Meditation on Matthew 2:1-12
As we begin this new year of 2006, periodically I would like to reflect on Scripture and readings that relate to pastoring or shepherding. Yesterday, New Year's Day, I read Matthew 2: 1-12 (the visit of the Magi) as well as the first chapter of Henri Nouwen's work, Here and Now.
The Matthean passage relates that the magi sought to find the new born king of Israel -- who will shepherd God's people. Nouwen shared that we live life either focused on the past breaking into our present, or we live life in light of the future, of God's promise, telos breaking into our present.
As I reflect on these two readings -- side by side -- I am reminded that pastors are called to be shepherds who continually remind the people we are among and apart of (the "sheep") that we live our lives as God's people not in light of our past, but in light of the dream, the hope, the telos of God -- the reality of God's vision breaking into and creating our present. As pastors, we shepherd by reminding our people of this day after day -- we provide the compass for the living of their lives as the people of God, as the people called by God to participate with God in God's mission.
Its not just about New Year's resolutions -- rather our whole life as the people of God is lived in the reality of God's promised future creating our present. Pastors, shepherds, are the ones who remind the sheep that we live not by what we done or failed to do in the past, but that we live in hope realizing that our present is guided by the future that is already fulfilled and reaching into our present to draw, not only us, but all of creation into God's culminating future, purpose, telos. What a privilege it is to live in this way, and what a privilege it is to be the ones who keep this vision, this reality in front of the God's people to guide their living and their participation with God's present activity.
Peace.
The Matthean passage relates that the magi sought to find the new born king of Israel -- who will shepherd God's people. Nouwen shared that we live life either focused on the past breaking into our present, or we live life in light of the future, of God's promise, telos breaking into our present.
As I reflect on these two readings -- side by side -- I am reminded that pastors are called to be shepherds who continually remind the people we are among and apart of (the "sheep") that we live our lives as God's people not in light of our past, but in light of the dream, the hope, the telos of God -- the reality of God's vision breaking into and creating our present. As pastors, we shepherd by reminding our people of this day after day -- we provide the compass for the living of their lives as the people of God, as the people called by God to participate with God in God's mission.
Its not just about New Year's resolutions -- rather our whole life as the people of God is lived in the reality of God's promised future creating our present. Pastors, shepherds, are the ones who remind the sheep that we live not by what we done or failed to do in the past, but that we live in hope realizing that our present is guided by the future that is already fulfilled and reaching into our present to draw, not only us, but all of creation into God's culminating future, purpose, telos. What a privilege it is to live in this way, and what a privilege it is to be the ones who keep this vision, this reality in front of the God's people to guide their living and their participation with God's present activity.
Peace.
posted by Roland G. Kuhl at 10:09 PM
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