Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“… so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”
NL Daily Devotion for Tuesday, July 20, 2021
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
The wisdom of God in its rich variety. Wow do I love that phrase. Of course, for so many of us (or maybe I’ll just speak for myself) the rich variety of God’s wisdom is generally alluded to with a piece of African liturgical music. Or a prayer written by a Latinx theologian. Or a version of the Lord’s Prayer in womanist language. You know, a mainline American worship service with a little multicultural seasoning. And while newer clergy are getting lots of non-western, non-white, non-male theology to study in seminary, how much of that actually trickles down into the pews? Are we really getting the mind-boggling scope of the “wisdom of God in its rich variety?” Or are we just doing what we’ve always done and congratulating ourselves when we sing a hymn that’s partly in Swahili?
I don’t mean to be harsh. I think lots of us are trying. I just think there’s a whole lot of room to grow. To push boundaries. To expand our understanding of a God who created all, loves all, and is all in all.
How is my faith community digging into the wisdom of God in its rich variety?
