Tuesday, November 25, 2008

The Rowan Williams we rarely see ...


The Archbishop of Canterbury reflects on Advent in a video that illustrates a new direction for the communication effort coming out of Lambeth Palace and what we've hoped to see for a long time. The video, with music to emphasize the tone, shows the Rowan Williams we rarely get to see on the public stage - the sage, the pilgrim, the poet, the contemplative, the kindness of the man. I love that the center of his reflections is totally on Jesus - Jesus. That is a major theological point that we cannot ignore - not the "reinvented cosmic christ that is the holy-we" but Jesus.

May we all continue to keep Rowan Williams sincerely in our prayers. His counsel is wise - that we slow down, take time, let us grow and open up and look for Jesus. It is a time of expectation, a time of waiting, a time of peace, a time to clear our minds and hearts so that we can see clearly when Jesus arrives. May that be so, your Grace. May it be so.

Tip of the tinfoil to Ruth - thank you.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

The deal is, now that we've seen what's going on politically this week this video takes on somewhat of a different meaning. Who is Rowan perhaps speaking to? It does now seem a bit more calculated, I am very very sorry to say. What say you?

Rowan has taken his time - but we see very little direct action. That's just not his way. What do we think he's waiting for?

bb

Anonymous said...

It occurs to me that all his talk about waiting for a change and being changed is a wonderful antidote to the silly 'we are the change we're waiting for' sloganeering that the US has endured recently.

Unknown said...

I agree, Anon. I do love this teaching - it's very wise. Setting aside who might the audience be or the motivation, to just accept it for what it is, how it resonates in this time and place - I do recommend watching it in its entirety.

I began to imagine a period where we all just had a cease fire - just everything stopped as it is right now and we just waited for a season. I can see that at home and I can see that in the communion.

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. - Isaiah 40:31

bb