God? I very much agree with this transforming thought: I would rather live in a world of mystery than in a world so small my mind could comprehend it.
I have always liked St. Irenaeus' wisdom and find it a worthwhile principle to live by. What does it mean for me to be fully alive, living the abundant life that Jesus spoke of so often?
The beauty of life is that God has shared glory lavishly. I see it in others, in the dappled wonder of nature, even in crevices and rough-hewn surfaces. If I attune my heart properly, my eyes and ears perceive the glory of God in surprising places.
I am no longer limited to what I want to hear or see; there is manifestation, awe, wonder, shock, and surprise.
Where, today, can we live in peace and SEE the glory of God at work?
At Redeemer and in the mirror in the mornings
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