A World of Meaning

Having spent the last two weeks reflecting on the Creation stories in Genesis 1 & 2, this week we look to the New Testament for 'A World of Meaning'. (Chapter 3 in Brian McLaren's book.)  He invites us to look at the great Prologue to St John's Gospel, where we read that the world was made through him (Jesus Christ, the Word of God) and without him nothing was made that has been made. If it is true that God is Creator, and that Creation is essentially good, what is it for? The answer is that God is Love, and Love always wants to give, as an expression on love. So creation is the gift of a loving creator to human beings who populate it.

But, as we learned last week, the world is not ours, to do as we please. It is still God's world, and we have the responsibility of bearing his image, living his way. Jesus shows the way, being both the originator of creation, then subsequently its saviour; In short, Jesus is the point of it all. His being, his presence, his walking this earth, gives meaning to life.

This is important, because life as humans can sometimes seem point-less, the world is in a mess and there seems to be no rhyme or reason for the things that go on. By centring on Jesus, things begin to make sense, but - as McLaren says - we need to pay attention.  

Creation reveals wisdom through its patterns...If we learn and trust the wisdom that comes through creation and in Jesus, we will live our lives in a new way. We will discover God as our loving parent, and we will encounter all other creatures as our relations, in one family of creation. (McLaren pp14-15)

As an ex-grammar school boy, thankful for my education but aware of its shortcomings, I wonder about the Government's announcement this week about grammar schools. In putting her case, Theresa May said, I want Britain to be the world's great meritocracy. I'm not sure that I want to live in a meritocracy.