Today’s daily reading from the American Bible Society is Leviticus
19:1-18. The mediation ABS offers focuses on how this passages talks about
holiness. Holiness is definitely a topic
appropriate for United Methodists to reflect on. It relates quite directly to
personal holiness and perfection in love, both terms we are well acquainted with.
What I like about this Leviticus passage, as it restates
some of the ten commandments and outlines new ways we are to treat one another.
When Jesus says we are to love God and love neighbor, surely the former is of
highest importance, but it is in the latter that we often see evidences of our
love for God. We cannot separate the two. What both largely seem to have in
common is (1) a focus outside self and (2) a proper orientation to God’s ways.
What would it look like to consistently lay aside out won
self-interests and seek to do God’s will in all our relationships? This has
surely been on my mind lately. At times this calls us to love, at other times
(though I don’t think this stands in opposition to love) to having healthy
boundaries and expectations. Sometimes we have to speak up for those who are
oppressed, and other times, we have to be honest about tendencies to favor
those without in ways that create injustice. That is probably very difficult to
do honestly.
Most of the instructions in this passage conclude with “I am
the Lord.” In some ways, doesn’t this sound like “Because I said so!” Which is
a good point. But I’m often confronted in my daily life and ministry with the
question for myself from the provisional and full member exams, “What is your
understanding of Jesus as Lord?” (rephrased)
It is probably a helpful question to reflect on in all times
and situations. The Lordship of Jesus calls us to submit all our lives—including
our relationships with others, to his care and guidance. It means we don’t get
to be self-righteous or proud. We don’t get to hold onto anger or bitterness.
Because all of that is really about us, our need and desire to control things.
Living with Jesus as our Lord means we will make lots of
choices differently than otherwise. I am sure of it. But it is difficult.
Sometimes our very religious sensibilities seem to urge us to draw lines in the
sand. Sometimes our own hurts and past make it difficult to be open to God in
new times. Sometimes we simply cannot see our way forward and gripping so
tightly at trying to control that which we cannot, we fail to come before God
(and in relationship to one another) in our brokenness and vulnerabilities.
I am glad that we are reminded here that holiness begins
with our relationship with God, but also heavily involves how we relate to
others. Sometimes in my life and in my ministry I find myself bogged down and
drowning in interpersonal issues, brokenness in lives and relationships, and
painful questions about why things happen and how to walk alongside each other.
I an encouraged that all that work in holiness work. All that work is indeed
God’s work. And most of all, I am glad I don’t have to do it on my own, but
rather have a Christian community to walk the journey with me, and a God who
has never and will never leave me along the way.
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