Colossians 3:1-4
Easter - Year A
If you have been raised with Christ, you now show no partiality.
Ouch! and Wow!
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2005/march2005.html
So how are we going to move on? Being open to a new future is the mechanism. Showing no partiality is the energy to move us on.
When impartial we place ourselves in the middle of differences willing to let them inform us. We can see where to apply forgiveness that we receive and where to offer it. There is clarity regarding the dynamic new heaven and new earth and new you and new me and new everything.
When we are seated at the right hand of impartiality, the life that was hidden to us, in our haste to control everything, is both nourished and revealed. Easter reorients our vision of what is possible and energizes us to move in that direction.
May we know more this Easter about impartiality and dynamic possibilities than we did an Easter ago.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2005/march2005.html
Colossians 3:1-4 or Acts 10:34-43
Acts 10:34-43 or Jeremiah 31:1-6
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
John 20:1-18 or Matthew 28:1-10
Matthew's image of an earthquake is important to shake us loose from our expectations and fears. Is there anything more to look forward to? How is the blockage ahead ever going to be taken care of?
Even Jeremiah's wonderful image of being built anew and dancing merrily carries with it an earthquake's worth of transition that will be tempted by and returned to bygone days of the sword instead of grace.
Paul's great assumption that "if" we have been raised with Christ we will seek the things above, causes an earthquake in our lives and the life of our communities that will need continual choice between a building upon the past and attempts to have the past build upon the present. What do we do with still being on the earth, but not of it?
Or another earthquake image of Peter's that there is no more partiality. We have built our lives and decision-making on how we might get to be those for whom partiality, privilege will redound their benefits to us.
It will take a resurrectional earthquake to roll away our expectations and fears to move us into a new perspective and better communal behaviors. Even though we might idealize this as a good thing, it will always mean a change of life (read, sacrifice) to enact and the earthquake itself may scare us more than the resurrectional opportunity it reveals.
- - -
this is a day
holding the tectonic plates
of our lives in place
regardless of the stress
it places upon us
to keep things from falling apart
this is a day
we yearn for sweet release
even a release that shakes foundations
relieving unrealistic expectations
controlling our lives
spending our resources on security
this is a day
of resistance to change
of dreaming heaven on earth
unknowing clouds dim our eye
to unseen consequences
hidden beneath our next step
this is a day
to rejoice and be glad in
to dance merrily
on the graves
within and around
trusting this day
this is a day
like all days
infamous and usual
ready and unready
for an earthquake opening
tombs and joy
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_04_01_archive.html
Do you have a vision? This is being raised to life.
Have you tested your vision? This reveals deeper glory.
There is nothing like a deeper raising to tickle one’s fancy.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2011/04/colossians-31-4.html
If to be raised with Christ is to be born with Christ, we are, above all, to seek the well-being of earth and neighbor—“Peace on Earth, Good Will to all” and all that.
At best this is a reflexive admonition—set your mind on things that are above for that will drive your right back to setting your mind here.
So be an anonymous Christian (read your Rahner) in the same way that Jesus was an anonymous G*D—born in a manger, growing quietly, engaging an intentional mission in and for creation and people.
This is not about some end-of-time scenario, but what are you revealing right now about what constitutes common good for earth and others. If this is not attended to, any other speculation about later simply will fail to apply.
Claim your place as G*D’s right-hand person and affirm all that comes with that responsibility.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2014/04/colossians-31-4-easter.html