I think it’s quite possible that those who yet remain outside the pale of Christian faith do so because they find the faith boring. I mean, think about the busy, frenetic, distraction-loaded lives many of our contemporaries live. And they think of heaven as sitting around playing a harp. But that’s on us, not them. Our readings are from The Gospel of the Kingdom and here’s an excerpt from pages 43 and 44:
“[T]he Kingdom is Good News because it brings power exceeding and abundant to be and do more than we could ever ask or think. Here is a power we can never exhaust and that springs up day by day in ever fresher, ever more abounding ways to make all things new in our lives.
“Here is power to overcome the sins that continue to plague and shackle us; to renew and enrich all our relationships with the people we see each day; empower us to proclaim the Kingdom to others; impact our culture for the beauty and goodness of the Lord; endow our children with a legacy of grace and truth; advance the experience of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit; sustain us in the face of trials; enlarge and expand our sense of purpose in life; and make us ever-increasingly fruitful in good works to those around us.
“The Gospel of the Kingdom is the power of God to save, transform, renew, and reconcile, and do so more and more for all the days of our lives and all eternity.“This is Good News! Good News, indeed!”
For reflection of discussion
1. Is this the Good News you have believed? Are you living an “exceeding and abundant” new life?
2. Where do people who don’t know Jesus get the idea that Christian faith is boring? Are they getting that idea from you?
In the Muppets version of A Christmas Carol, Scrooge is invited to meet Father Christmas. When the door opens, the Father is immense, full of laughter and smiles, decked with all manner of adornments, and he looks at Scrooge and says, “Come in, man, and know me better.” Jesus says the same to all of us, that we might escape our puny views of salvation and know Him, exceeding and abundantly more. Send today’s podcast to a friend, then get together to talk about it. Order your copy of The Gospel of the Kingdom by going to The Ailbe Bookstore today.
T. M. Moore
