Pentecost +22 - Year B
Imagine what it would be like to be walking down the street and for someone to overhear your being identified with a specific congregation. Now imagine their response, the equivalent of a knee-jerk exclamation, "Hey You! Member of XX congregation, have mercy on me!"
Why do we make it so hard on folks to know what they might expect from us?
Well, for one thing, who wants to get called out with an expectation of making a difference right here, right now? The risk of failure to live up to another's expectation is high.
If we were to find ourselves in this setting it would be easy to pray in Jesus' name, thinking that would take care of it and we could go on our way. The model here, however, is more relational than technical. Would we have the wisdom to first ask, "Hey, yourself, whatcha want?"
Having found this out, now we can engage more constructively with an immediate band-aid or building a communal response to a systemic dysfunction.
First things first, what is your congregation known for? Without this who would know to engage you with expectation?
Thank you so much for offering this! It has launched my Sunday sermon.
ReplyDeleteGlad there was a launching spot. Would be glad to hear where it lands.
ReplyDeleteWesley
wwhite@wesleyspace.net