December 28, 2003
I Samuel 2:18-20, 26; Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 2:41-52
The scripture from Samuel, along with the scripture from last week, emphasizes with great clarity the importance of parenting, both during the period of gestation and during the upbringing of the child. Samuel became what he became, largely because of the piety of his mother, Hannah. The story of Samuel is a story of one who made a major impact on the history if Israel. After considering the scripture of last week concerning the mothers of John the Baptist and Jesus it is clear that in the Judeo-Christian tradition places much emphasis on the work of God through persons and especially through parents. If Hannah, Elizabeth, and Mary, had not been the kind of persons they were would Samuel, John and Jesus have become what they became? Not likely!
It should also be noted, as per the Jesus story in Luke, that although parents have major impact on the lives of their children, the time comes when each individual must take personal responsibility for who they are and who they become. There came a time in the life of the boy Jesus, when he had to take responsibility for his own attitudes and behavior. His parents had given him many wonderful gifts of attitude and belief, but now he must take charge of himself for himself. Jesus concluded that he must "be about his Fathers' business". Because of his decision to become personally responsible in the manner in which he had been taught, "Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man."
The testimony and admonition found in the scripture from Colossians is presumed to be that of the Apostle Paul, but whoever authored this letter is really beside the point. Here is a person who is saying that Jesus had become such an inspiration for him of what he could become, that he wanted to become that same kind of inspiration for those to whom the letter was written. Not only did he speak in these general terms but he spelled out in detail what that might mean in the expression of life for any given person. He spoke of meekness, forbearance, forgiveness, patience, kindness, compassion, love, harmony, and a host of goals worthy of the achievement for all human beings. Paul found all of these wonderful traits incorporated in Jesus and he wanted to exemplify them in himself. Furthermore he wanted the young Christians to whom he wrote, to strive to be examples of the same.
How does all the scripture and symbolism involved in the Christmas Season and the coming New Year relate to anything important in our lives. This is a story of love and hope. It is also a story of process! God works through human beings in a very slow but deliberate manner. The work of God is diminished or accelerated depending on the attitude and behavior of human beings. Jesus was not "sent" to relieve us of responsibility. Jesus took upon himself the responsibility of becoming in faith and behavior what he believed all human beings should become if they were to be worthy children of God. Paul was not bragging about having achieved perfection. Paul told of his own efforts and admonished all to set "perfection" in attitude and behavior as a goal and work towards achieving the goal with full knowledge that full achievement would not be possible.
The reason we speak of "process theology" is because it is now clear to us that God works through a long evolving process in every way that we understand God is working. Science has no small part in aiding us in this understanding. We speak of "process theology" because we human beings are capable of nurturing a process where we become better, not stalemated or worse. We speak of "process theology" in the Christian environment because Jesus is now understood not as the "end" of the process, but as part of the process. God worked through Hannah and Samuel. God worked through the prophets. God worked through Jesus. God works through us. We are in a life-partnership with persons who preceded us in life and with God who is with us throughout life. The process goes on--eternally!