Transforming Cursed Ground into the Garden of Grace ..... Prayers after Response Time
From Bailey….. “In
short, the extended family loses if a sheep is lost; the whole clan rejoices if
the lost is found. This element of ‘rejoicing’ in the parable also needs
examination.” – Reminds me of staff prayer after response time. We rejoice for the ministry happening throughout
our community. Some prayers are
individual by nature but many others are communal expressing the joys and burdens
of the entire “clan” ministering together after program.
I was reminded of staff prayer after response time when I
came across these words as well: “One clear emphasis is the joy of the
shepherd. Giblin sees that this is the
main point of the twin parable. He writes, ‘ ‘The dynamic theme is the
invitation to share in joy over the conversion of sinners.’ Thus the joy is expressed in and shared with
a community.”
SIDE NOTE: The
structural complexities of the parables particularly the parable of the two
lost sons completely fries my melon. MIND BLOWN!!
SIDE NOTE 2: The remarkability of the unique/unprecedented plot elements of the story
grabbed my attention as well. Bailey
expresses the unprecedented plot twists when he writes, “But the startling fact
is that, to my knowledge, in all of Middle Eastern literature (aside from this
parable) from ancient times to the present, there is no case of any son, older
or younger, asking for his inheritance from a father who is still in good
health.”
Bailey obscurely weaves in the evil of Ahab & Jezebel
when discussing the darkness of the son’s request. He writes, “The Middle Eastern peasant’s
attachment to his land is as old as Naboth’s relationship to his vineyard.” By appealing to Naboth and his dispute with
Ahab and Jezebel, Bailey rings a profoundly ominous tone/warning about the ancient,
bloody wreckage that accompanies infecting the land (or land disputes/inheritances) with
sin.
Tying it together – celebrating the victory of God with prayer on program nights after response time transforms cursed ground, infected for generations, into a garden of grace.
Tying it together – celebrating the victory of God with prayer on program nights after response time transforms cursed ground, infected for generations, into a garden of grace.
Love this!! "‘The dynamic theme is the invitation to share in joy over the conversion of sinners.’ Thus the joy is expressed in and shared with a community". What a joy we have to be able to join in with the Kingdom and grab a glimpse of the party in Heaven during those prayer times.
ReplyDeleteCelebration is central to life!!! I love Bailey’ description of the party thrown by the father.
ReplyDelete“People come, sing, dance, drink wine (which will naturally flow on such an occasion), talk, eat, go out, come back, and so forth.”
Such a great picture of celebrating as a community. Can’t wait for the celebrations to come this summer! (With root beer, of course...)
Side note: Bailey’s comment on the wine flowing naturally cracked me up. I could just see him smirking as he added in that comment. Lol...
"Some prayers are individual by nature but many others are communal expressing the joys and burdens of the entire “clan” ministering together after program." I have always enjoyed the after program prayers together, but thinking of them in the context of community celebration, rejoicing over the ones, adds depth of significance and soul restoring life that comes when we partake in the celebration in heaven here on earth.
ReplyDelete