Dear Friends,
We hope that you are safe and well.
Today's Meditation presents Rachel Hackenberg reflecting on how we want things "Just for Us" and God's heart opens to everyone and calls us to do the same.
We invite you to join us as we commit ourselves to working tirelessly to end systemic and structural racism in our society, in the church, in healthcare, in the workplace--wherever it shows up so that everyone may come to have more abundant life. May this meditation nourish our contemplative-active hearts and sustain all of us in action.
In the spirit of our philosophy of co-creating community and our awareness that the Spirit speaks through each of us, we invite you to share your meditations with us as well. We truly believe that it is God's economy of abundance: when we share our blessings, our thoughts, our feelings, we are all made richer.
We hope and pray that you find peace, healing, hope and the infusion of joy in your life!
With our love and care,
Jean and Ron
MEDITATION 673: "Just for Us" Rachel Hackenberg
May 17, 2022
Just for Us
Rachel Hackenberg
Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, “Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?” - Acts 11:1-3 (NRSV)
When white slaveholders required enslaved Africans and African Americans to attend pro-slavery worship services, their intention was to maintain the status quo of slavery through Bible stories and the name of Jesus.
Enslaved people interpreted a different message from those stories: freedom. Jesus became both the faith and the code for freedom. “Steal away to Jesus,” they sang. Steal away to freedom.
Freedom was not the slaveholders’ intended message. To the slaveholders, the name of Jesus was supposed to teach obedience to the enslaved; freedom was reserved just for the slaveholders.
But freedom just for a few is not freedom.
Just like the good news of Jesus just for a few (or its counterpart, the-good-news-of-Jesus-for-all-but-exactly-like-we-tell-you) is not the good news of Jesus.
“Why did you go visit them, Peter? Why did you affirm that they can have the good news of Jesus, too? We thought Jesus was just for us.”
Why do they get Jesus?
Why do they get freedom?
We thought it was just for us.
Just for us to determine and distribute the good news of Jesus. Just for us to have and assign freedom. Just for us to receive grace for our sins and crimes. Just for us to grocery shop without being terrorized. Just for us to legislate the capabilities of a uterus.
Just for us. Not for them.
But “just for us” is not justice. “Just for us” is not freedom. “Just for us” is not Jesus.
“We thought Jesus was just for us,” said the believers to Peter in ancient Jerusalem. But when Peter explained his experience in Caesarea—how God gave visions to all people, how the Holy Spirit baptized circumcised and uncircumcised alike—the believers silenced their complaints … and they rejoiced.
Prayer
God, have mercy! We cling so tightly to “ours” and anger so quickly over “theirs.” Forgive our possessiveness over freedom, over grace, over life, over Jesus himself. Multiply goodness for all on earth as it is in heaven.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rachel Hackenberg serves on the national staff for the United Church of Christ. She is the author of Writing to God and the co-author of Denial Is My Spiritual Practice, among other titles. Her blog is Faith and Water.
Upcoming Events
We also wanted to bring to your attention a special Spiritual Discussion Night two part series that will be beginning next Wednesday night May 18 from 7-8pm. In the light of the nationwide controversy about the Supreme Court repealing Roe vs. Wade, we thought it timely to learn more about what is at stake, and how to have informed and respectful discussions on this sensitive issue. Jamie Manson, whom you may know from Call to Action and National Catholic Reporter, is currently president of Catholics for Choice has a comprehensive three part series looking at the issues involved. Whether one is opposed to abortion on all counts, or believe in women's right to choose what they feel is best for themselves or their family, the information that Jamie shares will be helpful to articulating one's personal position in the light of the church's teaching and history of this issue in a clear and comprehensive way. We hope you can join us for these discussions.
Nourish Your Soul
Jean Marchant & Ron Hindelang invite you to join us in creating a Catholic Community of Worship & Service, Justice & Joy.
Eucharist is celebrated weekly ~ Every Sunday Morning
at 11:00AM EDT --presently only on zoom,
returning to in-person worship on June 5, Pentecost, the Feastday of The Spirit of Life Community.
The Congregational/UCC Church of Weston welcomes us into their sacred space for our weekly Eucharist: 130 Newton St., Weston, MA 02493
(Newton St. is located off Route 30, near Route 128 & 90, or from Route 20, follow School St. to Newton St.) Note: Transportation is available from the Riverside T Station upon request.
Copyright © 2022 The Spirit of Life Community, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website.
Our mailing address is:
The Spirit of Life Community
405 Edmands Rd
Framingham, MA 01701-3010
Add us to your address book
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.