Promises and Reflection Fifth Sunday in Lent Psalm 51:1-12

Fifth in a series based on Christianity for the Rest of s, by Diana Butler Bass


This week’s lectionary texts deal with two things in our spiritual lives - God’s commitment to us as we grow in faith, and our prayer to God to help us grow in faith. Coincidentally the two chapters in the book we are studying deal with reflection and beauty. Rather than preach a whole sermon today, we are going to do a different exercise - I am going to give you a few quotes from the book, and then we are going to break into smaller groups and talk to each other.

You might remember that when our Presbytery came to look at congregational life in Glen Ayr, one of the recommendations of that visit was that as a congregation we needed to spend more time in reflection on who we are, and in spiritual education and development. Now, most congregations tend to think that if they show up on Sunday morning, and maybe attend a Bible study once in a while, where the minister tells them what the Bible says, they are getting a spiritual education, and growing in faith. That isn’t true. Yes, the minister is a teacher, called for a certain expertise in interpretation and theology, but there is more to Christian development.

Here’s a bit from “Christianity for the Rest of Us”, a book about how mainline churches are quietly transforming themselves and becoming part of the neighborhood again. This is a quote:

‘The Christian life of the mind is not, however, merely some disembodied or mystical experience. “What got me excited when I first came [to this church]” said one Florida Methodist, “was that God was very real here, that it wasn’t just words. People really, really meant what they were doing.” Along with theological generosity, the practice of reflection in the congregations on my journey expressed the active intellect. The people I met clearly loved words and ideas, but the strove to connect words with action, to authenticate words by works of mercy and justice.”

Another church goer commented that “theological reflection taught her that learning about Christianity was not enough, you have to learn Christianity.”

An Arizona man said “God didn’t ask us to check our intellect in the parking lot when we drove in and the service started.”

...and in fact, I would observe, God created our intellect, and intended for us to use it, not just to reflect on everything else, but reflect on ourselves too. Theological reflection - a practice of using our faith to reflect on life, and using our life to reflect on faith.

So this morning, I want us together in small groups to do some theological reflection (slide into groups of four or five). What I would like you to do is use Psalm 51 (printed in the bulletin). Read it quietly to yourselves for awhile, and think about what the words might mean to you. I will give you a few minutes to do this. Then, in your groups, as you feel comfortable, please reflect with others on what this passage might mean for you in your life today.

Sources: Diana Butler Bass “Christianity for the Rest of Us” , pp. 187 and 191.