Scripture Texts: Genesis 12: 1-4a; John 3: 1-17
16 March 2014
Delivered at Filipino community in Zion Methodist Church, Seoul, Korea
by Frank J. Hernando
Points of Reflection:
1. The catch phrase "born again" has been used mainly by the new religious movements as distinct characteristics of a religiosity that has been centered on separation from the ways of the world and achieved well assured place in the heavenly places. There are those who have been piously following the born again life and somehow this new found life has given them opportunity to live the values after conversion and have reckoned with the possibility to live a godly life have forsaken the ways of the world.
2. Nicodemus, a scholar of the Pharisees secretly met Jesus at night to ask important questions such as how he may enter into the kingdom of God and Jesus answered him saying that unless he is born of water and the Spirit he won't be able to enter it. Then followed by the question how he can be born again and Jesus gave him an illustration about the wind, which a person would not know where it is blowing from and where it goes, it blows freely. This is the life in the Spirit. Furthermore, Jesus stressed the importance of believing in the Son of God. The life in the Spirit can be seen in the life and mission of Jesus. In Jesus the kingdom of God is made real, we hear it, feel it and accessible in faith. God embraces us and the world through the Jesus Christ. This is the very essence of John 3:16.
3. You might recall the last few hours or even minutes before you depart home for a long journey to work overseas, if not to another city, when you have packed in your luggage clothing, some personal things that are important to you, documents, some photos, and in your hand carry bags were medicines for common flu symptoms, candy or chocolate, few packs of biscuits and for women perhaps lipstick and make-up kit if they have it. After you have said your goodbyes to parents and loved ones, you are ready to go with firm hopes that working or emigrating to another country will give you a better life. Your mind was filled with best interest to support your family when you have found adequate job and prayed that you will be safe and become a blessing to your family.
4. Our generation is not the first to do extensive migrating to other places or countries, the biblical story of Abraham and Sarah is one of the many stories about migration and this can be dated in 2000 BCE in the Ancient Near East, the region in world we now call the Middle East particularly the countries of Iraq, Iran and Palestine. In so many ways, we have been influenced by this biblical story in our journey to other countries to find decent jobs and where we live to realize our personal, family and social dreams of prosperity and find meaning in life. Paul Nuechterlein expresses his insight on this story:
“As I seek to live my faith from day-to-day, there is no more simple theme than "blessed to be a blessing." The promise of blessing to Abraham and Sarah is not just for their sakes but that "in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. In the Spirit, God's loving desire for the whole world begins to become our desire. In making a covenant with Abraham and Sarah, God initiates a long process of salvation that promises to bring us into line with God's desire, with a goal no less than the blessing of being chosen in order to be a blessing to all the families of the earth. A sense of chosenness for its own sake is a failed sense of calling. Chosenness must always be for the sake of being a blessing to all the families of the earth.”
5. Being a blessing both for your own families and all families around the world entails not just knowing your own needs and aspirations but also the broader or deeper reasons why you and all people have those needs such as economic sufficiency, social acceptance, meaningful and fulfilling life. There are psychological approximations of what a blessed life is such as the understanding of self-actualization. Abraham Maslow describes the self-actualized life as the following:
Maslow's self-actualizing characteristics:
+ Efficient perceptions of reality. Self-actualizers are able to judge situations correctly and honestly. They are very sensitive to the fake and dishonest, and are free to see reality 'as it is'.
+ Comfortable acceptance of self, others, nature. Self-actualizers accept their own human nature with all its flaws. The shortcomings of others and the contradictions of the human condition are accepted with humor and tolerance.
+ Reliant on own experiences and judgement. Independent, not reliant on culture and environment to form opinions and views
Spontaneous and natural. True to oneself, rather than being how others want
+ Task centering. Most of Maslow's subjects had a mission to fulfill in life or some task or problem ‘beyond’ themselves (instead of outside of themselves) to pursue. Humanitarians such as Albert Schweitzer and Mother Teresa are considered to have possessed this quality.
+Autonomy. Self-actualizers are free from reliance on external authorities or other people. They tend to be resourceful and independent.
+Continued freshness of appreciation. The self-actualizer seems to constantly renew appreciation of life's basic goods. A sunset or a flower will be experienced as intensely time after time as it was at first. There is an "innocence of vision", like that of an artist or child.
+Profound interpersonal relationships. The interpersonal relationships of self-actualizers are marked by deep loving bonds.
+Comfort with solitude. Despite their satisfying relationships with others, self-actualizing persons value solitude and are comfortable being alone.[19]
Non-hostile sense of humor. This refers to the ability to laugh at oneself.
+Peak experiences. All of Maslow's subjects reported the frequent occurrence of peak experiences (temporary moments of self-actualization). These occasions were marked by feelings of ecstasy, harmony, and deep meaning.
+ Self-actualizers reported feeling at one with the universe, stronger and calmer than ever before, filled with light, beautiful and good, and so forth.
+ Socially compassionate. Possessing humanity.
+Few friends. Few close intimate friends rather than many surface relationships
In summary, self-actualizers feel finally themselves, safe, not anxious, accepted, loved, loving, and alive, certainly living a fulfilling life.
6. Above all these self actualizing characteristics, we need the spiritual power that comes from Jesus Christ who always remind us to live with justice, compassion and love. People around us may know that we are self-actualized Christians but they will feel they are embraced by the love of God when we bless their lives with grace of God. Amen.
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References:
1. http://www.textweek.com/
2. http://girardianlectionary.net/year_a/lent2a.htm
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-actualization
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