Pentecost +12 Sunday – C3

Pentecost +12 Sunday – C3

Years C
Hebrews 11:29-12:2

Faith does not have to do with "perfection" - finally finished. Rather, faith is always "in medias res." Whether or not we eventually find a way through, there are seas surrounding us. Our context is certainly less than perfect. The same might be said for the imperfection of some of our habits of life, whether freely chosen or forced upon us - remember Rahab who was certainly among the "disobedient" and yet still had one thing going for her.

Remembering Gideon, Samson, David, and the lot - we know the imperfections of their lives, as well as what we are now calling "faith". Temptations and failures seem to be endemic to life, and yet faith beyond a fulfillment of promise is also alive and well.

So let's not look for the absolutely perfect model before we begin to simply be. It is not that we find ways to be scourged and mocked that will indicate our faithfulness to Jesus' modeling. Note the line about, "for the sake of the joy set before him" and consider what joy is currently set before you that frees you to move where you need to move. Without that deep joy we find all manner of ways in which to be bound to the contemporary manifestations of the principalities and powers.

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happy happy joy joy