The In-Between Faith

We hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works of law. Romans 3:21

This pericope seems to be an oxymoron, a contradiction in terms. Justification apart from Law? We talk about our Justice System as something that enforces the Laws of the Land. My dictionary has six uses for the word "justify" ranging from even-spaced print to pardon. The word in the middle, "faith," in the above quote takes us out of the realm of empirical Law affecting our station in life, to the Divine Law that affects our motivation and attitude. The two "Laws" do not contradict each other, but they are complementary. To have Faith does not mean we don't have to keep the Law, but the things we think and say (our works) are also not governed by the Law. If our motivation is Faith oriented, our attitudes will be focused on the well-being of others, which is what the Law intends. The catch-22 encircles us when we suppose that Divine Law reflects Empirical Law. NO WAY. One, Divine Justice, is a Holy gift which cannot be earned by doing the right works. The other, the Legal System, demands right actions, and "right" depends upon the legislature. Let us exercise Faith in mercy one to another. Shalom, Mother BE 

Testimony

On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony; and in the evening it was over the tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning. Numbers 9:15

The tabernacle, in the Exodus story, held the stone tablets that Moses brought down from the mountain which were inscribed with the Big Ten Commandments, the testimony of the Presence of the Holy One. The stones were not especially holy, nor were the carefully described boards that made up the conveyance, nor was the goat hair tent above it all. The Exodus tabernacle has long been lost to legend, but the testimony of millennia generations follows us to this day: the cloud by day, the pillar of fire by night to assure the people of the Holy Presence. A child's growth patterns mirror the developmental stages of human insight. For example, the baby wails for nutrition, the toddler smears food from head to toe, the teen auditions taste. Finally the adult relaxes into healthful habits. It's that way with spiritual nourishment too. First we need manifestations of Holy Presence such as visions, warm feelings, or revelations in meaningful scriptures. Then we go overboard with our excitement often putting people on edge. We go through the stage of testing our beliefs with other belief systems until we mature into grace-filled adults. Finally, our testimony becomes the testimony of divine Presence. Whatever your stage of development, may you glow with the testimony of Love. Shalom, Mother BE  

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Consider Joy

In the day of prosperity be joyful; and in the day of adversity consider: Elohim has made the one as well as the other. Ecclesiastes 7:14

The Preacher pounds the pulpit yet again. Joy comes with affluence but beware of comfort because trouble hides around the next corner. Pessimism can swamp the psyche more quickly than a downpour can fill a gutter. The question is not whether we frolic in abundance or complain about our poverty. Our Creator sets both before us at various times in our lives to exercise our appreciation of life. Prosperity might include good health; and adversity might mean the absence of relationship. Either can exist in either circumstance. Whatever we encounter in daily living makes us rich or poor according to our joy barometer. Like the aster above, we can grow in a lush garden or on a gravel side road. May your decision today bring joy where ever you find yourself. Shalom, Mother BE 




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Vanity

I considered all that I ...had done...it was vanity and a striving after wind...Ecclesiastes 2:11

Pulled from a context about wealth and works, this pericope could impart either humility or depression. The humility would engender a false sense of accomplishment - false because humility would not count works in the first place. Depression would discount the value of whatever things might be added up. Who needs vain busywork that blows away with the wind?  Traditionally attributed to King Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes (koheleth: preacher or assembler of words, and name of the book in Hebrew) brushes away both the context and the message as vanity. About the time that humility and depression collide, we might get the idea that we might as well dump the book. But surely there must be a reason to include the words of the preacher in the salvation revelation? Simply, and simply again, it's not about the world of accomplishment. Everything blows away on the wind of the spirit, and we are simply left with the Light of Love to guide us through our actions. That's good. Shalom, Mother BE  



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