1)
The less we understand what Jesus is saying,
the more important it is to find out.
Jesus is speaking of spiritual reality,
utilizing physical reality.
He is not being rational,
or trying to make sense to our human mind.
He is utilizing human language, paradigms, stories…
to help us begin to develop ‘eyes to see and ears to hear’ Spiritually, in our SOUL
He is a finger pointing to the Moon,
in Every Parable pointing to his GOOD NEWS, that he is here to share.
Utilizing the everyday to Point BEYOND the everyday
– materialistic & mundane, everyday & egoistic…
– to the Realm of Heaven/ God – which is among us – here there, everywhere.
SO,
when he is not making sense to us
it’s a sign that there is probably a BIG ‘MORE’ for us to grok in our walk with Jesus, today.
.
2)
In my Soul Practice, I have come to value the word INEXORABLE –
unstoppability – going forward/ toward, regardless of;
that I see as a fundamental aspect of active/ male energy.
And specifically on our Soul Journey
Going FOR
what Really Matters,
what we Truly Desire IN God
– Without Consideration
for what happens along the way,
irrespective of cost, impediments, risk, required investment…
Personally, I have come to associate this with the song from U2:
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Lookin For (This version has Lyrics)
(Here’s a version I just came across: U2 + Gospel Choir – DUDE!)
From perspective, this is a song that disappointingly describs the experience of most everyday Christians; as well as Deconstructing Christians, Christain-ish (a friend says Christian-fluid : ), post-Christians…
Its Disappointing because
We CAN Fully Live Into
What we are most Deeply Desiring
– Looking For IN the Divine
– but MOST still sing: I STILL HAVEN’T FOUND I’M WHAT LOOKING FOR
– Most get STOPPED too Early – GIVE UP the Sacred Goods, and go on to other things.
.
From my persepctive,
Jesus’ main message was about the Realm of God/Heaven
It was what HE CALLED the GOOD NEWS = Gospel.
But he was very clear
that we Must COUNT the COST
which is Everything
The Pearl of Great Price
The Treasure in the Field
MOST GIVE UP
I haven’t found what I’m lookin for,
so let me cast about in the world for it!
(Good luck with that, IMOe)
BUT
When we don’t give up!
And I mean here – not just go through the motions!
I mean GO DEEPER, rinse repeat, etc.
Amazing things can happen.
AND
It helps A LOT to learn from others.
NOT usually WHAT to SEE & HEAR,
but HOW to SEE & HEAR
– in our own SOUL.
SO very Many are padding around n the Dark
– the Blind Leading the Blind.
(and may be BLIND, regardless of Intellect or Emotion or Education or Position or how good a Story they have…)
SO
It helps beyond reckoning to get some ACTUAL Help,
to Learn from others’ Mistakes & Successes, Wisdom & Practices.
We don’t have to reinvent the Wheel
– we can TAKE the Wheel
and GO Further, Faster, Funner…
.
It can assist us beyond expectations to learn so PRACTICES, ie:
FOCUS our ATTENTION
– Developing and Keeping our Attention as a singe-pointed Focus really Matters,
Jesus according to Matthew said:
“The lamp of the body is the eye,
if, therefore, thine eye may be perfect/ whole/ single/ simple/ clear
all thy body shall be enlightened/ full of Light.”
INTENTION
– Developing and Keeping our Attention
Focused on what TRULY MATTERS
The writer of Philippians says:
“one thing indeed:
Forgetting the things behind and reaching forward to the things ahead,
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus”
FINALLY, to my POINT, for TODAY:
I am very grateful to find RICHARD BECK speaking intelligently and scripturally to this verse, which is very useful AND rarely understood.
(The 3 part series starts here http://experimentaltheology.blogspot.com/2017/09/and-violent-take-it-by-force-part-1.html )
Here is some of the first part, that I find particularly useful:
“
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully coming, and the forceful seize it… forcefully take it… grab it…
From John to Jesus the kingdom of heaven had been forcefully advancing. And yet, the kingdom was being met with doubt and questioning. Even John was starting to waver. So Jesus declares that the kingdom is advancing. The army is on the move, so now is the time to forcefully seize this opportunity. But sadly, the people were meeting the kingdom with doubt and a lukewarm reception. The people lacked urgency or interest. Instead of forcefully seizing the kingdom there was apathy.
…The kingdom was, rather, being dismissed and ignored. Matthew 11.12 is a rebuke, a call to action, a challenge to doubting and questioning audiences to forcefully seize the kingdom.
“
(FYI Part 2 – http://experimentaltheology.blogspot.com/2017/09/and-violent-take-it-by-force-part-2.html)
(the last post of this 3 part blog is all Really worth reading, IMOe; it addresses INEXORABILITY and utilizes interaction with a Gentile Woman to do it! THIS IS FOR ALL!!!
(http://experimentaltheology.blogspot.com/2017/09/and-violent-take-it-by-force-part-3.html)
The conclusion:
“
What Jesus had predicted Matthew shows us as coming true. In contrast to the apathy the kingdom was being met with in Israel the pagans in Tyre and Sidon were forcefully seizing the kingdom. The woman would not be denied. She forced her way into the kingdom.
Yes, Jesus does throw up barriers in Matthew 15. But I think Jesus does this to make a point. Look, Jesus is saying, how in the face of the kingdom these people refuse to be denied. This is the forceful response I’m looking for but can’t find in Israel.
The kingdom is forcefully coming and the forceful, like this woman, forcefully seize it.
“
.
I really appreciate Jesus utilizing a conversation
with a woman to illustrate this:
This forceful seizing… forceful taking… grabbing
This INEXORABILITY – Refusing to be Denied!
IS an ACTIVE/ male energy
– which some want to suppress in women.
But I,
and Jesus (at least according to myself & RICHARD BECK)
believe it is for Anyone who Truly Desires HEAVEN NOW!
(and for lots of other useful mundane activities as well ; )
AND
it is MUCH MUCH needed to be DEVELOPED
– especially in cis-gendered women
– and many others who by nature or nurture
have not learned to Utilize this HUMAN Capacity.
We all need this ACTIVE/ male energy for Balance, and for certain times in our Everyday Life as well as certain parts of our SOUL JOURNEY.
It helps a lot to be able to lean-into this capacity for ACTIVE/ male energy,
to build this soul muscle
to play our part in the realm/ reign of God/Heaven, here on earth
– in our sacred and mundane lives!
I have more insights about this subject, but that is more than ENOUGH for today.
The Inexorable SEIZE the Realm/ Reign of Heaven/ God.
I pray that we each develop and hone this capacity, and
REALize what our Soul is TRULY Seeking!
Blessings on your Unique WAY,
Wendy
