Going to a Bigger Place
Written by admin July 1st, 2009 in on the wayBy Richard Rohr
Finding one’s soul is always leaving one’s comfort zone, letting go and going to a bigger place…. Jesus creates the ecclesia, literally, “the called-out ones.” The Church should be that group of people who have moved to a place of freedom and are willing to ask the big questions of the extended family, not only the questions of the natural family…. Jesus broadens our vision. “Family values” is sometimes a cover for a very self-protective and narrow agenda…. Jesus requires his first disciples to call into question even their “family values.”
Source: Jesus’ Plan for a New World
Would like to see churches make the soul and spirit a high priority vs. sermons on Sunday morning.
Jesus did indeed say “he who loves mother,brother, sister,children…..more than ME is not worthy of ME”…of the Kingdom of Heaven!!!
I once read of an account of a woman who had a near-death experience, in her own words. She recounted how she was a devout Christian Catholic who went to daily Mass with her children, was a faithful wife and mother and brought her children up in the instruction of the Faith. She believed that she was doing all that was required of her. She was financially well off and the family lived well within their means. To fast forward a bit, when she found herself in the throws of death, she had a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus. HE said to her “only leaves”. HE then showed her that her tree “only bore leaves” because she ‘just’ did what was immediately required of her, that is, her “family” responsibilities. Her tree did not bare any “fruit”, that is , she did nothing beyond that which was her duty to her familly. She was given the chance to return to this life to “bear fruit” for the Kingdom of God. She was so filled with “zeal” upon given a second chance that she became very devout in her Faith and prayed intensely for the Lord to show her what work/fruit that HE had desired of her. Through much prayer she discerned that God was asking her to work in the pro-life movement, providing unwed mothers a place and means to have their babies and helping them to get a start in life. She used much of her stored up wealth to open a home/s for these women and their babies and provide for their needs as best she could. She says that she now has a JOY like never before and is very fulfilled; bearing much “fruit” for the Kingdom of God and “Loves Jesus more than her family”.
Our church lost it’s pastor of 27 years, 6 years ago. Pastor Dan had been the only pastor who many had ever known; and God used him to play a huge part in my coming to Christ.
The one thing that kept me going during the grieving period of loosing Pastor Dan was my realization that we are all brothers and sisters (family) whether or not it is via a natural family as spoken to in the piece above.
As I am learning to play a “larger” part in my “larger” family, I am becoming more and more aware of a need to play such a part.
Thank you Margaret Rose Rivera for your postings. I always find them very helpful and insiteful.
Me