Philip the Disciple says to Jesus: "Just show us Creator God. That is all we need!" These words are found in the New Testament Gospel of John, chapter 14, verse 8.
Yesterday, May 21, the final Judgment was to have happened. All the righteous were to have been swooped away to heaven and the wicked were to be left here to face a terrible end culminating in disaster on October 21. Once again, the first act of this catastrophe did not happen. Over and again the charm of being afraid of the end of the world has done its magic. Otherwise rational and sensible people, we get swept up in the make believe world of some religious entrepreneur.
The insight presented by Jesus in his response to the question by Philip the Disciple is instructive. "Just look around right now", says Jesus. The reality is that curiosity about the Creator is a good thing so long as right now is the scene of action.
Right now is filled with questions and uncertainties. Right now is relationships with people. Right now is body metabolism and mental awareness. Right now is changing from moment to moment. Now is becoming history instantly. Right now is decision making. Right now may be loneliness or it may be too many people. Right now is the writing and reading of these words.
The effort of focusing on the here and now demands more energy than people can normally gather. A person almost immediately falls off of "now" into hoping or despairing. Hence, the power of thinking about the End of the World. Such an event would solve the problems of not enough money, unhappy relationships, uncertain direction in life, dumb mistakes in decision making, after effects of illness and accident, disappointments in love. Anticipation of a life free of anxiety and worry energizes the desire for the End of the World as we know it.
Those who speak for the Christian faith can be drawn into attempting answers to the question of Philip: "Just show us who God is. That is all we need." It seems so right to satisfy the curiosity of those who are asking the question. The public figures who proclaim that their computations give the dates for The End when all will be made evident are problems for the Christian community.
The Season of Easter and the Resurrection of Christ is a time for learning how to live with the uncertainties that arise when" here and now" people are drawn into dealing with the timeless and infinite dimensions of human existence. One thing seems evident - Creator God is not about to be put on display.
Delton
Use dkrueger35@gmail.com to make a comment without using a Google account.
Yesterday, May 21, the final Judgment was to have happened. All the righteous were to have been swooped away to heaven and the wicked were to be left here to face a terrible end culminating in disaster on October 21. Once again, the first act of this catastrophe did not happen. Over and again the charm of being afraid of the end of the world has done its magic. Otherwise rational and sensible people, we get swept up in the make believe world of some religious entrepreneur.
The insight presented by Jesus in his response to the question by Philip the Disciple is instructive. "Just look around right now", says Jesus. The reality is that curiosity about the Creator is a good thing so long as right now is the scene of action.
Right now is filled with questions and uncertainties. Right now is relationships with people. Right now is body metabolism and mental awareness. Right now is changing from moment to moment. Now is becoming history instantly. Right now is decision making. Right now may be loneliness or it may be too many people. Right now is the writing and reading of these words.
The effort of focusing on the here and now demands more energy than people can normally gather. A person almost immediately falls off of "now" into hoping or despairing. Hence, the power of thinking about the End of the World. Such an event would solve the problems of not enough money, unhappy relationships, uncertain direction in life, dumb mistakes in decision making, after effects of illness and accident, disappointments in love. Anticipation of a life free of anxiety and worry energizes the desire for the End of the World as we know it.
Those who speak for the Christian faith can be drawn into attempting answers to the question of Philip: "Just show us who God is. That is all we need." It seems so right to satisfy the curiosity of those who are asking the question. The public figures who proclaim that their computations give the dates for The End when all will be made evident are problems for the Christian community.
The Season of Easter and the Resurrection of Christ is a time for learning how to live with the uncertainties that arise when" here and now" people are drawn into dealing with the timeless and infinite dimensions of human existence. One thing seems evident - Creator God is not about to be put on display.
Delton
Use dkrueger35@gmail.com to make a comment without using a Google account.
