Ordinary Time 11: Divine Gifts

In his sermon today, Tim shared the following Heschel quote & slide:

“Words create worlds.” - Heschel

“Ideological capture isn’t falling for a lie so much as operating within a vocabulary that was never ours to begin with.”

Consider this concept thoughtfully. What examples can you generate in which choice of words and language clearly shape or have the ability to shape our public story around the topic?

How difficult or easy is it to come up with items for that list? Why do you think that is?

Another of Tim’s slides read, “This is a story in part about what happens when the people of God refuse to speak [and] just look the other way while vulnerable people are exploited.”

He went on to say that, in our modern context, we are the Ahab in the story, saying “To one extent or another, we’ve all abdicated power over the wise use of the world by refusing to use our words.” We have, he said, “deferred to leaders who either don’t know any better simply [or] don’t care — about the wise use of creation.” (paraphrased)

How easy or difficult is it for you to see yourself as the Ahab in the storyline? Allow yourself to sit with that idea for a moment. Let it expand beyond a simple intellectual idea to take up space in your body and in your emotions. What surfaces? What emotional responses feel most accessible and quick to arise? What other feelings and nuance exist underneath that top layer?

Tim went on to say that our Ahab-like inaction reveals a basic lack of several things:

1) reverence for divine gifts

2) courage to speak truth to power

3) concern for our neighbors &

4) awareness of the cost of it all.

Rather than responding defensively, try to engage with this idea curiously, and consider ways in which you fail to use your voice and words to advocate for proper care for divine gifts. Which of these 4 things would you most like to cultivate more of? How might you go about doing so?

Tim’s final slide read, “we’re at odds with our culture; we have a fundamental disagreement about life, power, and the use of the world. We have our own vocabulary, our own reason for being. Words make worlds, so we must use our words.”

Which topics in context come to mind first for you? What pulled or prompted you internally?

Where or in what context do you feel most silent when you might wish you could better use your voice? What do you feel stands in your way?

What would or could it look like for you to use your voice and avoid the pattern Ahab followed in the context you identified?