Lord Jesus Christ, you offered your life for me upon the cross, in the waters of baptism I was reborn in you, today I live as your body in the world set free to pour out my life for others. Give me your strength, generosity, and grace that I may pour out my life for all your children. Amen.
Today I encountered an amazing story that fully embodies the words of Paul when he wrote in Romans 14: "If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s."
The story is one that captures and expresses the teaching of Paul concerning our life and our death as Christians in very real terms. It embodies what Paul is saying about how our lives are radically secure in Jesus Christ and we no longer need fear death. Because of this we are radically reoriented to live as Christ body in the world.
The story I found may or may not involve Christians. I am sure that it involves many who are not Christians. It is a story about courage and the willingness to lay ones life down for one's neighbors. It is a generosity of self at great risk to one's life and health.
More than 200 pensioners of the Skilled Veterans Corp in Japan have volunteered for hazardous duty at the Fukushima nuclear plant so that young Japanese workers do not have to risk exposure to the excessively high radiation at the reactors. These are retired engineers and professionals who say that they and not the young should be facing these dangers. They are literally laying down their lives in the protection of others.
In Paul's world to be a Christian was something of great risk. In our world today there are still places where being known as a Christian is a great risk of harm and life. In the comfort of my Pennsylvania community not so much.
Does this mean I must go out of my way to find places where my life is at risk for my faith? No. What it does mean is that I should be constantly aware of how I may pour out my life for others. God blesses me with eternal life to set me free to serve and to accept the cost of that service. Being a Christian frees one to serve among the ill risking exposure to harm. It is to see Florence Nightengale transformed into God's presence. Being a Christian means risking bold generosity to assist and provide for those who struggle to find basic sustenance. It is to see Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu transformed in Christ becoming Mother Teresa. Being a Christian is to see Saul transformed to Paul around us every day when someone, maybe even ourselves, takes up the cost of serving because we see what must be done whatever the cost personally. Being a Christian is to understand that what God has placed in our lives is not there for us to cling to but rather to be managed and used to touch others with God's presence. God blesses me to be a blessing, just like Abraham.
I will be the first to confess that I am not very good at living that life of Christ consistently. There have been moments when I have but they are too few and too brief. But I constantly hear God's story calling me forward to be more bold and to risk real living in Christ reminding me that death has been conquered. Reminding me I have been set free by baptism into Christ not for self indulgence and whatever I WANT to do but rather what I in grace MUST RISK and do for my neighbor. It is terrifying grace and freedom.
May God bless and keep the members of the Skilled Veterans Corp safe in their labor at the Fukushima reactors. "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I shall fear no evil."
Today I encountered an amazing story that fully embodies the words of Paul when he wrote in Romans 14: "If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s."
The story is one that captures and expresses the teaching of Paul concerning our life and our death as Christians in very real terms. It embodies what Paul is saying about how our lives are radically secure in Jesus Christ and we no longer need fear death. Because of this we are radically reoriented to live as Christ body in the world.
The story I found may or may not involve Christians. I am sure that it involves many who are not Christians. It is a story about courage and the willingness to lay ones life down for one's neighbors. It is a generosity of self at great risk to one's life and health.
More than 200 pensioners of the Skilled Veterans Corp in Japan have volunteered for hazardous duty at the Fukushima nuclear plant so that young Japanese workers do not have to risk exposure to the excessively high radiation at the reactors. These are retired engineers and professionals who say that they and not the young should be facing these dangers. They are literally laying down their lives in the protection of others.
In Paul's world to be a Christian was something of great risk. In our world today there are still places where being known as a Christian is a great risk of harm and life. In the comfort of my Pennsylvania community not so much.
Does this mean I must go out of my way to find places where my life is at risk for my faith? No. What it does mean is that I should be constantly aware of how I may pour out my life for others. God blesses me with eternal life to set me free to serve and to accept the cost of that service. Being a Christian frees one to serve among the ill risking exposure to harm. It is to see Florence Nightengale transformed into God's presence. Being a Christian means risking bold generosity to assist and provide for those who struggle to find basic sustenance. It is to see Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu transformed in Christ becoming Mother Teresa. Being a Christian is to see Saul transformed to Paul around us every day when someone, maybe even ourselves, takes up the cost of serving because we see what must be done whatever the cost personally. Being a Christian is to understand that what God has placed in our lives is not there for us to cling to but rather to be managed and used to touch others with God's presence. God blesses me to be a blessing, just like Abraham.
I will be the first to confess that I am not very good at living that life of Christ consistently. There have been moments when I have but they are too few and too brief. But I constantly hear God's story calling me forward to be more bold and to risk real living in Christ reminding me that death has been conquered. Reminding me I have been set free by baptism into Christ not for self indulgence and whatever I WANT to do but rather what I in grace MUST RISK and do for my neighbor. It is terrifying grace and freedom.
May God bless and keep the members of the Skilled Veterans Corp safe in their labor at the Fukushima reactors. "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I shall fear no evil."
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