Friday 24 April 2009

Background

I'll have to be honest that on first reading there is somethingprofoundly creepy about the sentence, "they rejoiced that they wereconsidered worthy to suffer dishonour for the sake of the name".I'm fairly sure I'd be furious. "Look God, I've put myself out foryou, done what you asked, been bold, brave and articulate. I've'walked the talk' and done more theological reflection than isstrictly good for me, and now this..."

I'm with Jane Eyre every time, who when preached to about howimportant it was to be good otherwise she'd go to hell, declaresthat she would be careful not to die. What's with all this solemnpiety? Jesus declared, "I came that they may have life, and have itabundantly" (John 10:10).

But there is more to this than simply piety. In Jesus the discipleshave found the centre of their universe. He is their 'all in all'.There is something of old Sir Thomas Erpingham who, when offeredsoft pillows on the field of Agincourt by King Henry V, says, "Notso my liege, this lodging likes me better, since I may say, 'Nowlie I like a king'" (Henry V, Shakespeare, act 4, scene 1).

The followers' suffering is a sharing in Christ's suffering. Theygive even their fears and anxieties to God and in so doing findthat "all things work together for good" (Romans 8:28). Persecutionand suffering are not easy matters, but that is the heart of thegospel (the good news of Jesus) - not that the Resurrection makesthe Cross ok, but that it affirms the sacrifice made that we mayindeed have "life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10).

To Ponder

Reflect on your day, on the moments that gave youhappiness, and where you also felt frustration or grief. Withoutself-judgement, offer the moments to God in thanksgiving and alsoin petition. Thanksgiving that in Christ, God "knows our everyweakness" and in petition that "all our sins and grief he bears"(from the hymn, What a friend we have in Jesus).

When have you noticed God's glory revealed indifficulties and even perhaps in suffering?

When has that been too hard to see?