Thinking About Grace...Part 3
There are times when it's easy to be kind and we call that "showing grace." When someone is going through a difficult time...as long as it's someone you like...or, for me, especially when someone has lost a loved one. It's a crisis, and things happen quickly, but there are few things I love to do more than extend the grace of God to people in a time of crisis. People will ask, "How do you make it through times like that?" How could I not? I get to stand and proclaim the greatest hope known to humankind and show grace, mercy and peace to those going through a storm.
As you have received, Jesus said, freely give.
As a pastor, I also find myself looking forward to the opportunities to share grace at the Lord's Table in Holy Communion. Bread...grape juice...body...blood...telling the story through simple, everyday symbols. As a child, I loved to be able to go forward with the adults and receive the bread and the juice. I didn't understand it all (do I yet?), but I knew it was a reminder of Jesus' love for me, of what he did to save me. And going forward meant I was welcome, included, wanted by Jesus. It was all grace. Still today, I love to offer the bread (that's usually my role) and say to each individual person, "This is the body of Christ...for YOU." This is the grace of Jesus...for YOU.
As you have received, Jesus said, freely give.
Then there are persons whom you don't like, whose personalities you conflict with, who don't like you, or who are just difficult to get along with. Surely, we think, there's another standard for them. Surely, we don't have to extend the same sort of grace to them that we do to others...do we? Or what about the clearly unrighteous? Those who have broken and continue to break God's law? What about those who say awful things about Jesus, use his name as a swear word? What about them? Huh? What about them, God?
As you have received, Jesus said, freely give.
I don't hear any restrictions in what Jesus says, or even in the way the Holy Spirit directs me (much as I balk at it). Grace is offered to everyone. Grace is not received by everyone. But it is offered to everyone. If it were restricted, if only a few people were eligible for grace, then it wouldn't really be grace, would it? I don't know what we'd call it, but it wouldn't be grace. Grace is expansive. Grace is large. Grace means everyone is welcome, everyone can come.
To tell you the truth, it's that notion of grace that has both comforted me and knocked me down for the count. In my most honest moments, there are people to whom I don't want to and have no desire to extend grace. That guy who comes in asking for a handout while carrying a smartphone? The people who lie to you, who treat you badly, who hate you? The one God loves even though you don't?
As you have received, Jesus says, freely give.
Part of my mid-life/mid-career questioning has to do with that scandalous grace of God. I struggle to offer it to absolutely everyone, because honestly, like most of us, I want to decide who gets it and who doesn't. But we're not given that privilege or ability. Grace is available even to the worst of these. Can I do that? Can I really, honestly look that person in the eye and extend grace?
As you have received, Jesus says, freely give.
As you have received, Jesus said, freely give.
As a pastor, I also find myself looking forward to the opportunities to share grace at the Lord's Table in Holy Communion. Bread...grape juice...body...blood...telling the story through simple, everyday symbols. As a child, I loved to be able to go forward with the adults and receive the bread and the juice. I didn't understand it all (do I yet?), but I knew it was a reminder of Jesus' love for me, of what he did to save me. And going forward meant I was welcome, included, wanted by Jesus. It was all grace. Still today, I love to offer the bread (that's usually my role) and say to each individual person, "This is the body of Christ...for YOU." This is the grace of Jesus...for YOU.
As you have received, Jesus said, freely give.
Then there are persons whom you don't like, whose personalities you conflict with, who don't like you, or who are just difficult to get along with. Surely, we think, there's another standard for them. Surely, we don't have to extend the same sort of grace to them that we do to others...do we? Or what about the clearly unrighteous? Those who have broken and continue to break God's law? What about those who say awful things about Jesus, use his name as a swear word? What about them? Huh? What about them, God?
As you have received, Jesus said, freely give.
I don't hear any restrictions in what Jesus says, or even in the way the Holy Spirit directs me (much as I balk at it). Grace is offered to everyone. Grace is not received by everyone. But it is offered to everyone. If it were restricted, if only a few people were eligible for grace, then it wouldn't really be grace, would it? I don't know what we'd call it, but it wouldn't be grace. Grace is expansive. Grace is large. Grace means everyone is welcome, everyone can come.
To tell you the truth, it's that notion of grace that has both comforted me and knocked me down for the count. In my most honest moments, there are people to whom I don't want to and have no desire to extend grace. That guy who comes in asking for a handout while carrying a smartphone? The people who lie to you, who treat you badly, who hate you? The one God loves even though you don't?
As you have received, Jesus says, freely give.
Part of my mid-life/mid-career questioning has to do with that scandalous grace of God. I struggle to offer it to absolutely everyone, because honestly, like most of us, I want to decide who gets it and who doesn't. But we're not given that privilege or ability. Grace is available even to the worst of these. Can I do that? Can I really, honestly look that person in the eye and extend grace?
As you have received, Jesus says, freely give.
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