The Opportunities of Diaspora

Paul writes – As we approach "Good Friday I'm reflecting on the "scattering" of Jesus' followers after his death and thus the apparent 'failure' of his mission.

Listening to Hauerwas recently I was drawn particularly to Karl Rahner’s notion of the church as having been scattered and marginalised.

Thomas Merton said that

"The diaspora imagined by Father [Karl] Rahner may well call for the small, poor, isolated and unknown monastery instead of the illustrious plants of our great American communities. The monk will have an important place in that diaspora, not as a pious organization man, but as a true servant of God."

Now substitute “church” for “monastery” and “layperson” for “monk”. Or, rework the paragraph so that, for example, it might read:

The scattering and marginality characteristic of the Church in the post-Christendom West may well call for small, poor, isolated (maybe even “new monastic”) church communities, communities centered on a rhythm and service which focus less on the institution and established forms of church and more on discerning God’s healing and loving activity in the ordinary and everyday life of the wider communities of which we are a part. Around worship, the contemplative and mystical, praxis and the invitations of God, new church communities will form, not for their own sake, but for the sake of the love of God and the cruciform love of the “other” (the work of community-building and mission).

Comments

[Tom Smith]

Very helpful ... thanks!