Daily Worship

Theatre of Faith - It all makes sense

Dan Harper January 18, 2019 0 0
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Image credit: J Cathcart
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Proverbs 29: 18

18 Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;
    but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.

The final scene of a play can often appear to be ridiculously formulaic. The hero takes time to explain to the people on stage all the actions that have led to this point, pulling together plot lines and narrative arcs with pin point precision in a way that wouldn’t happen in real life. However, without this seemingly strange theatrical trope many people would leave theatres up and down the land confused as to how anything happened and disgruntled at not finding out whether or not the “will they won’t they” love interests got together. In all of this, of course, the most important revelation is the murderer in murder mystery plays. 

Without revelation our play would be frustrating and we would not understand half of what had happened and the same is true in the Theatre of Faith. Revelation of God is found in many places and not just a potentially obvious summing up at the end. Through the histories and prophecies of the Old Testament to the Gospels and letters of the New, the Bible in its completeness reveals the drama of the Theatre of Faith to us, with the narrative arc returning to one of justice and love that favours the marginalised and oppressed. Alongside the Bible, the traditions of the Church and the wonders of creation can also teach us of God, the beauty and intricacy of the nature and the desire of the Church to always open her doors further gives us a better understanding of God. 

The Revelation of God to each one of us happens in a different way but in all who encounter it there is a response that changes the way we live.

 

Dear God,

Reveal yourself to us, open our hearts to hear of your love for us and all people. Help us to respond to your revelation to us and then share it with the world.

Amen.