This blog provides a meditation on the Episcopal daily readings along with a headline from world news:

KOREAN CRUCIFIED HIMSELF IN QUARRY 

Colossians 1:24-2:7

24 I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. 25I became its servant according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. 27To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me.

2For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me face to face. 2I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ himself, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4I am saying this so that no one may deceive you with plausible arguments. 5For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, and I rejoice to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

St.Paul in prison

God’s secret is his wish to share his life with all people through Christ-“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” That sounds wonderful until we read of the consequence for Paul, who is “completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions” This shared divine life can be pretty demanding. Others may speak in high-flown terms about the mystery of God, that is, as some kind of religious knowledge which saves without pain, but Paul knows that the mystery is simply Christ himself whose glory will be shared with those who share his suffering when called to do so. The suffering should never be self-inflicted as a poor Korean man seems to have done. Indeed the glory and the suffering are intermingled and less distinguishable than worldly minds might imagine. So there’s every reason for thanksgiving which in the Pauline tradition is the hallmark of Christian faith.

It is the uniqueness of Christ which makes Christianity universal: all humanity is invited to share God’s life in him; there are no exceptions.

 Luke 6:27-38

27 ‘But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.

32 ‘If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

37 ‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.’

Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness together in peace

How do I share the life of Christ? Can I do so by any kind of religious enthusiasm or wonderfully tailored worship? Such experiences are only useful if they spur me into the real sharing, which is laid out in Jesus’ teaching. I share Jesus’ life by loving my enemies, by showing the same forgiving generosity that his divine life displayed. Jesus is himself the command to love enemies, the words only spell it out. Here the usual distinctions between law and gospel break down. Yes, here’s a law: love your enemies. But it’s also gospel for this is God’s way of loving me and when I share it I share God’s life. Yes, here’s grace: the Most High is kind to the wicked. But it’s also a command: love your enemies, do good expecting no return. Giving and receiving get mixed up. I receive God’s life to the extent that I share it with others; I share it with others to the extent that I receive it. The abundance of the shared life is expressed in the marvellous image of verse 38-“a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over.” Is there any teaching greater than this? I don’t think so. The sober passion of Jesus’ words breaks my hard heart every time I read them.