Colossians 1:15-28
Proper 11 (16) - Year C
One who follows Christ's way is to do greater, "wholier", living and it so so live their way to a cross. In so being they are also an image of a visibly invisible G*D.
All who follow a way to G*D are a place where reconciliation occurs -- reconciliation within oneself, between ourself and another/others, in relationship to G*D. Integrity, honor and joy (parallels to faith, hope and love?) become lived experience, not simply opportunities.
This is the "whole story" (instead of the overused and currently ill-defined, over-assumed "good news" or "gospel"). GOD and Creation are being reconciled through me, through you, through us. This is a a second-birthing that we feel topologically as we twist back upon ourselves to return to a new dimension. Reconciliation has a painful component to it, but ends in such great fun that we would be about no other business.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2004/july2004.html
Hope has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. It is this hope we are pleased to join in proclaiming.
It is very easy to focus on the proclamation part, rather than the hope – the form instead of the function, the image without the content. In so doing we easily slide over into supremacy language – saying more about hope (still not very visible) than hope will bear. Here the passage begins with dramatic propositions of faith and ends with servant/hope language.
Paul's famous trinity of faith/hope/love is here differently ordered. First we hear an expression of love – reconciliation. This is followed by secure and steadfast faith and unswerving hope – both grounded in that first love.
First or last – coming from or leading to – regardless of the order, may these three not finally become propositions, but relationships.
Here two (in my mind, of the most relational Episcopal candidates we are voting for) have been elected. Today begins with the hope that we will elect a third who will best proclaim the holiness of every creature under heaven.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2004/july2004.html
From the Yakrider site [MISSING URL] -- So where, is God in all this? Different members of the Yakrider community will have different responses to this question. Let's look at this from the Christian perspective for a moment. One school of thought conceives God as always outside of the universe, as the "Wholly Other" who built it, set this mechanical model into motion and stepped back to let it run itself, and there is nothing divine in the material world of nature. That's God as carpenter or potter. Another school sees, as in The Letter of St. Paul to the Colossians that the eternal Christ is the "firstborn" or archetype of all creation -- in him were all things created, and "all things in him subsist" (Col. 1:16, 17). The Greek term "sunesteken" is translated variously, "subsist," "consist", or "are established." Eduard Lohse, in his commentary on Colossians notes: "In Platonic and Stoic philosophy the verb "sunestekenai" (to be established, to continue, to exist, to endure) was used to denote the wonderful unity of the entire world." It's little wonder that physicists, facing the unexplainable problem of why an atom's whizzing, orbiting electrons never spin off into randomness, call this phenomenon, simply, the Colossians Principle, referencing, though humorously, this verse – that all things are held together by "Christ." Though they don't mean it literally or seriously, such might be close to what St. Paul had in mind.
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I was glad to hear of the "Colossians Principle". It gives a needed lightness to this passage that comes close to a Hindu appreciation of creation in all and all in creation. Otherwise we get pretty heavy handed about a uniqueness of Christ (perhaps Jesus, or you) and a too easy taking on of suffering that needs a Buddhist antidote.
All in all this passage ends up with the helpful and hopeful image of assisting everyone to mature (implicitly, after their own fashion, their own Christness).
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the fullness of G*D
pleases to dwell
wherever it alights
from thence
it brings forth
an olive branch
the fullness of G*D
touches everything
from chaos
to this ego
birthing christ
and myself
the fullness of G*D
imparts fullness
develops wholeness
urges maturity
until all is known
beyond all that's known
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_archive.html
Verse 19: "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell." NRSV
In keeping with what became the theme of the week - hospitality - whether we open a door a crack or throw it wide, where hospitality is offered, a fuller response comes than might be expected. This is a statement of belief. As you know strangers can do you in as well as bless you. Is the risk worth a blessing? A part of Jesus' gift to us was evidencing the value of not putting all one's energy into removing risk - to walk right into Jerusalem with as much fullness of life as was available.
We are encouraged to recognize G*D's fullness is pleased to dwell in us and, with us, to simply proceed to a next stage of personal fullness.
Verse 21: "And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, . . ." NRSV
How might hospitality be shown to those who have locked and, then further, barricaded their door? Perhaps all that can be done is to sing Bob Franke's song, After the Fall with its refrain, "After the fall, there is love. After the fall, there is love again. After the fall, if you can just keep breathing you can walk away." Perhaps resistance will melt in the reminder of this good news and closeted doors will slowly creak open again or be flung aside. Imagine walking away from your perceived and protected Eden and find G*D still with you - a resurrection image.
Verse 23b: "I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel." NRSV
Can you imagine that "doing greater things than Jesus did" would include "completing what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of [others]"? It gets to be an affliction to not give up singing a song of love that continues past a fall, a hospitality that continues past a refusal to receive it. Bear such well for we desire to "present everyone mature/whole/saved in Christ" (verse 28).
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2010/07/colossians-115-29.html