As we celebrate the sacrament of the Lord ’s Supper today, it seems appropriate to pause to consider the idea of intentionality.
Micah’s minute for stewardship this morning at the 9:30 service started me thinking of this. His story about intentionally making a commitment and then accepting the unintended opportunities to give more was a great reminder that on commitment Sunday, we are making a minimum contribution of our time, money, talents and energy; but there is no rule against increasing them.
Our continuing study of the Gospel of St. Mark continued the theme of intentionality – Jesus made a choice to eat publicly with those who needed His presence the most. I found Andrew’s sermon on this story very challenging. Jesus was “eating publicly with the fallen” and if we are to live like Christ, then how do we do this in our daily lives? How often do our judgements create barriers that prevent us from a fuller embrace of our fuller society?
I know that it is far easier for me to look the other way or cross the street when presented with people who may or may not pose a perceived threat. It is easier to mail in a donation to the Mission or the Shepherds than it is to devote the time and the energy to work with these organisations. Perhaps this is the larger unintended contribution that Micah spoke about, or the ‘wilting from comfort” that Andrew mentioned in his prayer. If grace invites us all to share at the Lord’s Table, then our obligation is to invite others to share from our table.
Geoffrey
Sunday, October 2, 2011
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I found Micah's minute very thoughtful too, Geoffrey. The thought that in giving intentionally, we may discover we have more to offer than we thought.
ReplyDelete- Maureen.
As I listened to Andrew's sermon this morning, I was particularly struck by the quotation that the Kingdom of God is "open to all who are willing to sit down with all" (attributed to John Shea? I can't recall precisely). It is, as Geoffrey said, easier to avoid the very people of whom Jesus spoke most often then to seek them out and be Christ for them.
ReplyDeleteI also considered the difference between the disciples and those who were called apostles. While a great many people chose to follow Jesus, the first five apostles were called by Him. Apropos of nothing He told them to follow, and they did. Why them? What did He see in those men? Was there some special talent, some ability, some potential unused that He saw in them that spurred Him to command them to follow? Similarly, what does God - and more practically the church and our fellow St. Andreans - see in us? What potential lies within us that we could use for the good of our congregation and of Christ's Body, the church? As we consider how we support St. Andrew's in the coming year, I'll be thinking about what God - or the people in the pews of St. Andrew's - might see in me that I can dedicate to Him.