|
Story
In the Antarctic, Summer 1908-1909, Sir Ernest Shackleton and three companions tried to travel to the South Pole from their winter quarters. They began with four ponies to help carry supplies. Weeks later, the ponies dead, rations almost gone, they turned back toward their base, without reaching their goal.
Altogether, they journeyed 127 days. On the return, as Shackleton records in The Heart of the Antarctic, the time was spent talking of food--elaborate feasts, gourmet delights, sumptuous menus. They staggered onward, suffering from dysentery and not knowing whether they would survive. Each waking hour was occupied with thoughts of eating.
Comments
Jesus, who knew the experience of food deprivation, having fasted for weeks, later said: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." (Matt 5.6, ESV)
"Righteousness" has the basic idea of "right relations." The term can be translated "justice, equity." The word refers in the Matthew passage, it seems, as in the usual sense in the Hebrew Scripture, to right relations among persons.
Paul urges the Philippian Christians to live in harmony and goodwill among themselves: 9And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1.9-11, ESV)
Contemplatively, the "fruit of right relations" in community does not derive from mere human intent or effort. Harmony and justice derive from being nurtured in the fecund soil of Divine Life. The Vivifying Life, Christ, is Animating Nurturance for all evidences of goodwill among human persons, through the Presence of the Holy Spirit.
To change the image, we can speak of birth: another organic metaphor. Christ is the Womb of Birthing of Peace among us.
Advent summons us to examine our relationship with the Good, True, and Beautiful One. The fruit of goodness, truth, and beauty in human relationships is rooted in the Ground of such fruitfulness, not in community apart from Christ.
Suggested Reflections
1) How are you seeing the "fruit of righteousness" in your life?
2) How are you grounding yourself in Christ?
3) Is the Holy Spirit urging you to some effort toward justice in society? In your church? The Church?
4) Does the faith community you belong to evidence hungering and thirsting for righteousness? Explain.
5) What does it mean for you to hunger and thirst for righteousness?
For information on OneLife Ministries and to schedule retreats or workshops on spiritual formation, prayer, contemplative practice, contemplative theology ..., or for a book reading on my book An Ache for Union, write Brian K. Wilcox, pastor in the United Methodist Church, Florida Conference, at brian7777@earthlink.net .
Peace to All!
|
