Loading...Nerd alert!! I like Star Trek: Next Generation.
Captain Jean Luc Piccard and his request from the replicator: Earl Grey, hot.
One of the canons of Starfleet is General Order 1 or, the Prime Directive.
As Wikipedia puts it: In the fictional universe of Star Trek, the Prime Directive is a guiding principle of the Federation prohibiting the protagonists from interfering with the internal development of alien civilizations.
In other words, the various Starfleet characters cannot mess up, colonize, introduce their own cultures, values, or mores upon others whom they meet – at least, not upon other cultures they encounter.
The Prime Directive is the rule that governs everything else. It sets the tone, ethos, and values for this fictional, nerdy, sci-fi universe. The words and their function serve as a helpful framework, I think, for us to talk about God, about the One who creates us and the whole world, about Jesus the Divine One incarnate, about the Holy Spirit, at work in each of us, now.
The Prime Directive for God is love.
This is true for God.
This is true for us.
For God so loved the world that God gave his only begotten Son to live among us. Everyone who trusts and believes him are in relationship; no longer cut off and lost.
Or, as Paul puts it:
But God, who is rich in mercy – out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our own selfishness, refusal to trust, and stubbornness – made us alive together with Christ and raised us up out of death to life.
The Prime Directive by which God IS is great love.
~~~~~~~~~
Now “love” is sometimes a difficult word.
For example, you could say “I love Japanese food!” or
“My mom loves to quilt!” or
“Who doesn’t love those ‘Zags!?!”
Um.
You see what I mean?
Right. So, the word “love” can itself be a stumbling block. What other words can you think of as synonyms to love, or that can be used to describe love?
Mercy, compassion, peace, shalom, reconciliation, kindness, non-violence, community, friendship, solidarity, even humanity.
In all these ways, God’s love is gratuitous.
It is profligate.
It is generous.
It is unconditional.
We were dead because of our “trespasses and sins”,
our own self-righteousness,
the belief that we could do it better than God,
our self destructive behaviors,
cynicism,
bigotry,
assumption of privilege,
superiority,
pride,
meanness, etc.
We’ve all done it.
Paul uses metaphors and descriptions with flourishes in his letter to the Ephesians, but he’s talking about self-centeredness and the exile of our own making. And then, he writes:
But God...
These two words stop me in my tracks every time.
But God,
rich in mercy,
full of compassion,
wanting reconciliation,
with great kindness,
in solidarity,
and taking on humanity to be in the relationship God wants with us,
with you
loves you.
Radically, fully, without conditions, without reserve.
God loves you not because you deserve it or have earned it or because of the great works that you have done.
God loves you because God loves.
That’s God’s way, God’s modus operendi.
Lest you wonder, look to Jesus.
Jesus, God in human form, loves everyone whom he encounters.
(and even more)
Jesus teaches about love; he tells stories about love; he has an unflinching emphasis on love; and the radical inclusion of God’s love.
For everyone, and for everyone to do.
~~~~~~~~~~~
This is our Prime Directive:
to love –
love God, love self, love neighbor,
love stranger, love outsider, love enemy,
love outcast, love those who are different from you.
Our Prime Directive is to love
radically, even if it makes us uncomfortable;
to love with mercy, with joy, with hope.
Our call and invitation from God is to love
even if we think we ourselves are not worthy of, or capable of, it.
Jesus shows us how to love and provokes us to follow in his Way.
Not alone. No, never alone.
In the company and support and care of one another.
And always on the Way with Jesus, our life and our hope.
Amen
