Monday 09 January 2023

Background

For the rest of this week we are studying 1 John and a few overview observations might be helpful.

Scholars dispute who wrote the three letters from John, although textual criticism and literary analysis seem now content that they are likely to have the same writer(s).  It’s suggested that the writer of the letters is from within the community of disciples who followed John (who was called the beloved disciple). Given the theological themes addressed in these letters, it is further suggested that the letters were written around the turn of the 1st century AD, so around 90-110 AD. They were intended to be passed around a dispersed community network of church congregations in local metropolitan areas. There is some evidence to suggest that they were written in Ephesus and were circulated for the purpose of the discipleship and development of smaller congregations in the Greek-speaking world.

It’s important in these opening sentences, therefore, to notice it's written in the plural: "We declare…we heard... etc"  This is a letter written by a community to a wider community.

It’s also significant at the outset to see how tactile and visceral their relationship is with God and with each other. Their faith is engaged and open to multisensory experiences of the 'kin-dom' and expression of worship and doctrinal development.  This letter invites the community hearing it to hear, see and touch spiritual and theological revelations themselves – that they may be disciples together, and disciples of Jesus. The letter expresses this in an informal way: the writer is effervescent in their declaration of their faith experience and their desire for others to explore the same.

 The poet Mary Oliver wrote in her poem ‘Don’t Hesitate’: “If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate. Give in to it… Joy, is not made to be a crumb."

 She sees that joy (also translated as 'grace') is complete when we are in spiritual community together; and it's a gift from God that that experience is longlasting.

To Ponder:

• Read the whole of Mary Oliver’s poem ‘Don’t Hesitate’ – what strikes you?
• In what ways can faith be a multisensory experience?
• When and where have you felt abundant joy?

Prayer

God of abundant joy, fill us again, that we might know hear, see, touch, taste and smell your presence in us, around us, and among the communities of which we are a part. Help us to seek out people who encourage us to live better, together.  Amen.