All of the discussion on the intro to Thomas got me thinking. About secrets and about body-life.
Looking over the comments, it’s interesting to see the differing perspectives. Some of the perspectives I saw were:
*Secrets as describing a two-tiered Christianity, with the “spiritual” Christians more in-the-know than the “carnal” or “nominal” ones.
*Secrets as something always fresh and new as we come to the sayings of Jesus again and again with new eyes given by spiritual growth and deepening experience.
*Secrets as a troubling possible indication of Christianity being a “club” one has to gain entrance into before being initiated into a fuller understanding and knowledge of God.
*Secrets as whispered intimacies given in times of sitting at Jesus’ feet.
*Secrets as an open and available phenomenon that it takes open eyes to see – a remembering or returning from distraction back to God-awareness.
Interesting, isn’t it? In Luke, Jesus talked to the disciples about his use of parables. He told them that they had been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God but that the rest had to hear in parables, unable to hear or see clearly. Why was this, I wonder? Were those close to him special, an initiated few? Or was it that the crowds went home and the few stayed with him, day after day, sitting at his feet?
I think of Peter’s revelation of Jesus that he was praised for in our last study. Did he receive this revelation because he was better or more spiritual in some way then the other disciples? Then I consider the revelations of Paul, of John, of others.
Then, to top if all off, I go to the link David gave us that spoke of the jigsaw puzzle. And things begin to fall into place.
God deals with us and speaks to us in a very individual and custom-made way. The Spirit gives one this gift, another that gift. Spirit throws light on one area to this woman, another area to that man. We then work in love to fit these gifts of light together with humility and an openness to see freshly and a wonderful miracle occurs. Body-life.
From all of this, I have learned these things concerning the intro to Thomas:
*be on guard against spiritual elitism. Watch out for spiritual pride or exclusivity. Read the sayings with humility and teachableness.
*Curb the distractions and hindrances to remembering God, open my eyes to the always-available multitudes of ways the Spirit would shine light on the sayings and on the moment to moment of my days.
*Come to the text with fresh eyes and a willingness to hear a new song, rather than being distracted by what I think I already know. Be willing to come with an open heart that will listen for the new thing the Spirit would share, rather than the “confirmation” of what I already think.
Thank you, dear new friends, for this living example of I Corinthians 12:4-11.
4 comments:
Twyla, you pot that very well. Nice pic, too.
thank you for your reflection here -- you have a clerk's mind/spirit -- drawing diverse perspectives together.
That was indeed wonderful, Twyla. I feel that we're very privileged to have a person with your intellect and spirit join our group.
I have one comment supplementing your post: re the Bible. It's called the Living Word, just as Jesus in Thomas refers to the living one and the living Father.
Saying 59 begins: " (59) Jesus said: Look upon the living One so long as you live" At the Thomas study we're doing in our meeting at Gainesville this morning one of the members made clear that with the living word God speaks to each of us the particular thing we need (just as all good parents have done with their children).
The Living Word is always there so that you may read a verse today that you read 10 years ago, and it may mean something entirely different than it did then.
In the same way you and I may read the same verse, with which God has a very particular certain word for us. Incidentally that might be called a secret.
How fortunate we are to be able to share with one another what God has said to each us through the particular part of the Living Word we're studying together.
I thank you, too, Twyla. This was a beautiful compilation of the different offerings from the writers here. I felt like I was viewing a multifaceted crystal, each facet reflecting light from a different perspective.
I'm glad you are with us here, Tywla.
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