How good are you at starting a conversation, do have a regular ‘go to’ phrase? This was the question posited by a Radio programme I was listening to last week. People were invited to offer their conversation starters. There were some very intriguing ideas and several that were very puzzling. One British standard ‘go to’ is the weather, probably because we have so much of it! Another suggestion was about musical taste, what people like. Another standard one that it still used regularly on Game Shows and the like is the question, where do you come from and what do you do.’
I remember a Vicar friend of
mine who if ever he was asked ‘what did he do’ by way asking what job he did,
would answer by saying he did all sorts of things. Even as a Vicar he refused
to be defined by his employment. (Although strictly speaking Vicars are not
employed, they are given a ‘stipend’ so that they do not have to work in the
way we most often use and know that term.)
This Monday, 22nd September it
is the Feast Day St Matthew.
We read of his calling in
Matthew 9.9
‘As
Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth;
and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed
him.
With all the current toxicity around
currently could this verse and the calling of Matthew guide us to have better
conversations.
First and most importantly note
the order this encounter is recorded.
(Without concerning ourselves overmuch as to the exact Greek construct
of the sentence.)
Jesus first saw a man - a man
named Matthew.
Then we are told that he was a
tax collector.
It’s a very simple observation
and yet powerfully profound and raises an interesting question for us. A
person, a named person, then their employment.
When we see someone in person
or even on TV what is our first reaction, how do we see them, what do we see?
A dangerous egotistical President
of the United Sates. A bullying tyrant
wanting to annex Ukraine. Or maybe a President who appears to want to utterly
destroy a people’s group, the Palestinians.
What do we see?
What do we see when we meet a
prisoner, especially a sex offender or a murderer?
You get the idea, what do we
see when someone is before us in person, or on the TV or even in a conversation
being mentioned by name.
First and foremost, Jesus saw
a man. Someone made in the image of God, Imago Dei.
I remember some years back meeting someone who polished stones. Not diamonds or rubies, but those stones you find lying around buried in the mud. These stones would be put in a grinding mill with other stones and sand, first quite a coarse sand and then moving on to finer sand. She showed me a stone she had picked up as we were out for a walk. After 24 hours of being in the grinding mill it was remarkable to see the colours that shone out of this now polished stone.
The Imago Dei may be buried
deep, under layers of encrusted mud and dirt gathered over years.
But, unless we believe certain
people are utterly irredeemable, then we must at least hold onto the hope that
it is there somewhere.
First see the person before we
see their personality, their problems, their peculiarities, their profession
and their peccadilloes.
It’s a tough call and deeply
challenging especially today when there is so much vitriol and bile being spilt
across the social media and on our streets.
God of all, accept our plea
for peace. Too many times, mothers have wept for their sons. Too many times,
fathers have wept for their daughters. Too many times, children have wept for
their parents. Our world is awash in violence and grief is everywhere. Guns
attack children in schools and worshipers in their houses of worship.
Everywhere persons perish by their own hands, the hands of another and mercy
seems nowhere to be found. When will it end? How will your voice be heard above
the crying?
Forgive us for othering and
making different those whom you have created beautifully and wonderfully.
Forgive us our divisive national identities, ethnic strife, religious
opposition and culture wars – for they lead to violence within and between
nations. Let us become a part of the solution by promoting critical thinking
and providing empathy education. Give us the resolve to speak up for diplomacy
and international organizations that foster understanding. Let us be willing to
sacrifice wealth to promote economic equity and opportunity. Fill us with
tolerance, compassion, and mutual respect on the pathway to peace. Help us to love
our enemies and bless those who would persecute us.
Let there be peace on earth.
Amen.
Make me a channel of your peace....
https://youtu.be/S2R09Kuymd8?si=NH1Mp9I3yubiZHPz
No comments:
Post a Comment