Where Will Jesus Find Community?

One of our group members really liked bell hooks' description of  Beloved Community: "Beloved Community is formed not by the eradication of difference but by its affirmation, by each of us claiming the identities and cultural legacies that shape who we are and how we live in the world."

This led us into a rich discussion  about wholeness and inclusion.  Belonging in the Beloved Community, and in the Realm of God, is not about perfection nor is it about conform-ation. In our rich diversity and giftedness, we become more together than we could ever by by ourselves.

 We noted that in Jesus Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:48 has frequently been translated, "Therefore, be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect."  But the term translated "perfect," teleios, really means "completion" or "whole."   Not flawless.  And it comes after the command to "love your enemies" so that "you may be children of your Father in heaven."  We are to be whole as God is whole; specifically, whole in love, complete in our recognition of all as beloved of God!

In the Beloved Community, we are called to a different way of being.  We become "Living Word" by following the "Living Word." We can learn this new way of being by following Jesus and sharing his life.  Jesus has a  learning method in the gospels.  He says, "Follow me," departing from right where we are, and in the sharing of his life we have new experiences of ourselves, others, and the world around us.  The term in the New Testament is Praxis (Acts): Do something different, and on the way you will begin to think and feel differently.

"Non-judgemental" is an important characteristic of  Beloved Community.  We sought to define the territory in positive terms. Agape, Jesus' kind of love, is an active love that engages, affirms, gives, confronts injustice while embodying a different way of being. Suspending judgement requires developing the capacity for deep listening and com-passion.. Recognizing everyone  as being enfolded in the love of God leads us to discernment.

In the scriptures, "judgement" is the passing of a sentence on another person or people. It is defensive by nature.  Our alternative way of being is born of the unilateral, transforming love of God.  It is important to be able to talk about the challenges and difficulties inherent in this path: How do we love someone who seems hate-full?  Can we love people we have found impossible to like?  How do we translate our good thoughts into meaningful doing?  Can God really change me? We need to embrace our inner turmoil, contradication, even as God embraces it.  This is hopeful!  Com-unity means "with unity!"    We experience encouragement together.

The ONA process is an example of  the church seeking to be a "Living Word," the vulnerable and be-loving Body of Christ in the world.

We took time for some fresh Bible Study of the familiar story from Luke 7:36-50 of Jesus attending dinner at the Pharisee's house and being anointed by the "woman from the street."
We reflected together:

1--Two definitions of "community" were recognized in the same story, one inclusive and the other exclusive.
2--Jesus "took his place," the one assigned to him at the Pharisee's table; the woman had no place.
3--One practice is "the customary thing;" the other is the embodiment of compassion and caring.
4-Remarkably, it is the woman, the "intruder," who shows Jesus hospitality!!!  She bestows a hospitality in the leader's house that the leader himself does not!  Jesus doesn't do the tending; he is tended to.  How does this sister mark off the territory as "holy ground?"
5--From the midst of what already exists, something new is revealed.
6--The woman doesn't receive forgiveness in the story; she already knows it.
7--The dynamics of judgement are exposed.  Both Jesus and the woman get "judged."
"Sinner' is terminology that justifies separation--except with Jesus and the Beloved Community.

Our concluding question: Where does Jesus find community?