JESUS - the run-away-boy

And now we got the message: a redeemer is born. And we are glad...   it's good for us and for all to know: it's a fact - the redeemer is born. What happen next ???
We look at him... We expect a lot...   We make interpretations... We work with our imagination...  Do we realize him in our life-style ???

Look what did we do with the family of Nazareth! We admire the family as a holy one: 
a wonderful meme, a dreaming father, a glorious son - an idyllic family! 
The Ev Luke tries to give us a glimpse on the reality. The "glorious" son is a run-away-boy
(weg-looper). The meme don't know why. Because the whole life is dictated by the Religion.
The boy didn't have the chance or the courage to speak about his uneasiness, desperation.
To live in such a "holy family" is impossible. There must be change. Js Temple-Service better? No Way! The run-away-boy has to learn: listen to the Word of the Reality, the Voice of God and to the cry of humanity. Before you change the world to be better, make yourself a redeeming personality. As such - not any more as a run-away-boy - go... and reveal yourself. 

We got a Synod of the family - did the Synod hear the run-away-boys? We got a lot of Church-families (Parishes) - but did the Church listen to the run-aways ???

This Blog Kdb is written because we need change; mostly we need change to be better in our Namibian Church. And Jesus is the run-away-boy...  away from the old situation into an new situation where is more freedom, engagement and love. Jesus has gone a changing way in a changing world. The Religion has not accepted him. For Christians Religion is over, is from yesterday; is not for the future. We need people engaged in changing (cross-way) in favour of the participation of all with the fullness of Life.
Jesus is the new kind of man...  we have tried (more or less in all our Blogs) to look at him, to represent him, to realize him... but in vain. Why in vain ???  Because the Jesus - we have in mind - we have learnt - we have shaped - this Jesus is not the real one - it's only our imagination. The "real Jesus" is still on the way to be born - all baptized people of every time and space together are the body of Christ animated by the Holy Spirit, visible in the Eucharistic Bread + Wine - changed and given for the Life of the World. 

My grateful wish for all Blog-Visitors: You may have the courage to accept for 2016
the Blessing of God as the Spirit of Life, of Engagement and of Love.

We wait for a new kind of man...

As there is Advent, we wait also very strongly for a new kind of man (Hebr. 10.5-10). The old one is well known - mostly we: the one who likes holocausts, oblations and sacrifices... the one, who is aware to be a sinner...  and now he offers some prayers; the one, who feels, God is good but could be better, so he offers again some prayers; the one, who knows I'm a sinner and now he has decided to make the passage through the Holy Door (to get a total absolution).

The new one is seldom. It's the one, who decided to do the will of God. The Church is eager to show us such a new man: first Mary of Nazareth, than her son Jesus...  and now many more... some of them got the title :HOLY". 

As usual the Church is not clear: she encourages us to bring oblations, sacrifices, prayers... to bring gifts to God (money is also accepted). Some people have started to negotiate with God: I give you xy and you give me ab.

The new kind of man like Jesus has no vows. He was baptized by John and later found his way. He invited people to follow him without negotiation.
Elizabeth, a woman who knows best the temple-business and all the negotiation with the Jahwe-God - she is very enjoyed to discover the coming up of a new kind of man.

Today, we are not speaking about such new very dedicated men. We negotiate an arrangement. Poverty means: You care for my insurance, for my daily bread and bed, for my computer, for my ticket and for a job, a work-field and all what is needed...
I myself - under these conditions - ask for nearly nothing any more. 
The once new "Here I am" is now secured and sure in no case any risk.

It's like the final prayer of this Sunday (third Advent C):
Lord, we have received...  thanks! ... but now... don't stop...  make more... 
"make us grow in love"...  and this in order to be able to celebrate...   
All is now given.... there is nothing from "Here I am" but much about: pls give more...
(if not, I'm ready as a beggar to pray more....)  
Nothing from a new mankind...   sorry 

FACTS + EXPECTATIONS ...

One day "they" told me: Yes, Advent is expectation...  but do you know the whole Life is Advent; in reality "only one great expectation".  My answer: you might be 50 % right... but pls don't forget: they have expected you... and you came - your birthday / a fact - and the first expectation was fulfilled. It means: every human being is proof of fulfillment of an expectation. Advent - Life - is one great fulfillment too...  at least 50%
Advent as expectation and the fact of arrival!

Lk 3.10-18 / they said: John the Baptist will be the fulfillment of our expectations (the Christ).
But John says: NO! John knows (as Luke) it's very important to clarify the relationship between expectation and fulfillment.

An other Luke will now make this experience. He is appointed new OMI-Superior in Namibia
Expectations are great and he will have to clarify which expectations he will fulfill.

Our President Hage Geingob is in the same situation. He has more and more to make clear which expectations he will (and can) fulfill. And so every Citizen... esp the once voted into an Office...  and so the Churches...   and so the Journals...  and so the bride...

Jesus - once declared as the Christ (the one who fulfills our expectations for salvation) -
experienced the same: He had to decide which expectations he will fulfill.

Christmas is less "feast of expectation" as more "feast of fulfillment". The Church proclaims: the Christ, the Salvador, the Immanuel is born! A fulfilling fact is stated.

Catholics are people who believe first in facts and they know facts create expectations.
Mary has conceived (25 March) - we see it as a fact - and now we expect birth 
(25 December). Mary has given birth / a fact - now we expect his Epiphany (6 January).
For 2016 I wish Catholics may turn (metanoia) more and more in the direction to accept
facts and believe in facts. A Salvador is born in Jesus - fact or expectation ???
Jesus is Immanuel - fact or expectation ???  Jesus is alive - fact or expectation ???
The Holy Spirit is poured out - fact or expectation ???  You are gifted - fact or expectation ?
The best answer maybe 50 / 50   I recommend 75 % fact + 25 % expectation.
Life is easier, more happy, more healing as we are able to accept facts before expectations.

ADVENT... expectation...

The Advent-message: The WORD of GOD came to John ... (in the wilderness)
                                    and he calls for a Baptism of repentance...  for a better future...
Today "John the Baptist" is sees as a VOICE like many years ago Isaias...
The basic message is: METANOIA (new thinking or turn around)   for a better future...
This is a long time provocation...  until today...  also in 2015 all Christian Churches call upon
the Baptized: prepare a way for the Lord (and not for others)
                      and all mankind shall see the salvation of God.

Today all Churches are VOICES! we hope: hear able, understandable, acceptable...
But YOU as a Church MEMBER, YOU (dear reader) are you a VOICE ???
it means: do you understand yourself as a VOICE ???
A voice in the desert, in the City, in your profession, in your Church,environment, family ???

A voice with only a cry or a voice with a message ??? a real call-up ???
What is your MESSAGE ???  
What do you like to bring as your message to the people of today ???
Do you like to tell them: we must turn around (metanoia) and life will be better for all ???
Or in religious language: prepare a way for Jesus Christ
ans salvation will become a reality.
And very important: can you discuss with your people very exactly WHERE + HOW 
the "turn around" may take place ???

In ADVENT we clear our expectations...
we discuss the changes, we like to strive for...
we wait actively for a new Earth + a new Heaven.

A VOICE  -  A MESSAGE  -  A EXPECTATION