Ruth and I have just spent a wonderful few days in Northern Cyprus hosted by our extended family, some of whom spoke no English. Thankfully those who did were able to translate and help us feel connected. In the course of conversations, broken by long pauses and a whole range of creative gesticulations, we discovered much about each other and learnt that spoken language needn’t be a barrier.
Jesus, despite speaking the same language as his hearers, was often misunderstood. Cultural nuances along with their historical context made the Jews of the day wedded to a story rooted in systems of loyalty that resulted in an understandable defensiveness of all that they held dear. The Law was to be upheld no matter what.
Into this scenario Jesus came to bring liberty and adherence to the higher law of love. The love of God that was for everyone, and not restricted by language, culture, or race.
Our holiday showed us that as we reach out across different languages, cultural norms, a variety of attitudes and a whole host of different likes and dislikes, we still stand on the common ground of being made in the image of God and equally loved and valued. And however inadequate our attempts to understand and be understood we find that ‘language’ is conveyed in a myriad of ways that, in the end, make for common humanity, or ‘community’ as we like to call it.
As Jesus said, ‘Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.’ Mark 4:9
Lord of life and love,
grant us open and understanding hearts,
that we may perceive your loving purpose at work in us,
in those we meet day by day,
and in this world you loved enough to die for. Amen.
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