Lectio Divina
23 April 2008 - 19 ניסן 5768 by Huw
Tonight at class we were discussing “Taking the bible seriously” which is neither tossing it out (a la many in the “liberal” camp) nor taking it verbatim (a la the literalists). In the course of the discussion I was struck by how the Orthodox and the Progressives say the same thing about the Bible but come to different conclusions.
At the close of the evening we did a little of what used to be called “African Bible Study“: we used a modified form of it as a sort of Lectio Divina practice. Our Passage was Luke 17:20-37
Two things struck me as blogable here:
In verses 20 and 21 Jesus is reported to say two things that bare on our discussions here:
Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, “Look, here it is!’ or “There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.”
I’m reminded of how the Kallistos Ware is often quoted as saying “we know where the Church is but not where she is not (or sometimes “we know where the spirit is but not where he is not). Jesus says you can’t point at it at ALL.
But also look: the Kingdom is Among (or within) the Pharisees. That’s astounding. The kingdom is among those most Christians paint as the enemy of the Faith. How’s that for on-your-head theology? Imagine. “Love your enemies because I gave them the kingdom before you figured it out just to spite both of you…”
And then, in verse 37, comes this line that is not included in Any Lectionary reading:
“Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”
That seems to be God’s motto for the internet. No?
Wow! I never picked up on it before that he was speaking to the Pharisees.
Makes one a little more willing to remain in an imperfect church.
bingo!