August 23 John 6:56-69, Eph. 6:10-20, I Kings 8
When weapons of war are not handy, we try to shift the focus. Perhaps the writer of ephesians sedes a parallel development. While wars are being waged, another invisible struggle is taking place at the same time. during the cold War we talked about this. Bristling with nuclear weapons, we also talked about a conflict of ideology as well.spiritual weapons- we do battle as christians-we can use military images but they are non-violent-they are for waging peace, for waging just peace.Maybe it -worship is the field, the arena where spiritual struggle gets played out. It is one of the few places where we try to speak the truth about the human condition.On one hand, we appear unarmed, even naked. On the other hand, we are well-equipped for the non-violent struggle we face day after day.Another way of approaching this is militant non-violence, militant peacemaking. some speak of worship as providing energy for the week, but here it is getting supplied for the conflict between being faithful and the alternative ways we learn to be human beings.
the ministry of Jesus i here in John is in the midst of life-denying conflicts in the midst of the one called the bread of life.We work with and struggle to understand the deliberately shocking words of Jesus in this passage. We explicitly speak of receiving the bread of life in Communion. Christ is here with us feeding the power of life itself. jesus is with us,and we shall be with Jesus.Jesus refers to himself as a temple. In the sacrament we move from the physical to the spiritual dimension seamlessly at its best, a gateway to God from God’s own hand.
Solomon on the temple but will god really dwell on earth? to what degree can we speak of God’s location. Solomon speaks of God being open to the prayers in the temple constantly. 7 petitions are made concerning this new house of prayer. Forgiveness is part of that. Natural world open to prayer.Protection- open to non-Israelites- This is made even harder when we speak of each person as a temple, a dwelling place, a locus for the Holy spirit. How do we speak of a sanctuary, a holy place, but speak of the outside as a sanctuary as well- In the Book of Order we read-Yes we can worship anywhere, but special space is for gathering in the reverence of God. Material realities can be a means of prayer and dedication.What precedes it is careful, as it seems to reflect other temples but also the ancient instructions about the tabernacle. They are a sign of offering our very selves to the worship of God.Solomon is wise. solomon prays.Solomon builds the temple when his father was told to wait. solomon saw wars as the great impediment to building the temple. With peace, he determined to build the temple at great expense of time, money, and labor. It was a microcosm of creation itself.sacred space is constructed space. Solomon’s prayer places him in a priestly, religious role. His prayer has a future in view. His blessing looks to the presence of god and as each day requires the people walk in God’s path.I have a difficult time finding mention of how worship in the temple needs to be an emotional experience for those who come there to pray.I don’t find any demands about dress requirements or the style of music.Worship boldly imagines a God-soaked, god-driven future. It dares to imagine a better world. we render big questions, turning points in lives as approachable and bearable within the container, or frame, of worship.
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