Sunday’s Reflection
WE NEED TO BE WILLING to listen to the groans in our world and within ourselves. Within contemporary Christian congregations some expressions of spirituality are foreign to the biblical tradition and unrelated to the spirit of the crucified and risen Lord. Some congregations are obsessively concerned with their own personal needs and have minimal concern for those who suffer and thus do not even enter the struggle for change in the world. Some others frequently endorse a spirituality of social struggle and involvement that avoids the biblical imperative for personal conversion and transformation. Such endorsement falls victim to the dangerous illusion, alive and well in our midst, that we can build a more equitable, compassionate, and just society while we remain the same and continue life as usual.
…As we listen to the groans of others, we build a bridge between our inner journey and the outer journey of those around us. In doing so, we find ourselves being delivered from a private spirituality. As we listen to the groans we find ourselves able to love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
- Trevor Hudson with Stephen Bryant
Listening to the Groans
From pages 11, 14-15 of Listening to the Groans: A Spirituality for Ministry and Mission by Trevor Hudson with Stephen Bryant. Copyright © 2007 by Trevor Hudson and Stephen D. Bryant. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/. Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question
What groans do you hear in your community? How can you do something about them? Share your reflections.
Today’s Scripture Reading
Sponsored by The Upper Room daily devotional guide. Subscribe Today.
Copyright © 2011 The Upper Room, a ministry of GBOD | PO Box 340004 | Nashville, TN 37203-0004 | USA
