Grace Is More!

 

NT Professor Richard Ascough from Queen’s University in Kingston, ON writes:

It is not clear whether Paul means that Christ’s death placates God’s wrath or whether his death removes the cause of the wrath from humanity. Here I would argue another option, but that is not where I am going in this sermon ...  Either way, Richard continues, Christ’s death is effective, but how the metaphor works remains a mystery, although clearly for Paul it is a gift – “grace” (verse 24)- that restores this relationship.

 

God’s grace is our focus this Reformation Sunday. For Lutherans, our heritage is an emphasis on grace. Since the 1500s we have heard and read Paul’s letters, particularly Romans, and interpreted the scripture and theologically reflected from a lens of the theology of the cross saturated in grace. Do we really get it?

God loved creation and humankind so much that God chose to die to show us to what length God will go to love us. There is nothing we do that earns this love – it is a free gift.

Do we really understand grace?

Think of a time when you felt most loved. Grace is more than that love.

Think of a person you care for deeply. Grace is more than this care.

Think of an intimate moment you have experienced. Grace is more than this.

Think of a time when you were welcomed, accepted, and belonged. Grace is more than this.

Think of a time when you were forgiven or when you forgave someone. Grace is more than this forgiveness.

Think of a time when you were filled with gratitude. That feeling you had, Grace is more.

Think of a time when you were awed by creation, a sunrise or a night sky. Grace is more.

Think of a time when you were astounded by the intricacy of nature or confounded by a mystery. Grace is more.

Think of a time when a relationship was reconciled or restored. Grace is more than this.

Think of a time when you were satisfied and full. Grace is more than this abundance.

Think of a time when you were healed, protected, comforted, at peace. Grace is more than these.

Think of a time when you were overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of others. Grace is more than this.

Grace is more than ALL of the love, intimacy, forgiveness, welcome, acceptance, belonging, forgiveness, gratitude, awe, mystery, reconciliation, restoration, satiation, fullness, abundance, healing, protection, comfort, peace, generosity, kindness – put together.  Grace is more!

 

Many years ago, I visited Wittenberg, Germany – the centre of the Reformation, with Luther’s home, the university, the church that received Luther’s 95 Thesis on its door… but of all places in that town with special significance, one that has always stood out for me was the working water fountain in the courtyard of Phillip Melancthon’s house. Phillip Melancthon was a compatriot of Luther, a theologian, an intellectual leader of the Reformation, and an influential designer of educational systems.

The earth-toned fountain in his courtyard is not super fancy. One can sit on the edge and easily reach the spigot to fill a bucket or water bottle. The face of the backwall has a spigot from which water flows into the trough below. What is fascinating is that this fountain has continually worked since the time of Melancthon.

The fountain – or water outlet- is part of the Old Maiden Water Piping System that was constructed in Wittenberg by a group of distinguished local residents in 1556. Other than the mayor and the apothecary, the distinguished cast were printers, publishers, bookbinders, and an artist – all contributing to the spread of the Reformation. Using hollowed tree trunks as pipes and connected with iron joints, water was transported from a spring 5km outside of town into eight courtyard fountains in the town, one being that of Phillip Melancthon. Three years later the system grew to 22 outlets suppling water to 60 houses. The system is still in operation today with 30 outlets providing spring water to the town’s citizens.

So, what does this have to do with grace?

I started with a quote, part of which read: Christ’s death is effective, but how the metaphor works remains a mystery, although clearly for Paul it is a gift – “grace” (verse 24)- that restores this relationship.

In the 1500s clean water was effective but the how remained a mystery. For the citizens of Wittenberg their fresh water source reduced mortality from waterborne diseases like cholera, typhoid, dysentery; clean water boosted immune systems, improved food production in town gardens, aided sanitation and hygiene. The benefits of fresh water were abundant even though the water looked like any other water. The water piping system provided water sources in courtyards where they were accessible by the community, every citizen. The source of the water, the spring, continually pumped water of its own accord, a free gift to the town. What else I love about the water system is that it was the vision of seven men, who had the means and the will, to build a gift to benefit the whole town. This water system works in my mind like God’s grace.

The water outlet in Phillip’s garden can be passed today with little notice unless you are paying attention.  Grace is like this too, an abundance that is visible right before our eyes, yet so often we do not see it, or attune ourselves to it.

 

In the world of trauma therapy, counsellors work with clients to identify triggers. Triggers are a result of trauma experienced. After trauma the nervous system can become hyper-focused, constantly scanning for potential threats and danger; this is the brains way to keep one safe. Identifying triggers can help people work with controlling and changing actions and reactions. Recently, press has been given to the idea of glitter, dubbed the opposite of triggers. A glitter is defined as small moments that sparks joy or peace, which can help cue the nervous system to feel safe or calm. The idea is that being attentive and focusing on glitter moments will aid in the healing of the whole body. It’s a matter of attention. Grace moments – grace- is a matter of attention and intention. In world full of trauma, that personally experienced, secondary or tertiary trauma, from supporting those with trauma or trauma gathered from news or media, or crisis in the present--- it takes consistent practice to attune our hyper-focused nervous systems from triggers to glitter. Trauma to grace.

 

Returning to our earlier reflection on the small glitters of grace we experience- where grace is more, much more than all of these put together; let us focus on these moments of grace and finding strength in them, living from them, such that we bring God’s life-giving water to a thirsty world.