Today’s blog
Lynn Murphy Mark
Micah 6:8
This morning’s meditation from Richard Rohr addresses the old, entrenched way of our churches and their philosophies. The premise is that humanity is entering a new consciousness that will free us from the institutionalization of the church. I saved the meditation, along with a small number of other ones that I keep close at hand. Some mornings, the wisdom of the words draws me in and I read the meditation several times. Brian McLaren writes:
“As I write those words, I can’t help but feel a flood of resonances with the Hebrew Scriptures. [1] I feel echoes of Isaiah, speaking of God doing a new thing, something fresh springing forth, so that there will be good news for the poor, recovery of sight for the blind, freedom for the incarcerated and oppressed. (Oppression of the poor is one of the hallmarks of the old humanity.)”
He quotes Ezekiel, Amos and Micah as well. These men urged people to look at the world through new eyes, through eyes that would be made aware of the wrongs that surrounded them. But awareness is only the first step. It must be followed up by actions intended to serve others and the planet.
Now, thousands of years later, the words of the prophets apply to us today. This makes me worried and sad and hopeful. I think it’s confusing to be a Christian in today’s world but I know that what Jesus tried to teach back then is still germane. His lessons were simple, but not easy. We still struggle today with oppression, injustice, and discrimination. Each of these is addressed in the Beatitudes. “Blessed are…” is followed by the qualities that belong in the Kingdom of Heaven. And, as Jesus reminds us, the Kingdom of Heaven is within each of us if we are willing to be disciples.
It seems that churches everywhere are struggling to keep up their membership. Sanctuaries that used to be full find the numbers dwindling. Financial difficulties plague many as the number of contributors drops steadily. Sometimes it is necessary to look at a church as a business, to examine mission versus margin, to uncover what congregants want and need from a worship experience. Using modern technology, churches are “live streaming”, trying to get the message out to people whose time commitments are tight. The old way of dedicating Sunday mornings to church seems to be fading.
I am fortunate to have been exposed to ministers who speak of the gospel and how to live it outside of two hours on a Sunday. They are mentors, spreading the words of scripture by interpreting them in light of today’s society. In addition I have resources outside of church that help me understand the importance of developing a spiritual self. I can read Father Richard Rohr and Sr. Joan Chittister, two examples of people teaching and living the Gospel. They are both Catholic and I am reminded that the word “catholic” also means pertaining to the whole church.
When my kids were young we were fairly faithful attenders at church. Now they are grown and, like so many other young-ish adults, they don’t attend church services. Their time commitments get in the way on one coast, and on the other coast there is little interest in finding a church to go to. However, when I hold up Micah 6:8 and look at my children through this profound Bible verse, I am comforted that they live the words. Micah says this: “And what does God require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” That’s enough for me.