PostScript: Bear one another’s burdens
Paul instructs the Galatians to treat each other with a spirit of gentleness (Galatians 6.1).
Context
We live in anxious times – the future seems so uncertain. Here in Britain, we are waiting to see who will become the next Prime Minister, with the outcome of Brexit hanging over us. On a wider stage, the consequences of climate change are becoming ever more apparent. In the face of these challenges, rather than pulling together, societies are becoming more and more polarised. Britain is split down the middle over Brexit. And a UN human rights expert has warned of ‘climate apartheid’, where the rich pay to escape from hunger, while the rest of the world is left to suffer. Our ability to talk to each other across differences seems to be diminishing. Everyone wants to be heard, but no-one wants to listen. So much online ‘conversation’ is nothing but rant and insult. Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the world wide web, has written an open letter condemning the ‘outraged and polarised tone and quality of online discourse’.
Reflection
Jean Vanier, founder of L’Arche, who died recently, used to say that love doesn’t mean doing extraordinary or heroic things; it means knowing how to do ordinary things with tenderness. Some of the people we come across in our daily lives have obvious problems, but others are carrying invisible burdens. So it is worth treating everyone in a spirit of gentleness.
Paul might appear to contradict himself, saying first ‘bear one another’s burdens’ (Galatians 6.2) and then ‘all must carry their own loads’ (Galatians 6.5). But the combination makes sense. Taking responsibility for ourselves – for our words and deeds, for the choices we make given our circumstances, for sustaining our own health and wellbeing – includes being honest about our mistakes and failures. Then we will have compassion on others for their failings. Paul’s vision is the opposite of a blame culture. He advocates being realistic and gentle, both with ourselves and others. When he says that this is ‘the law of Christ’ (Gal 6:2), he may be thinking of the saying preserved in Matthew 6.14 – ‘if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you’.
The BBC is running a Crossing Divides season, to explore the power of bringing together people with conflicting opinions, across divisions of race, class, faith, politics and generation. The stories include a healing singalong in which children with special needs and older people with dementia bring the best out of each other. A wonderful example of mutual uplifting.
In 2 Corinthians 12.7-10, Paul talks of having a ‘thorn in the flesh’. Here at the end of Galatians, it would seem that he took the pen off the scribe taking down dictation, and wrote a few words himself – in large letters. John Hull has suggested that maybe Paul was partially sighted (John M. Hull, In the Beginning There Was Darkness, London: SCM, 2001, pp.84-91). Earlier in Galatians Paul mentions having a ‘physical infirmity’, saying, ‘you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me’ (Galatians 4.13-15). It is impossible to verify John Hull’s suggestion, but Paul maintains that Christ’s power ‘is made perfect in weakness’ (2 Corinthians 12.9). He boasts only of ‘the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (Galatians 6.14). Struggling with his own weakness has kept him humble, and reliant upon Christ.
Prayer
Here are a series of biddings for you to complete, which could be used for the intercessions. As a refrain between biddings, you might like to use Come, Bring Your Burdens to God from the Iona Community.
O God our Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, we pray for:
- Those who bear the burden of government, for …
- Those who bear the burden of church leadership, for …
- Those who bear the burden of community responsibility, for …
- Those who bear the burden of displacement and exile, for …
- Those who bear the burden of pain and illness, for …
- Those who bear the burden of grief, for …
Show us how we might lighten those burdens, and live together in a spirit of gentleness.
Amen.
Questions
- What do you do to share the burdens of others?
- What do you do to treat yourself with a spirit of gentleness?
All-age activity
Get together in pairs. Share a ‘burden’ – a problem, concern, worry … – that you would like the other person to pray for in the coming week.
Young people
Watch the video The Stand Up Kid. What message do you take from this film? How might the teacher and students have responded to Michael’s return in a more welcoming way? Does your group provide a supportive atmosphere, in which people can talk about the problems they are facing? Time to Change provide other mental health resources for young people which you could use.
Ann Conway-Jones is an associate tutor at The Queen’s Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education, and Chair of Birmingham Council of Christians and Jews.
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