Friday, November 25, 2011

Godspeak

Amos 1:1-5, 1:13-2:8
Luke 21:5-19
The word of God is of utmost importance for people of faith. But when is the word of God not the word of God? Our reading from the prophet Amos for today uses the phrase “says the Lord” no less than eight times. Amos wants us to fully understand that the words of woe which he is sharing do in fact originate with God. According to our gospel reading for today, however, Jesus offered a word of warning to his followers. “Beware that you are not led astray;” he said, “for many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is near!' Do not go after them" (Luke 21:8). So there is a difference – a profound difference – between what God says and what others would have us to believe that God has said. How do we know which is which?

I know of no clear and easy answer to that question. The church itself is made up of faithful believers, those who seek earnestly to discern God’s message, but who can not always agree on the true meaning of scripture. What seems perfectly clear to me may strike you as completely false, even though we both affirm our faith in God with sincerity. What can we do? We can trust God. We can continually wrestle with God’s word, question it, challenge it, see what we can make of it, and count on God to speak to us through that struggle. We can trust one another and accept each other as ones who struggle toward a common purpose. Standing on the threshold of our shared belief we can seek to serve the God who created us and who continues to bless us.

Advent begins this Sunday. There is no better time to renew our commitment to this effort, to open ourselves to the voice of God.

Prayer: Lord of all, bless our willingness to hear your word and guide us all the days of our lives. In the name of your Word made flesh. Amen.

No comments: