2024-08-30 A Meditation on A Distant Affinity

“22 This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, 24 I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. 28 When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you. 29 I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. 30 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31 that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. 33 May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.” (Rom 15:22-33 ESV)

Princely appearances bear witness to the same old story, of prophetic Advances made and in consequence of future wars calmed, lives spared, amazing Consequents of what actually just came naturally. To be near and generous of the eager young spirit. To be close and vulnerable towards the composed foreign operative. To be peace and sympathy for the plain Desire for advancement vis-a-vis the ways of the world we do share.

Each of us who know a thing or two about the subtler gifts and mechanisms of this World of ours, do spare a moment’s prayer that no false storyline corrupt what goodness, timely goodness, we already know: but! No cynicism, we can handle the exposure. We can handle the flattery. We can handle the generosity as no comment on existing relationships but as something plainly to stay in remaining composed and eager, heartfelt and rumor-mill-initiating. Perhaps. Perhaps, or the wild ways of that foreigner who does still sing the hymns or share the worship service formalisms. Together, we shall find God. Together, we shall be to each other available. Together, we shall plead that the Right Things be exalted, whilst the ostensible outward major differences somehow be secondary.

The Christian is fighting Tomorrow’s war Today. Preparing. Contemplating. Sacrificing. Peace and lazy prosperity traded for Sharp Tactical Advantage, Advancement, sorrowful towards so many by then—by that future Date—lost, lives unspared, impossible losses of the sacrificial lambs of our time, yet also: confident and composed around Eternal Life, such that our Principles not be sacrificed in the name of false peace. No false submission to an enemy—such an enemy as towards our Faith and Inheritance—simply in the name of resignation to empty getting-along. Staring down the compromises. Staring down the near-truth that yet is nevertheless a falsity: that Odd and Angular is God’s work on this earth, Odd and Strange is His call that the gift of discerning of spirits be applied unto literally all that we face, that somehow our own Sacrifices Made do prepare us to think overtly, directly, on the ball, unto how and why a Crucified One is Lord of All.

So that we are recipients of the Priest’s atonement, her or his sacrifice of what assumed Goodness and Prosperity of life is now put aside. No rich family of greedy assimilation and posture, no assumed position in this life, no assumed rank and ease, but rather all things prospering but, yet, for one generation (Psalm 16) (“God doesn’t have any grandkids”), all things lightly held because our People are Here and Now, our Legacy is richer for the sake of being… is it Communal? Societal? Familial? Neighborly? We are Together in it with our brethren and sistren in the Faith, in Faith’s Armor, in Faith’s Outward Attack and Certainty.