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There's a meme that does the rounds on Social Media regularly with the caption 'I found Jesus, he was behind the sofa all the time." Amusing as it is, this is in some ways a sad reflection on how the Church has 'sold' Christian faith over many years. The idea of 'seekers' after faith, though not without merit, is sadly misused as it seems to go hand in hand with an idea that faith, or God, or Jesus, is a commodity waiting to be found rather than a relationship waiting to be explored or a gift eternally offered.

The free gift of God to us is unbounded love - it doesn't come with strings attached, it is freely offered. 

And yet, as in so many parts of our spiritual journey, there is a tension: between the gracious offer of this life openly and generously offered and our calling to take time, to journey, indeed to seek this great gift. Though the gift comes without price and cannot be earned yet it demands of us a giving up of ourselves, a seeking beyond ourselves.  It is life changing, transformative, earth shattering.

It is not a commodity to be owned, or a mystery that needs to be solved before we can possess it. Instead it is a dance into which we enter, and though we may not know the steps, we learn as we go - until we realise that we are part of this dance and this dance is a part of us. The invitation is open for us to join the dance, but we have to take the first step to enter the circle where it takes place. 

 

Matthew 13.44-46

Jesus said:

 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it."