disruptive grace

I want to continue the thought explored in the last post on ‘Mission and Pain’. There’s a few directions I’d like to explore, so I’m going to have to come back to some of these, including: some of Tom Wright’s stuff exploring this issues, on following in the way of Jesus, and on the role artist; also the aspects of Bruggeman’s talk on the prophetic imagination in regards to grief and hope.

However, now I want to think about lived examples. I love hearing real stories of real people, and I believe these stories free us to imagine how our lives could be. Recently I’ve become aware of a number of local friends who are ‘being’ in places of pain, I’ll use pseudonyms so not to not cause embarrassment. The following is a brief description of three of these.

The first of these exemplars, is my friend ‘The Listener’, who has become the safe person in her work place for people to talk to and in the presence of, whether they openly discuss their contempt for Christianity, or privately talk to her about relationship struggles with their spouse. The second is ‘The Accepter’, who welcomes everyone as a friend and notably spends time with those who are unable to be open with everyone about their sexuality, for fear of mistreatment or being misunderstood. The third is ‘The Embracing Family’, who practice hospitality with each other, and their neighbours. ‘The Embracing Family’ though large already, are now looking to foster children who have been neglected or abused, and in doing so are welcoming them into their home and family life.

I mention these because these are people finding simple (although in some cases costly) ways of living out sacrificial lives which isn’t a tagging on of a new program or meeting, but being the sent people of Jesus in a specific time and place.

It is good to be reminded of the example of faithful followers of Jesus who seek/sought and explore/explored to live lives in the manner that the Master did. The images above are from Sojourners, they have a whole collection of icons (by Robert Lentz) of ancient and contemporary which remind us of aspects of the Jesus centered life. The two images above are of ‘Oscar Romero of El Salvador’ and ‘Mother Jones of America (1830-1930)’. Here’s the writting that is provided with the icon.

Mother Jones of America (1830-1930)

A government official once called Mary Jones “the most dangerous woman in America.” She was dangerous to the established order because she was fearless in her defense of the oppressed working class. For 60 years she went into mining towns where men often feared to go, organizing unions. The miners called her “Mother” Jones.

© Robert Lentz

Oscar Romero of El Salvador (1917-1980)

The model for bishop in the ancient church was a shepherd who walked before his people through whatever dangers they might face. He stood among the poor and the oppressed. And like the Apostles before him, he died a martyr.

While medieval bishops became princes and many modern bishops become bureaucratic administrators, the bishop as pastor among the people is reappearing in the church. Oscar Romero was such a bishop.

Although the wealthy class called him a friend of revolution, he was a peacemaker. He knew that simply ending rebel violence would not end the greater violence induced by poverty and hunger. Society had to be restructured so that children would not die of malnutrition and disease while their parents could not find decent work. Though he encouraged peaceful reform, where violence was unavoidable he worked to overcome the spirit of hatred and vengeance.

Killed by an assassin’s bullet as he celebrated Mass on March 24, 1980, his last words described the grain of wheat that must die in order to bear fruit. Like his Savior, he died poor, forgiving his murderers. He was buried in the cathedral where he had preached justice. And now people from many nations come to his tomb to find strength in their struggle.

© Robert Lentz, 1987