Today we celebrate Bible Sunday, and so our focus is on the Word of God.
Jesus says in our gospel passage that his words will never pass away. It is these words that give us life and hope. They are what turn our dreams and longings to be like Christ into the reality of a life shared with him.
Our passage from Paul’s letter to the Christians in Colossae starts half way through the argument. Based on the supremacy of Jesus Christ, who died for us and was raised for us, we have been given a new life in him. Because Jesus died, we can consider ourselves to be dead as far as sin is concerned. Because Jesus is alive, we can enjoy the new life of Christ right now. It is as dramatic as changing sides in a war; not just a new uniform but a new set of loyalties and ways of doing things.
This might all sound too good to be true, and we can seriously doubt how effective we can be at living a life in Christ and for Christ. But here are three C’s to help us.
The first is that you have been CHOSEN. God wants you in his kingdom, in his family, and he has set you apart and you are dearly loved. For every Christian who feels in any way tempted to doubt or give up, there is this assurance that it is God’s idea that you should be his and he is on your side.
The second is that we are CLOTHED. Not only has God our Father given to us a not-guilty pass that say that we are righteous, but he has also given us a new set of heart attitudes to wear. Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, forbearance, forgiveness, all of which are summed up in verse 14 as love. This leads us to a peaceable attitude that is shown in the way that we live common lives, approach decisions, make unity a priority, and look for reasons to be thankful for each other. It is a familiar message; it is repeated in the bible a lot. This is partly because in that world the weak and those with disabilities were left to their fate; humility was a weakness and pride was a virtue. It is also because to live such a life of love does not come naturally to humans.
In order to put on a life of loving attitudes, we need also to be changed on the inside. This is the work of the Holy Spirit of God, but also dependent on what we take into ourselves. Within us we are to let indwell the message, the word, the logos of God. Just as our love is shown in the unity in which we live, so we are to engage with the word together. Practically, in those days, they would have heard the word read to them collectively, as not all could read and hand-written copies were scarce. To study the bible is therefore a joint effort. And so we are CONJOINED.
The members of a diet club meet to encourage each other and give each other tips; this is not a substitute for making careful choices during the week about what they will eat, but they draw strength from each other, and are spurred on by the thought of being weighed in front of everyone next week. In contrast, we give ourselves and each other a much easier time. We are tempted to view the reading of the bible as a useful extra, which we might (or might not) fit into our busy schedules.
But, Paul says, there is so much that we can do to help ourselves and each other.
We can teach and learn through the songs we sing. We can memorise scripture so that it comes back to us in times of need. We can read and ponder it so that the underlying patterns and meaning start to influence our thoughts and actions.
This is not new. Generations of Christians have determined to read the scriptures in order every day. A feature of the monastic life was to recite the psalms, sometimes on a monthly or weekly cycle, in some cases even on a daily basis. (It is possible that this is where the rosary originated).
We can engage in bible study. There is a wealth of books and internet sites available that cover every subject, every book of the bible and in a variety of styles to suit every person, no matter how much or how little knowledge we feel we have. It is never too early to start this. It is never too late. We do this because our lives are centred on Jesus, and we are his disciples. It is not the job of the clergy to beat the bible into you! Rather, we exist to help you in your exploration and search.
As we see from our passage, we will do best at this when we band together. Over coffee afterwards, I long to overhear conversations going into what this or that passage means, how we have been helped in a particular situation by particular story, and so on. Difficult as it is, I really do believe that we should all aspire to be part of a group that comes together to help us to live the Christian life, and this must involve study of the bible.
The welcome result of this is a growing awareness of God and thankfulness to him. We can teach and admonish each other. This means that in everyday life we can seek to apply what we have been reading to real life situations. WWJD is not just something that enthusiastic teenagers wear on their wrist; it is an attitude of life as we face decisions. From my knowledge of the bible, what is the best way to do this, make that reply, plan that purchase, and so on? And we can be open to give and receive advice and encouragement. We seek God together in the everyday. In this sense we are conjoined. We may not always realise the extent that our lives are connected and mutually dependent. Just as God is One but also Three, so we are individuals loved by God and called to follow him, but we are also bound together in our shared experience of him.
So you can see again that Christ is at the Centre, that we are each called to be a disciple, that we find ourselves discovering the ways that we can help and serve each other and the wider world, that we are building community together, and we are impelled to share this with those around us.
Chosen, clothed and conjoined, we have a lot to be thankful for!
Discussion Starters
1. Reading Colossians 3, what reminds us of Christian life today, and what stands out as radically different?
2. What is the most helpful way that you find the word (message) Christ dwelling among us?
3. What do you miss most or feel that we could most usefully seek to bring in to help us grow together in understanding and living God’s word?
4. How do you respond to the idea that we should “do all in the name of the Lord Jesus”?
5. What would you like others to join you in giving thanks for? And what would you like to share with others for prayer?
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