My Brother s Keeper A weekly resource for Lent 2017 By Miriam Fife, ordinand on placement with CCJ Week 3: Finding Common Ground Genesis 1:26-31 26 Then God said, Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. 27 So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth. 29 God said, See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food. And it was so. 31 God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Reflection Finding common ground between all human beings, created equal and equally blessed by God may seem an impossible task when we consider the enormous diversity of cultures, philosophies, religious beliefs and political systems by which we live. These things which have divided people through the ages have been the root cause of much conflict, war and social upheaval, and when we dwell on these things which divide us, and on our differences, we fail to see the many things in which we are united. If we don t want religion to be part of the problem, we must make it part of the solution Rabbi David Rosen 1 1 http://www.commongroundnews.org/article.php?id=21113&lan=en&sp=1
Being rooted in Christian faith goes hand in hand with openness to others; the call to love our neighbour is not at odds with the call to proclaim the Gospel. When we encounter a person of faith-- Hindu, Jewish, Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist or another we have a unique opportunity to demonstrate the love of Christ to all in showing that religions and cultures can co-exist in peace and harmony. When we face each other, deeply and sincerely, we begin to catch a glimpse of our creation, our creator, and thus our shared humanity. Archbishop Justin Welby 2 Beyond Tolerance The essential activity of eating and drinking, when shared as equals, is a powerful reminder of our human status. God created us equal; from this premise we begin to move from suspicion, fear and rivalry toward encounter, friendship and transformation. An openness to encounter through shared hospitality reflects the Christ-like attitudes of service, of giving and receiving. These things that bring people together are greater than the things which divide. In sharing hospitality, meeting people as human beings each equally valued and loved by God, and learning to receive as well as give, we open the way for reconciliation and for human flourishing which is God s intention for all. We are children of many traditions, inheritors of shared wisdom and tragic misunderstandings. In that which we share, let us see the common prayer of humanity; in 2 http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/articles.php/5809/archbishop-justin-welby-on-the-common-goodand-a-shared-vision-for-the-next-century
that which we differ, let us wonder at the freedom of man; in our unity and our differences, let us know the uniqueness that is God. From the Reformed Jewish prayer book Challenge yourself to seek ways in which you might reveal your witness to God through acts that reach beyond tolerance and acceptance toward dialogue, friendship and mutual understanding. Dialogue begins when people meet people One of the biggest characteristics of Jesus was that he was not frightened about who he talked to, evidenced by his conversation with the woman at the well (John 4). Jesus demonstrates how opening up a dialogue across faith as well as gender and caste, with respect, directness and expectation from both sides can be transformative; a simple encounter, yet with far-reaching possibilities for reconciliation within humanity and between individuals and God.
In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) we also see Jesus striving to deliver God s message of love, of transformation and the path to human flourishing. Fear and suspicion are overcome by humility and openness, God s love for humanity demonstrated by the giving and receiving of love and mutual respect. Pray for the grace to become as both the Good Samaritan and the injured man, acting in love and humility, demonstrating to all society the transformational possibilities that result from overcoming fear, suspicion, rivalry and indifference as we move into encounter, dialogue, friendship and mutual understanding of the foundation of our faith, which is the love of God. Prayer O Lord and giver of life to all Show me the way to encounter All those people you would have me see. Lead me, Lord, to the ones you would have me embrace;
To the lost, to the fearful, To the ones in need of protection. Lead me, Lord, to the alienated and angry, The outcast, the forgotten, the sad. Show me, Lord, your ways of compassion, Of understanding, and love. Lead me, Lord, to those who rejoice in their own faith; And when we are standing together On common ground Show me the ways in which I can be joyful with them, Help me to celebrate with all your children The wonders of your creation And the pleasures of sharing the gifts you have given us, Dispelling the fear and suspicion that comes From ignorance and misunderstanding Transforming hearts and minds Through your love. Amen.