Reframing Sunday

A while ago I was talking to someone about how our goals often change in the second half of life. He mentioned a book he had read on how in the first half of life we strain to be successful, and in the second half we let that go and live to be significant. To be significant you need to be imaginative and reframe what your life is about, and then live towards that.

Reframing is a big theme is today’s readings. Jeremiah (31: 31-34) reframes the covenant from obedience for a reward to the vehicle the people are shaped by God’s generosity and mercy already experienced. In the shadow of a destroyed temple, Law moves from the lost Ark to the Way of God written on their hearts so that the people live as beacons of God’s generosity and mercy, to each other, their neighbours, and all creation.

John too is in the business of reframing. John's version of the story of Jesus is so very different from the other three. God only speaks here, not at the baptism. No transfiguration. The angst of Gethsemane is moved here and replaced with determination. In John the cross is central and changes everything. Here we are in chapter 12 heading into the last supper. About 35% of John's gospel tells the story from the last supper and events leading up to the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. John is reframing Jesus’ death on the cross from utter humiliating defeat to the turning point history, where God’s honour, glory, and presence are revealed for all people. Rome and the Judean leadership crucified Jesus to eradicate all Jesus lived for, John portrays it as the moment of victory and hope.

The cross becomes the point we see Jesus through, and through Jesus we see God. It is the point we see world history through. It is the mirror we are invited to see ourselves in. John hoped his hearer’s imagination would be blown apart and they would begin to see the world and all that is in it in a new light, God’s light revealed in crucifixion. As N.T. Wright says, it is the day the revolution of generosity, mercy, inclusion, justice and aroha begins.

I wonder then what we need to reframe as we tell the story of our Parish? Are we willing to allow our imagination to be blown apart by God’s generosity and love for all creation.