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In touch

Up-to-the-minute jumping-off points for sermons, linking the reading to the latest news and global issues

 

Crowding God out

Sometimes our words, music and liturgy can crowd out a direct experience of God’s presence. (1 Kings 8:11)

 

Context

In Western Christianity, Thomas Merton might be credited with single-handedly reviving contemplative (non-verbal) prayer…a way of crowding God in.

Richard Rohr has taken up Merton’s mantle in many ways in his Centre for Action and Contemplation.

Find out more about being open to God through contemplative prayer.

 

Ideas for sermons or interactive talks

"One of the main functions of organized religion is to protect people against a direct experience of God." (Carl Jung) Sadly, and particularly since the early middle ages, the people of the Church (laity) have been discouraged from experiencing God directly. Rather, everything has been mediated through the doctrines of the Church and the clergy. As a result, perfectly sane people are embarrassed to speak of such divine experiences — except in Pentecostal or Apostolic circles. Have a look at this fascinating website: https://understandingvoices.com.

In 1 Kings 8:11 isn’t it interesting that the priests are busily going about their business when the glory or greatness (Hebrew) of God’s presence appears and they cannot continue, so they leave! Kinda bizarre, ain’t it? The very God whose name/presence they invoke shows up and they leave! Similarly, in Isaiah 6:1ff Isaiah is totally flabbergasted to encounter the Lord in the temple! Hasn’t much of our work, worship and focus come to centre on ourselves and not on God?

 

Questions for discussion

• Have you, or has anyone you know well, ever had a direct experience of God? Could you (or the other person) freely talk about it? And…?
• The roots of our word for “liturgy” come from two Greek words: laos (people) and ergon (work).
  • How often does our work leave us several steps removed from the immediate presence/experience of God?
  • Have our corporate prayers become a ‘to do’ list for our cosmic nanny?
  • Are there times when we need to lose our minds in order to come to our senses?

• How might we adapt worship to include “holy silence”?
  • Could contemplative prayer or meditation be added to your church’s offerings for small groups?
  • In a church culture wherein we do most of the talking, how might silence be introduced so as not to switch off the ‘verbal folk’?

Revd Dr Jack Lawson is a freelance writer and novelist: Doing Time, No Good Deed, Criminal Justice, The Woods and Dirty Business. His newest novel, Joab, (Wipf & Stock) is based on the life of King David. For more information visit:  www.jacknlawson.com; https://jacknlawson.com/blog/; https://wingsepress.com/pages/lawson-jack-n

 

Check-in

Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people

Making space for God to turn up

Have you visited the National Gallery in London? In a bid to broaden and diversify its visitors, influencers have recently been hired to share their experiences of the gallery on social media.

The gallery is a special place where we can experience renowned artworks for free! I have loved seeing some of my favourite paintings there, including Renoir’s The Umbrellas, and The Sea at L’Estaque by Cezanne, with its multiple shades of Mediterranean blue contrasted against red roofs.

What staggers me is how some paintings elicit an ‘ahh’ moment - a new appreciation when viewed again from a distance. How can artists create that?! One remarkable painting is the life-size The Supper at Emmaus by Caravaggio depicting the risen Christ being suddenly recognised by two followers dining with him at a table. (zoom in and out on the image on the gallery's website)

 

c.968BC Solomon built the Temple housing the Ark of the Covenant in Jerusalem, to make a special place where people could meet with God. In the reading we hear that God’s presence in the new Temple was recognised as a cloud. The Bible records some occasions when God reveals himself visibly, but Psalm 139 reminds us that God is everywhere. Our challenge is to recognise his presence with us, perhaps when we least expect it. As with viewing a master piece, when we choose to look at something differently perhaps we can find God’s perspective and presence, especially when this is our prayer.

Questions

• Which are the spaces where you most recognise God?
• Have you ever been caught by surprise with an awareness of God with you?

Each evening this week, why not reflect on when you felt close to God that day, and how God’s presence changed things for you.

• Are you making space at the table of your everyday life for God to turn up?

Dr Angela Mak is a Licensed Lay Minister in the Ecumenical Partnership of West Swindon and Lydiard Tregoze. She is also a school’s worker, and retired biology teacher.

 

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