In the beginning, a meal
Humanity’s eyes opened to see - what?
Nakedness
Innocence lost
In the beginning - a poetic exploration of the consequence of humanity seeking to be like God, but instead sharing in deceit - a deceit that will lead to suspicion and, in time, rivalry and death - murder.
Personal gratification, rejection of accountability and greed - promoted above the task of humanity to reflect the image of God and care for abundant creation in all its glorious diversity.
Seeds of disaster sown.
___________________________
Two disciples - all hope of a new world, a new exodus, freedom for Israel, the people of God - lost
The one hailed as Messiah, dead. A pretender after all. Murdered by those he was called to defeat
No hope
And then, hearts warmed as scripture is opened up, by a stranger
A stirring in their spirit - a glimpse of something seemingly intangible, unimagined - yet so right...
And then another meal
Eyes opened
There, incredibly, improbably, impossibly is Jesus
Reclothed
Innocent
Hope rekindled
A new beginning
The first day of a new creation
Death, violence, evil, murder, oppression does not after all have the final word
___________________________
The final word is - love
God’s Kingdom breaking into history - the promise to Israel, to the world, realised, subverted
A new, as yet unwritten chapter, embracing an ancient story
A story whose closing word is - love
A story, which if we allow it, embraces us all
A story, which continues to subvert, to challenge, to seek justice
A story in which the people of God, following the radical example of the crucified, risen Jesus, are never, whatever the provocation or atrocity, called to fight evil with the weapons of evil
To do so is to return to an earlier poetic narrative
The consequences of which are self-evidently known
The way of the Kingdom is peace - a narrow and demanding and counter-cultural, counter-intuitive way indeed
The way of Jesus
Our way?
James Mercer is the Associate Minister within the Benefice of St Aldhelm, Purbeck.