Journeys

We now take a different line in considering our Journey with God. In his book ‘Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time’, Marcus Borg a New Testament Scholar  describes discipleship as journeying with Jesus. We will reflect on Borg’s thoughts of Journeying with Jesus for the rest of the month.

Following Jesus is a journey that begins with a radical change in the direction of our lives. It may lead to a confrontation with political powers and death. We call this journey discipleship. The disciples followed Jesus through the villages and towns of Galilee and eventually to a cross outside of Jerusalem.

To journey with Jesus is a vision of the Christian life as a journey of transformation. It leads from life under the lordship of culture to the life of companionship with God.

Farmers in Zentsuji, Japan, are preparing full-grown watermelons for shipment -- only these are no ordinary melons: they're square! They were placed in tempered-glass cubes while they were still growing. Why would anyone want a square watermelon? They’re much easier to store in a refrigerator! It’s amusing to think of how a naturally round watermelon can become square because of the shape of the container in which it’s grown.

This reminds me of the forces in the world that exert their influence on us and attempt to shape us. That’s why in Romans 12: 2 we are told not to be "conformed to this world," but to be "transformed by the renewing of [our] mind." Or as J B Philips puts it, “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.”

The idea is rather simple: We are to allow the transforming Word of God to work within us and produce outward results, instead of permitting external pressures to shape us.

God of Grace, you call us to be different from the world,

but the world is seductive, and so we come here to be strengthened.

God of Vision, you hold before us an alternate way of life,

different priorities, different loyalties, different values.

But we know that the world is not only seductive but powerful,

and so we are drawn in to following its priorities,

accepting its values, showing loyalty to its gods.

God who blesses the meek, the peacemakers, the merciful,

forgive us when we lose sight of these qualities,

when we misunderstand their role in the world.

...time of silent prayer...

Rejoice and be glad!

God is gracious and God offer blessings.

God calls us to life in the world,

God offers us the chance to explore how to live out God's vision.

We are called, we are forgiven, we are blessed.

Thanks be to God. Amen.