Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? (Gen 18:14)
In the past writing my monthly contribution for the Lantern has been an easy and joyful task. These monthly articles have given me the opportunity to share with you some of the many thoughts and questions that continually swirl in my daily reflections on the challenges and commitments that face us all as we strive, each in our own ways, to be disciples of Christ in a world that is fast spinning into a concerning unknown.
This month’s contribution, however, has been a definite challenge. Thoughts refuse to assemble easily and neatly onto the page as I struggle to grasp the fast-paced and concerning challenges that emerge each day in an increasingly troubled and chaotic world. In my confusion and concern I have held tightly onto Walter Brueggemann’s chapter, “Ministry Among: The Power of Blessing, in his recently published book, Grace Abounds.
In this chapter, filled with relevant quotes from the Old Testament, Brueggemann makes the point that “While blessing is [understood] as a life-force that produces generative, productive material prosperity that is intrinsic to life-processes themselves, blessing can be bestowed, transferred from one party to another in an almost palpable way. Here we move into a mystery of life that does not admit of scientific or technical explanation. We are closer to a sacramental expression of reality, whereby those who possess God’s life-force in abundance can share and distribute it among others who may be deficient in what is needed for life.” (p. 113)
Just as Abraham ‘believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness’, so, you see, those who believe are the descendants of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, declared the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘All the Gentiles shall be blessed in you.’ For this reason, those who believe are blessed with Abraham who believed. (Gal 3:6-9)
Brueggemann goes on, “The purpose of blessing is not to enhance Israel, nor even to accent the importance of God. It is rather that the community should “work” as more and more people are included in the power of blessing, and so are freed of the dread, deathly force of curse…Thus I propose that “ministry among” consists, as it did for the for the ancestors, in being visibly available with the life-force of a viable future of shalom that will energize and evoke participation by others who still hold other ideological loyalties.” (p. 115)
The blessing of “ministry among” being the key life-force for those who are suffering is at this particular moment in time of critical importance to those of us who seek to identify a path forward. A path that leads to shalom. A path that offers blessing, the blessing that God bestowed on Abraham when he said, “All Gentiles shall be blessed in you.”
Now, more than ever before it is essential that we who are blessed enact our blessing through being “among” those who suffer, bestowing on them, transferring to them the blessing of God’s shalom, of Christ’s compassion, and of our commitment to follow Christ always and in all ways.
It is our call to be a blessing. To offer the blessing of being “among” those who suffer just as the incarnation gave us the blessed gift of Jesus “among” us. This being “among” is not easy and does not necessarily calm the nerves. But it does bring hope to those who suffer and in bringing hope to others, we begin to experience a spark of hope within ourselves, and that spark allows us to move forward continuing our blessed presence in the world. Despite all challenges that is our call – to be a blessing to all.
“You
do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all
going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered
by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.”
― Thomas Merton
Brueggemann, Thomas, Grace
Abounds. Westminster John Knox Press, Kentucky. 2024
