Messenger and Message: Longing with Compassion

I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you…For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus.  - Philippians 1:3-11 (NRSV)

After I entered seminary as an opinionated feminist I was most surprised to develop a great appreciation for the letters of Paul. I was, of course, well acquainted with his misogynist image and blatant offensive references to the place of women in the church. And even after considering the questions around the authenticity of authorship of some of the writings and most problematic passages, it remains obvious that Paul is a volatile, inconsistent, “in your face” kind of guy who literally demands critique and confrontation. But what an interesting, even entertaining, personality he is, still bursting from the pages after two thousand years! The Paul I found at Garrett holds nothing back and, though I am not always persuaded, I am fascinated and stimulated and often profoundly inspired.

One of Paul’s compelling qualities is his gratitude, his love, his “longing” for his community as reflected in the passage above. As we know from other places in his writings, this does not prevent him from offering pointed, even scathing criticism, when he thinks it is warranted. It is also clear that he can be petty and defensive, unappealing qualities to be sure but convincingly human. These were real letters to and from real people in a close-knit, but not always cooperative, community. I know such places.

And this is the point. I have never understood those who are disillusioned when they find that people in congregations act much like people in other places. Of course! We see this in bumbling leaders as well as grumbling (non)-followers—and some of us have been representative of such in both categories. Paul shows us that our communities are real, and this is what makes it possible for me to continue to claim a place in the very mixed, and sometimes, mixed-up congregation that has been mine for thirty-five years.

There was a time when I thought that I would like to be a member of a congregation where all were like-minded, theologically and politically compatible. I still feel that way on some days. But then I sit in my usual pew on a Sunday morning and look around at my community. And I realize that, although my feelings are mixed, I am bonded in a particular way to every person who has elected to be there with me. In prayer together,  we are longing to experience from one another the compassion of Christ Jesus.

I know the pettiness and self-interest of some of the others just as they know mine.

I often feel disassociated from many on theological grounding and social issues. But if the compassion of Christ Jesus is known to us in this community, it will be ours to extend to the world around us. It is one of the reasons I am still there in this Advent season.