Brokenness under the blessing

The great mystery of God’s love is that we are not asked to live as if we are not hurting, as if we are not broken. In fact, we are invited to recognize our brokenness as a brokenness in which we can come in touch with the unique way that God loves us. The great invitation is to live your brokenness under the blessing. I cannot take people’s brokenness away and people cannot take my brokenness away.  But how do you live in your brokenness? Do you live your brokenness under the blessing or under the curse? The great call of Jesus is to put your brokenness under the blessing.

~Henri Nouwen from a Lecture at Scarritt-Bennett Center

This week our sermon series shifts from the beauty in God’s creation design for rich, harmonious diversity, and the commission for people to move out across the earth and establish people groups, cultures, languages and differences (multiethnicity), to the grievous brokenness that quickly dominates the earth. From the Table of Nations to the tower of Babel. From affirmation and embrace of the glorious fullness of God’s gifts to the need for confession, lament and repentance. In short, to the reality of sin. In order for us to fully and honestly participate in God’s Kingdom of reconciliation, we must examine our brokenness, individually and corporately. As we examine the biblical accounts of idolatry, ethnic division, prejudice and minority fears, we are invited to place all of our brokenness under the blessing of God’s undeserved gift of grace and forgiveness. This is our only hope. Thanks be to God.

 Grace and peace,

Anita Sorenson
Pastor for Spiritual Formation