Image of the Invisible

Just a few weeks ago, at our church-wide Saturday retreat, our facilitator Hedy Collver reminded us that as Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God, so we are now the visible image of Jesus’ own body—make that Body. This is not just some theological talk; this is reality that has great impact, or can have, on the world.

Jesus showed us in his own body how God is love, pure love. This is not a sappy, sentimental love; this is a love that goes all the way “to the mats,” as Tom Hanks’ character in “You’ve Got Mail” quotes the Godfather, or rather all the way to the cross. This is love that knows no end as in a finish. It does know an end as in a purpose. The purpose is to draw us into relationship with the One who set all creation into motion so that we—you, I—will be set free from all that binds us, to be whole, and embraced.

So what does it mean that we are now the visible Body? It means that we are a part of that Love that seeks to set us and others free; that we are a part of that purpose to embrace the whole world.

Just so you don’t get the idea that I am just spouting some theology, or even preaching right now, this has lately begun to be a call, with a capital C, to move to an entirely new level of being church—Body—together. So expect to hear more of this from me as I ponder and respond.