Lent
March 3, 2016

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
 –2 Corinthians 5:16-17

How do we regard others? What is that human point of view Paul discusses in our scripture today? I flash back to Samuel’s encounter with the sons of Jesse whom he was considering for anointment as the next king of Israel. The first, the oldest was tall and handsome but was rejected by God for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7b). On it went until Samuel had seen all the sons present when he asked, “Is this all?” They sent for the youngest who was in the field tending the sheep, the least likely certainly from an experience point of view. And that is how David became King.

I was caught up in an uninvited, and frankly unwanted, dialogue recently with a man who was bullying and harassing in his approach to correcting my beliefs about abortion, which I actually never told him or was even given a chance to tell him. I do believe some abortions are medically necessary and I thus support the legal right to choose. I, however, have spent the better part of my adult life doing everything I possibly can to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and births to teens, increase the availability of early and quality medical care for all pregnant women, and assure that the basic needs of all people are met from birth to the grave. I am a strong believer in preventive justice. I know statistically speaking that the incidence of abortion is much less when these three areas are adequately addressed.

The man I judged as a bully was speaking out of his faith. I had great difficulty seeing him from any point of view but my human one. I am pretty sure he was seeing me also through his human point of view and we did not communicate. Jesus could have talked with him. I need to pay a little more attention to how Jesus was able to meet each person exactly where they were and work to make them whole without losing his wholeness.

Prayer: Lord, help me to see the Christ in everyone I encounter and let your image in me response to each in a manner that enables us both to grow in our ability to love like you. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.