Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
Proper 15 (20) - Year A
Has G*D rejected creation?
Has G*D rejected Adam and Eve?
Has G*D rejected Cain?
Has G*D rejected the Nephilim?
Has G*D rejected the prophets?
Has G*D rejected Canaanite women?
Has G*D rejected Jesus?
Has G*D rejected the Jews?
Has G*D rejected Gays and Lesbians?
Has G*D rejected the people you reject?
Has G*D rejected Islamic Extremists?
Has G*D rejected God's mercy or steadfast love?
If you say, "Yes," to any of these, how do you get out of the eternal threat that at any time G*D will, for whatever reason, reject you?
If you say, "No," to all of these, how do you get out of the eternal work of expressing inclusion?
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2005/august2005.html
I'd like to see this passage expanded to include verse 28 -- Regarding this part of life, such and such, regarding that part of life, such and such.
This compartmentalism of life comes in helpful and unhelpful ways.
Helpfully, we do find it advantageous to be able to focus without being overwhelmed with everything, sort of like the old joke about why God created time -- so everything wouldn't happen at the same time.
Unhelpfully, we begin to think our compartments are true.
Helpfully, we can still affirm that folks are doing the best they know how, it is just that they happen to be working out an inappropriate-to-the-situation compartment.
Unhelpfully, we begin to act on our compartmentalized thinking.
Awareness of the compartments of our own and others is a beginning step on being a partner with GOD and knowing what to do with those silly keys left in our hands to bind and unbind, to open and shut compartments. May you "aware" well with those you come in contact with.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2005/august2005.html
Unity as "good and pleasant" is quite an understatement. Given our starting points, to arrive at some semblance of unity (an outcome of justice) is so remarkable that it calls for a more enthusiastic response.
To arrive at some given understanding that rejection is not the last word about the meaning of life (though it is often one of the first words we encode), a sense of relief in the face of such mercy needs a conversion miracle response.
Jesus' response to the woman responding to being called a dog, after pleading for her daughter, is too sterile. It is not as though some word-game had been played out that had no real consequence. It is not as though Jesus doesn't have an epiphany here - faith comes from every angle, not just the preauthorized.
- - -
gifts and calling
irrevocable
deniableour life
is our gift
our callingjourneying
toward wholeness
finds our denialbeyond journeying
at a stopping point
we find irrevocabilitywhether rued
or rejoiced
life callsgifts once dead
remain ours
to do
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_08_01_archive.html
What is a limit on G*D's warranty of steadfast love?
What, then, is a consequence of your response on your behavior?
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html
“The gifts and the calling of G*D is irrevocable.” [29]
And yet the church has a whole series of tests to apply to the usefulness of those gifts and one’s calling according to what is perceived as its continuity. If a gift or calling doesn’t fit within the benefit structure of the church, such are not confirmed and are denied.
Here the Church is at odds with its G*D. Though, many a sociopath has been keep out of leadership roles because of this winnowing of gifts and calling. And, no matter how strictly the church applies its current criteria to a perpetual abundance of scattering gifts and call, there are still sociopaths who can con the system.
“God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.” [32]
What an intriguing process. At least the church can claim to better follow this construct. It is very good at highlighting “disobedience” that it might appear merciful after some appropriate number of pounds of flesh have been sacrificed.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2011/08/romans-111-2a-29-32.html
Gifts, even those of G*D, are not irrevocable. Some do have one calling, one gift to actualize, during their time on earth. Some move from calling to calling, gift to gift. There is no accounting for calls and gifts. Any model that posits one understanding will eventually run aground on its own rules. Gifts and calls are beyond our control.
Claiming irrevocability is as short-sighted as claiming incompatibility. It just doesn't hold up in the light of mercy regarding disobedience. It is mercy that is the larger category, not disobedience.
When we get this relationship wrong all manner of wrongs are perpetrated on people—some to themselves and some to others.
Return to the part left out of this pericope to see examples of how what was discarded has been grafted in, how mercy is always being extended past our limits. We are thankful for mercy received. Let us be as thankful for being able to extend mercy by premeditatedly giving it away.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2014/08/romans-111-2a-29-32.html