The wolf & the lamb

The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
the lion shall eat straw like the ox;
but the serpent — its food shall be dust!
They shall not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain,
says the LORD. (Isa. 65:24–25, NRSV)

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:28–31, NRSV)

I read both of these passages from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer readings for today on the day before the United Methodist Church is to begin a special session of their General Conference, to deal with the question of human sexuality: specifically, whether to change the Book of Discipline to allow ordination of openly gay clergy, and/or to recognize same-sex marriage. Looking at the above passages, in the light of this gathering (and the possibility of schism in the UMC), I am struck by the imagery of the wolf and the lamb lying down together in the passage from Isaiah. The image is certainly one of a peaceful reconciliation between two creatures who are natural enemies. If the wolf and the lamb can lie down together in God’s vision of a new creation, surely traditionalists and progressives within a modern church body can find some common ground?

Meanwhile, what are the two great commandments that Jesus emphasizes the reading from Mark? Love God and love your neighbor. LOVE. If the delegates at General Conference can view their entire discussion in the framework of love, I would hope they can find some way of moving forward in the light and warmth of that love.

A friend of mine who is attending General Conference in an advisory capacity has shared that his prayer is that, while they are meeting this weekend, if anyone were to “walk in off the street,” that they would immediately recognize that the gathering they had stumbled on was a gathering of Christians. Will that be the case? Or will people’s emotions, their commitment to winning the argument, take precedence over the love they need to show to one another? I guess we will find out after this weekend.

Meanwhile, I believe this prayer from St. Matthew’s UMC in Annandale, VA is a good one:

Gracious and loving God, who leads, teaches and guides,

You who offer compassion, grace and mercy, be with us now.

We passionately seek Your presence during challenging times and circumstances and we trust that you are moving in and around our lives.

We, as one part of your Body, the Church, go into the days and weeks ahead seeking to discern Your deep desire for us as The United Methodist Church.

Give us courage as we continue to live and respond to Your invitation to be Your hands, feet and voice.

We ask for a fresh wind of Your Spirit and guidance for each of us as individuals, for the faithful congregations, and for this global community of United Methodists.

We ask for Your wisdom and presence for those among us who have been called to serve as delegates as the Special Session of General Conference gathers today.

Grant them clarity and a discerning spirit as they seek to listen for You in their midst.

Reveal to them Your deep desire for our future as a church.

Give them and us the faith to lay aside our personal wants and needs so that we can be truly present to You, sit with You in reverence and awe, and listen deeply for the still small voice that woos us, comforts us, and invites us to that place where we can live fully and wholly into the Kingdom life that You desire for us.

We lay all this before You as the deep desire of our hearts and minds in the name of Jesus, the Christ. Amen.