Lent 2
Devotional
Water From the Rock
Lectionary Devotional for Cycle C
Object:
He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory ...
-- Philippians 3:21
The focus of Paul's ministry was more on the corporate community of the church than it was on the individual. In Philippians, Paul saw a tension within the church that was caused by members whose vision was too limited. It is easy for a community to be focused on survival, community admiration, success, or even comfort. The god of such a church, suggested Paul, was their belly and "their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things." For Paul this limited vision was a denial of the cross of Christ. The church, as the body of Christ, can expect suffering and humiliation in the same manner that Jesus experienced it. The reason Jesus was able to endure this was that his perspective was from eternity. "But our citizenship is in heaven."
In the same way that God responded to Jesus' faithful obedience by transforming his humiliation on the cross into the resurrected body of glory, so the church can expect God to respond to their faithfulness. As Jesus could take Peter who denied him and make him the leader of the church, so he can take the denials of the church and transform them into signs of glory. The key symbol of this transforming power is the cross. To be an enemy of the cross is to deny this transforming power and rely on our own wisdom and insight. The challenge for the church is to not be overwhelmed by the immediate threats and seductions and to trust in God's transforming power.
-- Philippians 3:21
The focus of Paul's ministry was more on the corporate community of the church than it was on the individual. In Philippians, Paul saw a tension within the church that was caused by members whose vision was too limited. It is easy for a community to be focused on survival, community admiration, success, or even comfort. The god of such a church, suggested Paul, was their belly and "their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things." For Paul this limited vision was a denial of the cross of Christ. The church, as the body of Christ, can expect suffering and humiliation in the same manner that Jesus experienced it. The reason Jesus was able to endure this was that his perspective was from eternity. "But our citizenship is in heaven."
In the same way that God responded to Jesus' faithful obedience by transforming his humiliation on the cross into the resurrected body of glory, so the church can expect God to respond to their faithfulness. As Jesus could take Peter who denied him and make him the leader of the church, so he can take the denials of the church and transform them into signs of glory. The key symbol of this transforming power is the cross. To be an enemy of the cross is to deny this transforming power and rely on our own wisdom and insight. The challenge for the church is to not be overwhelmed by the immediate threats and seductions and to trust in God's transforming power.
