What is “Normal”? The news has used the phrase over and over: “a new normal.” The dictionary defines it as a typical state or condition. Well, what we have experienced over the last few months defies all that we would have previously described as typical.
For most of us, the understanding of typical or normal is a great source of comfort. It largely relies on a pattern of behavior that is familiar to us and allows us to have a fairly clear idea of what to expect in our day-to-day life. The lack of knowing what the future holds can be quite distressing.
When we explore the material of the Gospel, we discover that the focus of Jesus’ ministry was most definitely to establish a “new normal” as it related to the law and the current practices of the established temple hierarchy. It was in large part the uncomfortableness with this lack of the comfortable that led the leaders to seek to crucify him.
For centuries the work of the church has been to forge ahead issues in social justice to unseat the typical and otherwise normal manner of behaving toward one another. As members of the Body of Christ, perhaps we need to take the initiative to seek out positives that our current conditions present to us. How can we shape a society that is more respective of others and cares for the those in need as we never have before?
~Rev. Dr. Fred Leasure, Parish Associate