Celebrating Beauty

 

By Rev Dr. Kenneth Mtata 

18 January 2022

Today's Readings 

Psalm 145; Song of Solomon 4:1-8; 1 Corinthians 1:3-17

Verse of the day 

"On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed, and I will declare" (Psalm 145:5-6a).

In a world where there is so much negativity, we tend to miss beauty and the goodness of God in the world.  Because we are tempted to think about God in terms of his power (potency) and what he can do for us ( utility), we sometimes miss the beauty that lies within his mighty power.

Celebrating beauty and goodness in God is easier than celebrating the beauty and goodness in people because even though they may have some goodness,  they easily reveal their ugly side.

Paul celebrated the Corinthians who had been endowed in "every way" and having been "enriched" with all manner of "speech knowledge" such that they "lacked" "no spiritual gift". YET, there deep divisions and "quarrels" among them 

(1 Corinthians 1: 5,6,11).

Paul was able to celebrate some victories, gifts, and some positives even where there were known worrying weaknesses. 

Celebrating beauty, the good and the positive is not dependent on external stimuli (external and visible elements). Rather, celebration is an internal condition of the heart. 

It is a special gift of God for human beings to be able to see and celebrate beauty and goodness in one hand while being equally critical of all pain, strife and injustice.

This gift can, however, be cultivated. In a family set up,  partners, parents and siblings can learn not only to criticise, but to also to affirm, encourage and celebrate the other. Even in society, when our eyes have become trained to look only for faults, we get exhausted by missing the silver lining in every dark cloud. 

This doesn't mean we will force ourselves to see something good even in evil and destructive persons and situations. 

No. If we do that we also blunt our sense of justice.  Yet if only see what the devil is doing,  we miss the beautiful project of salvation that God is accomplishing in the world. 

Perfection will only be realised in us by God at the end of time, so Paul affirms that God, "will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" 

(1 Corinthians 1:8).

Prayer

God open my eyes today   to see the beauty in the flowers, even in the flowers that may be poisonous. Holy Spirit, help me to see the sweet fruits even in the thorny trees. Lord Jesus, help me to see the beauty in your people even those with weaknesses. Help me today to celebrate beauty and goodness without disregarding injustice and evil. In Jesus' name we pray. 

AMEN