04/03/2017
A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with Chine McDonald of World Vision UK.
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Script
Good Morning.
We are fearfully and wonderfully made, says Psalm 139. And I believe we are stunning mirrors of the mystery and beauty of God. But so often weâre reduced to labels. Black. White. Male. Female. Trumpean. Brexiteer. Millennial or Baby boomer.
Who are you? When all the labels are stripped away. Who am I?
The Jewish theologian Martin Buber argues that whilst our culture talks about âfinding oneselfâ and âloving ones selfâ, itâs a nonsense to think of the âselfâ in isolation. âThe âIââ â he says â âonly exists in relation to some other.â
In essence itâs all about community.
I am beautiful, of value and worth, because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. But itâs not just about me. Who am I in the face of injustice; when I watch othersâ suffering and do nothing, when I am silent if people are reduced to labels or if I do not treat others as I would have them treat me? Who am I when I am not loving my neighbour?
Prejudice and putting people into boxes is not bringing your whole self to the situation. Not seeing the imago dei â the âimage of Godâ - in others. Not seeing past their labels. In the community of faith described in Galatians, all the labels are stripped away: neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
I pray that we may look beyond those labels and see each other for who we are. Amen.
Broadcast
- Sat 4 Mar 2017 05:43±«Óătv Radio 4