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15. From'Jordan'to'Gethsemane.'Through'the'Holy'Sprit'coming'upon'Christ'at'his'baptism,'God"was"
with'many'more'people,'as'Jesus'taught'them'and'did'good'to'them;'and'his'teaching,'while'primarily'to'
provide'for'his'disciples'and'church,'is'full'of'wisdom'which'blesses'all'who'will'learn'from'it'whether'
they'are'believers'or'not.''Likewise,'Jesus''personal'relationships,'and'certainly'his'miracles,'blessed'
those'around'him'indiscriminately'with'love'and'care.''Jesus'also'fearlessly'critiqued'the'Jewish'
establishments'which'were'his'͚ŚŽƐƚ ŝŶƐƚŝƚƵƚŝŽŶ͛͗ ,ĞƌŽĚŝĂŶƐ͕ ^ĂĚĚƵĐĞĞƐ ĂŶĚ WŚĂƌŝƐĞĞƐ ĂůŝŬĞ.''In'sum,'
even'before'Jesus'had'died,'He'had'made'Palestine'a'better'place'by'bringing'the'presence'of'God'to'its'
various'peoples.''In'preparing'for'the'Cross'by'entering'creation,'Jesus'had'helped'people'and'began'to'
redeem'the'world.''So,'Chaplains'bring'Christ'and'his'kingdom'personally'with'them:'sharing'his'
wisdom,'and'that'of'the'Scriptures'which'testify'of'Him:'being'generous'and'doing'good'(if'not'
miracles!)'to'all.''Prophetic'words'of'comfort'and'rebuke'are'another'duty'of'Chaplains.'
16. Disciples.'In'calling'his'disciples'and'devoting'Himself'to'them,'Jesus'takes'particular'
responsibility'for'believers.'His'main'aim'in'this'was'to'raise'up'an'apostolate'to'carry'on'his'work'and'
build'his'Kingdom:'and'Chaplains'should'have'a'ƉĂƌƚŝĐƵůĂƌ ĐĂƌĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ >ŽƌĚ͛Ɛ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ŝŶ ŽƵƌ ŚŽƐƚ
institution.'Indeed,'under'the'current'Diversity'philosophy,'meeting'the'needs'of'Christian'people'may'
be'the'principal'justification'for'Chaplains'being'present'in'an'institution.'''We'can'show'special'interest'
in'believers'without'embarrassment:'we'have'a'special'duty'to'pray'for'them'(:ĞƐƵƐ͛'prayers'[as'far'as'
we'know'their'content]'were'for'his'disciples).'Believers'are'then'strengthened'to'carry'on'his'Kingdom'
work'as'his'witnesses'in'the'institutions'we'serve.'
Cardinal'Point'2'8' ǯ Crucifixion'
17. Atonement.'On'the'Cross,'Christ'was'making"peace"through"his"blood,"shed"on"the"Cross'(Col'
1:20).'This'peace'is'in'the'first'instance'vertical,'but'it'has'horizontal'implications,'most'obviously'
between'those'who'are'brother'and'sister'in'Christ.'However,'we'learn,'and'can'(and'should)'exemplify'
and'teach'peaceTmaking,'reconciliation'and'forgiveness.'Chaplains'should'be'able'to'bring'the'oil'of'
Gilead'to'bear'upon'the'wounds'and'ruptures'of'human'life'and'relationships'in'any'institutions.''
18. Example.'Chaplains'are'under'the'authority'of'the'leaders'of'the'institutions'they'serve,'and'in'
common'with'other'employees,'will'be'exposed'to'the'petty'and'notTsoTpetty'strictures'imposed'by''
flawed'bosses'and'sinful'colleagues.'We'must'be'willing'humbly'to'follow'Peter͛Ɛ'direction'to'follow'
ŚƌŝƐƚ͛Ɛ ĞdžĂŵƉůĞ when'this'happens:'to'respond'with'grace'to'aggravation'comes'from'a'Chaplain͛Ɛ
second'nature.'Indeed,'personal'suffering'is'key'to'all'effective'ministry'(Col'1:24f)'ʹ'so'Chaplains'expect'
daily'crucifixion'and'from'that,'gracious'blessing.'''
Cardinal'Point'3'8' ǯ Glorification'
19. The'Resurrection'confirms'that'this'creation,'and'all'the'human'activities'and'enterprises'that'
God'ordained'within'it,'are'not'only'the'theatre'of'his'activity,'but'also'the'object'of'his'redemption.''
That'includes'the'Chaplain͛Ɛ ŚŽƐƚ ŝŶƐƚŝƚƵƚŝŽŶ͘ Resurrection,'Pentecost'and'the'church'which'came'from'
those'events'ĂƌĞ ŶŽǁ 'ŽĚ͛Ɛ ŵĞĂŶƐ ŽĨ'Immanuel:'indeed'God's'presence'through'his'church'in'the'world'
is'both'more'extensive'and'intensive'than'ever'before.''But'the'church'is'also'a'signpost'ahead'to'the'
glory'of'the'new'creation,'and' ŚƌŝƐƚ͛Ɛ 'life'and'ministry'in'her'are'the'firstTfruits'of'and'witnesses'to'the'
Gospel'Chaplaincy'in'a'Secular'Age'ʹ'page'7'of'9'ʹ'September'2011'
