The Christ Abides

Hearing Jesus say the word "abide" brings my mind to The Big Lebowski

This coming Sunday’s Gospel lesson has a déjà vu quality about it. We’re nearing (thankfully) the end of the Bread of Life Discourse in John’s account of the Good News of Christ Jesus, but this being the fourth consecutive week about Jesus and bread gives this week’s portion a repetitive, redundant quality. I find myself asking questions to see the spiritual meat in this story about bread. What do we need to hear in these words about the life of Jesus of Nazareth that impact us today? Why is this passage found in our Holy Scriptures? Maybe a helpful way of answering these questions stems from looking for what stands out in this passage.

One word caught the ear of my heart in today’s reading of the text. That word? Abide.

“Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them” (John 6:56 italics added). If Jesus spoke on a metaphorical level when he talked about eating him, then we safely assert that Jesus did not mean that we literally live inside of him, nor does he live inside of us. This is not the plot of Alien 3 unfolding. Of course, that word abide conjures up another cult classic movie.

The Big Lebowski focuses upon the increasingly extraordinary events unfolding in the life of Jeffrey “the Dude” Lebowski. By no stretch of the imagination are the Dude’s actions virtuous—save for his penchant for justice regarding a rug and trying to help out a lady friend now and again. Regardless, the great Sam Elliott who played “the Stranger” ends the film by breaking the fourth wall, turning to the camera, and saying: “The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners.” Were that line not said in the deep, unmistakable voice of Sam Elliott I probably would not remember the dude abiding and taking her easy for all us sinners, but I do. And, while the Dude’s character runs crosswise of who Christ was and is, still a connection persists in my mind.

Christ does abide—not literally inside of us—but, in a way that is more real than anything else. Christ Jesus continues within us. In our hearts, our minds, our souls, and our collective being Jesus the Christ lives. We mystically connect with the one who lives on for us all sinners. We do this when we participate in Holy Communion. There we discover Christ dwelling in us both more clearly and more opaquely than at other times. As we put back together the Body of Christ, re-membering Jesus as we gather together as Christ’s Body here and now, we come in contact with the Truth that exists always: we are made in God’s image, house Christ within us, and are filled with God’s Spirit. What happens in Communion is always happening.

This truth so often evade our conscious knowing—like sand slipping between our fingertips. So, we must rely upon a deeper knowing to experience the reality of God dwelling within us. This week, slow down. Give yourself permission—even in the busy-ness of a new academic year—to stop. Maybe this means you will have to wake up early, sneak off during a lunch break, or stay up a little later to find some moments of quiet away from screens and other distractions. Whenever it is, allow yourself time to be still and become aware of the presence of Christ that abides in you. There’s nothing that you have to do to achieve this presence. That Divine light always shines in us all. Once you realize this truth stay there for a few moments. Like sitting together with an old friend who is completely fine talking and just as fine with silence be present with God. These moments of abiding with God are profound enough; however, once you make this realization allow this truth to pervade not only quiet moments, but your entire life. Christ dwells in you and we can dwell in him as we bring this truth to bear at all times and in all places.

Christ abides infinitely, I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowing that Christ is out there and in here too, Christ abiding within all us sinners.

There Is No B-Team

What does Rudy have to do with following Jesus? Let's find out!

If you have seen the movie Rudy you know Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger grew up in Joliet, Illinois during the 1960s harboring a deep desire to play football for the University Of Notre Dame. The only trouble came in that Rudy was not big enough, fast enough, or strong enough to play for the Fighting Irish. Well, that and he did not make good enough grades to make it into the academically rigorous institution. Oh, and he did not have the money to actually afford schooling at Notre Dame. Still, for Rudy he would not give up his dream.

Attempting to get his grades up, Rudy attended a local community college near South Bend where Notre Dame is located. He worked on the grounds crew for minimum wage. Being homeless he snuck into the groundskeeper’s office to sleep somewhere at night. All the while Ruettiger kept alive his dream of playing for the football team.

When Rudy discovered he was dyslexic he sought help to overcome his learning disability. He pulled up his grades just in time to transfer from the junior college to Notre Dame. After walking on to the team—playing without a scholarship—Rudy garnered the affection of teammates as he worked harder than most out of the spotlight on the practice squad. Eventually the coach promised to allow Rudy to dress for one home game his senior year, but that coach was let go and a new coach was brought in to coach the team.

Finally, during the last home game the other seniors including some All-American players said they would give up their spots to allow Rudy to play in their place. Eventually the coach conceded allowing Rudy to dress against Georgia Tech. The crowd began to cheer for Rudy as the game got out of hand in Notre Dame’s favor. Still the coach would not allow Rudy to see playing time. As Rudy played defense he needed the offense to score quickly at the end of the game so that he might get to play—and that was exactly what happened.

When Rudy got onto the field on kickoff duty he sprinted down the field, but as he did not make a tackle he would not be in the record book. He stayed on to play one defensive series. As he did, Rudy sacked the quarterback and the game ended with the other players carrying Rudy off the field. The story of Rudy stands out as a profound example of staying faithful to God’s calling for us in much the same way that God called Matthias whom we celebrate today.

After Judas betrayed Jesus, collected his money, and subsequently committed suicide, the disciples were missing a twelfth member. In the days between Jesus’ Ascension and the Spirit coming at Pentecost the Apostles prayed passionately in Jerusalem. There Peter felt inspired to fill that open position, but who would the Spirit call?

The disciples decided that this person need have been with them throughout the whole of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Joseph called Barabbas and Matthias were disciples of Jesus. They were there at Jesus’ miracles and at his teachings, they were there during Holy Week and Jesus’ Passion, and they were there even as all felt lost. Barabbas and Matthias were not practice squad disciples, nor were they B-team apostles. They were quiet, persistent, and faithful servants of Jesus. Perhaps even more than Peter, James, or John these disciples responded to God’s calling without any of the popularity or spotlight.

As the Spirit called through the casting of lots, Matthias was chosen to take Judas’ place. We do not know anything more than this about the life of Matthias, and to tell you the truth, it is better this way. The out of the way example that Matthias provides us inspires us not to be disciples for show or for some award. Rather, we are called to hear God’s calling, God’s dream for us and to pursue it without wavering or hesitation. Like Rudy we are charged to hold fast to the hope God puts into our hearts. When obstacles arise may we trust that God’s dream stands bigger than them.

May we follow the good example of Matthias trusting that there are no B-team disciples. May we dream with God hearing the calling for our lives. May we live as quiet, persistent, and faithful servants of Jesus following him whether or not we get praise or condolence in the process.

Spoiler Alert...

How do we proceed when we already know the outcome?

“The beginning of the good news ofJesus Christ, the Son of God.” Our contemporary society loves movies with twistendings, unexpected upsets in sports, and pop songs with at least onesurprising key change. So, what do we do with the opening line of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Mark? Before any action has taken place the ending has been given away—Jesus is the son of God. After one verse might we be better off simply skipping to the ending?

Spoiler alert: When Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince came out in 2005 a man drove passed a Barnes and Noble release event for the popularchildren’s book series. The moment he got in front of the line that was out the door he yelled out the ending of the book, which ruined the anticipation and enjoyment of reading a good book in the process. Do the first lines of Mark’s Gospel account do the same thing for us?

We really do not like spoilers in our country, and it’s not only with Harry Potter. There are videos of grown adults runningaway from people trying to tell them what happens in Star Wars. Apps now give people the option to hide the score of others games when watching a replay broadcast. The advent of DVRs and Netflix has made it such that people will cover their ears and yell, “LALALALA” when someone talks about a show they have not yet watched. So what do we do with Mark’s Gospel account when the first line spills the beans?

The truth is most of us hear the claim that Jesus is the Son of God before we ever read an entire Gospel account for ourselves. Perhaps if someone grew up un-churched they could happen upon the good news with fresh eyes and ears. And yet, even those who are reared outside the church will almost certainly hear from others in society that Jesus is God’s Son before they get to encounter the story of God in Holy Scripture for themselves. On the one hand this is no big deal, but on the other hand what is it that we bring to the table when we make such a big claim before ever reading a word? I wonder what it was like for those who encountered Mark’s account of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a spoken story in the first century. I wonder if we might hear like them. I wonder if we might enjoy the journey as much as the destination.

In this season of Advent, as we begin this church year I wonder if we might ask God to have new eyes. Can we see beyond our preconceived notions about Jesus, about God, and about us? Are we able to read the good news of Jesus Christ without our regular set of assumptions, without mixing the Gospel accounts together, and without skipping over the parts that truly challenge us? Is it possible to wonder anew what it means for Jesus to be the Son of God? Or, do we already know it all, so we impatiently skip ahead to the ending?

Hidden Kingdom

Have you ever heard of a man named Forest Fenn? Maybe you have run across his name in headlines, but even if you have not his life can best be compared to a hero from one of the most successful cinematic series in history. Fenn is the real life Indiana Jones—with art collector, air force pilot, and archeologist all on the resumé.[1] My heart still accelerates when I hear John William’s theme song from those films. If you are not familiar with the series it chronicles a swashbuckling professor in search of lost relics like the Arc of the Covenant and the Holy Grail. Who doesn’t love a good treasure hunt?

Back in 2010 the real life treasure seeker—Fenn—buried almost $2 million worth of booty somewhere north of Sante Fe, New Mexico. He wanted to be remembered, so he hid gold, jade statues, and a copy of his book, then shared a poem as a clue. To date at least 65,000 people have set out to find the buried prize—and at least two of them have been found dead.[2] Still Fenn will not relent and neither will those who search for the handsome fortune. Surprisingly, a pastor longing to find the hidden stockpile most recently died in this wild goose chase. I am not making up this sad fact. A Christian minister went out in search of earthly treasure and never returned. This death makes me wonder, “What treasure am I willing to seek even if I die in the process?”

What treasure is of such great value to you that you would give everything you have to take hold of it? In today’s Gospel lesson we hear Jesus speaking six parables to the crowds and his disciples. Many of these descriptions of the Kingdom of God are familiar to us—the mustard seed, the leaven, the merchant and the pearl, and even the abundant catch of fish. This week at first glance though, I struggled to see a shimmering thread tying all of these parables together—other than that they are about the Kingdom of God. Of course, I left out two of these parables, and both of them refer to treasure. Two parables about treasure may very well help us to understand not only the rest of what Jesus spoke in this Gospel passage, but also why we must boldly seek hidden treasure ourselves.

The first of these parables Jesus told featured a man, a field, and some treasure. Maybe you easily understand this parable, but as I heard it this week the wording confused me. “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” (Matthew 13:44). Is the treasure buried by a man who then digs up his own prize? That does not make sense. Presumably someone else buried the treasure, then another found it, buried it back, sold all he had, and only then took hold of the land and the treasure. This treasure seeker gets what he wants, but he did so by trespassing and digging up someone else’s land—not to mention selling everything else to get the prize-filled property. And yet, Jesus says this is Kingdom of God. Entering into God’s Kingdom may cost us. We may have to risk things we hold so dearly to go out and find God’s realm! Jesus later tells a second parable about treasure.

This next parable about prized possessions almost lies hidden—like buried treasure—within this Gospel lesson. After Jesus asked if the hearers had understood these parables—and they audaciously answered yes—Jesus spoke of scribes trained for the kingdom of heaven. I believe we are these scribes trained for God’s purposes. Jesus compared these scribes to the master of a household bringing out old and new treasure. Jesus’ response to the affirmation of the understanding hearer is a challenge not to get stuck in only one way of seeking the ultimate treasure—relationship with God. Jesus challenges those with ears to hear not to simply rest on treasure, but to bring out those prizes to enlighten others. Together these parables require of us seeking out the treasure that is God’s Kingdom by all means possible and sharing that treasured realm by any means necessary.

We can use these two parables further to act as keys, which will unlock a fuller vision of the divine life within the other parables. God threads a theme through these other stories, namely that the Kingdom of God hides beneath the surface away from plain sight—it is not a kingdom with boundaries, a castle, or a passport office. In other words, we cannot always see the hidden treasure that is God’s domain. Even within ourselves we may not know the power of Christ’s light that shines until we spend some time digging around our own souls. As we examine these parables closer we may be surprised.

Taking a look at each parable we see something hidden. A huge shrub hides within a tiny and often unwanted seed. Bread enough for a huge wedding banquet may be lurking within the spoiling yeast of the last loaf. The most beautiful pearl could easily rest at the bottom of the ocean or a merchant’s trunk. Good fish hide both beneath the surface of the water and among the undesirable ones. Thus, we see in each of these stories the hidden treasure—God’s Kingdom.

God’s Kingdom hides so easily from us. We may believe we have found it in something so cherished and beloved by us that we cling to it tightly. If we are not careful though, we will soon discover that hanging onto the treasure of old prevents us from taking hold of new treasures. We are challenged to not only possess old treasure, but to be like a wise collector who sees the value of the new as well. Our relationship with God—our place in God’s Kingdom—exists similarly. Jesus challenges us to take hold of buried treasure from old, while seeking new hidden stockpiles as well.

Why is seeking this treasure both old and new so important though? Seeking the treasure–God’s Kingdom and the love we know in Jesus—holds the most value of anything in the world precisely because when we experience the love of God and share it with others this treasure has the power to transform the world. This pearl is worth giving up everything to find it. It is worth giving up a spot in the garden for the tiny mustard seed, time in the kitchen tending to loaves of bread, all we have to buy a field, and blood, sweat, and tears to catch fish—good fish. Jesus gives to us the Kingdom of God and he asks us treasure it and to share it with everyone. How will you seek this treasure and if you find it how will you share it with others?

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[1] Trendacosta, Katharine. The Most Astonishing Real-Life Treasure Hunts. August 22, 2013. http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-most-astonishing-real-life-treasure-hunts-1181644705 (accessed July 27, 2017).

[2]Bromwich, Jonah Engel. Colorado Man Is Second to Die in Quest for Buried Treasure. June 21, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/21/us/forrest-fenn-treasure.html (accessed July 27, 2017).

He Knows You

How do you know if you have met someone? I know that’s a funny question, and I am not talking about whether or not you can remember meeting someone. Think back to a time when you encountered someone new. What was the threshold of actually meeting that person? Do both people have to acknowledge one another? Could only one of them say hello? Does that count?

Meeting someone gets slightly more complicated when people discuss brushes with celebrities. I find it odd that we gush so much over popular figures, but when encountering famous people quite often lowly devotees want nothing more than to say, “I met ‘so and so’ this one time in an airport.” Like any big fish story often these tales morph from just walking past one another in the terminal to having drinks together in the frequent flyers lounge. Usually these meetings though leave something to be desired. Not always though.

You probably heard this week of the death of Roger Moore who played James Bond among other roles on the silver screen. Perhaps what you did not hear was a story from a man named Marc Haynes. When Haynes was seven and traveling with his grandfather the two saw Moore in an airport in Nice, France. Haynes had just seen James Bond and begged his grandfather to help him get the star’s autograph. After a brief encounter including getting the actor’s signature the boy and his grandfather walked away, only something was not right.

The autograph read “Roger Moore” and not James Bond. Haynes told his granddad that he had signed it wrong and felt crestfallen. The sweet grandfather walked back over to Moore and told the movie star he had signed his name incorrectly—not even knowing who James Bond was in the first place. Just then, Moore called over the little boy. Looking around Moore raised an eyebrow and spoke in a very hushed tone, “I have to sign my name as ‘Roger Moore’ because otherwise… [my nemesis] Blofeld might find out I was here.”[1] Then, the movie star made the boy promise to keep his identity safe. Moore’s behavior was remarkable, funny, and brilliant—more than living up to his reputation!

Years later Haynes worked on a UNICEF advertisement that featured Roger Moore. During one of the breaks Haynes told Moore of the story from his childhood. Moore appeared amused and charmed by the story, but claimed that he did not remember the encounter. Then, something profound happened.

As the filming was wrapping up, Moore went to leave, but intentionally passed Haynes in the hallway. As he did he paused ever so briefly, and in a hushed tone he raised his eyebrow to say, “Of course I remember our meeting in Nice. But I didn’t say anything in there, because those cameramen—any one of them could be working for [my nemesis] Blofeld.”[2] WOW!

Encounters do happen that far outpace anything we could ask for or imagine. This was the case with Marc Haynes when he met Roger Moore, but what about us? When have we met someone that blew us away? Are there moments when you not only met someone, but would say after only a brief encounter you know them? What about God? Have you met God? Do you know God?

In today’s Good News from John we heard a line that has been reverberating within my soul all week long. Jesus, in the midst of a prayer to God the Father, spoke, “This is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” What a remarkable statement: Eternal life is knowing God. Knowing of God is important. Knowing about God seems crucial. However, KNOWING God is eternal life. It does not lead to it, knowing God is in and of itself eternal life!

We may be amazed at the kindness of a movie star to stop and play along with a seven-year-old and later a young man, but what about God? Have you ever had a moment when you felt the profound, mysterious presence of something beyond you come down not only to meet you, but also to know you? We articulate that God came down in the person of Jesus, He was the Christ, the Messiah, and God incarnate. At that time, parts of humanity got to meet him. What about us?

Thursday was our celebration of the Ascension when we remember that Jesus not only came down, but also that he was carried away being lifted into heaven. Our opening prayer, also known as the collect, for today reminds us that we are liturgically speaking in a precarious position. Jesus has been lifted up with great triumph into God’s Kingdom, and we beseech God, “Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before.” How do we know God in this time between the Ascension and when the Spirit descends at Pentecost? How do we know God now?

No single answer exists. We know God in a multitude of ways: in creation, in exploring it; in community, in sharing it; in intimacy, in moments of love with friends, family, spouses and partners; in fellowship, in the breaking of the bread and the sharing of the cup; in hearing the Word of God, in letting it inspire the Good News to live within us; in reaching out, in sharing God’s love in word and deed with those around us; and there are still countless other ways. Chiefly we know God through the life of the one who walked before us and walks with us on the path of eternal life, which will lead us even through death. Still, that is not all.

There will be moments in life when despite the all-encompassing presence of God we believe that we are lost or alone. In moments when we feel like we do not know God or maybe we may feel like we have not truly met God—even in these moments—God knows us. In ways far surpassing a simple meet-and-greet, God knows us. God knows every hair on our head. God knows us. God has known us even before we were born (when we were still in the womb). God knows us. God knows each and every one of us. And what is more, God loves each and every one of us.

How will you get to know God? Be known. Get to know God. Experience eternal life.

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[1] Marc Haynes, “Roger Moore Story,” https://twitter.com/marchaynes, shared May 23, 2017 accessed May 27, 2017.

[2] Ibid.

The Hour Has Come

This coming Sunday’s Gospel lesson begins with Jesus looking up to heaven while saying, “Father, the hour has come.” The rest of the passage contains so much theological meat worth chewing on the rest of the week, but the opening bit has arrested me this Monday. As Jesus brings to culmination his “Farewell Discourse” in which he urges his disciples to continue in his mission, he looks up to heaven and speaks so personally to the Father that this speech gives us a glimpse into the Divine Life of the Trinity.

Getting our timing correct stands out as a monumentally difficult task for human beings. A moment earlier or later could change the course of history or at least one’s life. The movie Sliding Doors depicts this perfectly. I do not want to spoil the plot, but suffice it to say that the lead character played by Gwyneth Paltrow portrays two different story lines that diverge from either making or missing a train home. By making it through the sliding doors or being stopped by them her life changes. This could easily happen to any one of us too. What about the life of the Trinity though? Is God confined by this sense of timing?

Often religious leaders like myself will unleash a theological statement along these lines: “God exists outside of time.” When we sit still long enough to contemplate what this means we may need some Advil, especially when we consider how this thought pertains to the Son. As the person of Jesus entered into a particular time and place in the course of time and space and history, we may then wonder how one can say, “God exists outside of time”? The divinity and humanity of Christ Jesus exist inseparably, which complicates the matter all the more. How can a human being exist outside of time? God muddles this even more as we arrive at the Ascension (only in Luke's telling of the Gospel) when Jesus ascended to reign at the right hand of the Father, which we celebrate this Thursday. How could Jesus’ physically ascend into heaven?

Wondering about these particulars and how they happened can trip up even the most ardent follower. So what do we do? Do we stop with the intense questions? Do we just believe without reconciling our Holy Scripture with what science says? Scrutinizing the details, as we pursue the Truth by all means necessary certainly makes the curious learner within me happy; however, in this intimate moment that Jesus shared with the Father it may be too much to try to construct an entire theology of the Trinity based on one sentence within one account of the Good News of Christ Jesus. Said alternatively, we would do well to survey the entirety of Holy Scripture, the writings of Church Mothers and Fathers, contemporary theologians, our own experience, and reason before we haphazardly throw out bathwater or babies as they pertain to the life of the Trinity.

At the same time we must be willing to lean into the hard conversations, namely that there are contradictions within our Faith. If we can make sense of these inconsistencies by looking at the overarching scope and trajectory of the Good News, then our Faith will be made stronger; however, as Jesus looked up into heaven acknowledging the closeness of his relationship with the Father, we must also recognize that inside of that intimate relationship exists a type of logic that may not make much sense outside of it. The Father, Son, and Spirit have known each other forever—and I am not writing this in a hyperbolic sense, as they have been eternally in relationship with one another. The timing of God’s ways are perfect beyond our knowing. The actions of God’s works of salvation do not compute within our feeble understanding. The meaning of the life, death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Christ Jesus cannot be explained in a way that makes sense to all. While we must struggle to get our theology tight and precise, what matters eternally is knowing God.

While I may be stuck on its first words, the crux of this coming Sunday’s Gospel lesson does not rest in Jesus looking up to heaven and speaking of the hour coming, but rather in the profound and perplexing prayer that was overheard by the disciples. To God the Father Jesus uttered, “This is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” We will not fully understand God on this side of the grave. And, as frustrating as that is, it is okay. For our lifelong pursuit of knowledge truly only requires us to know one thing. We must spend our lives knowing the only true God who was fully expressed in Jesus Christ whom God sent, only then can we know anything about this God that is worth sharing with others.

Look and Live

When Nicodemus went to visit Jesus at night back in the third chapter of John, the teacher said some curious things. We might most quickly remember that he said that most famous verse John 3:16; however, that is not all he said. I’ve always been fascinated by Jesus comparing himself to a serpent lifted up in the wilderness, which comes just two sentences before the bold statement of God’s love of the world. Today we heard the precursor story from Numbers in which a bronze serpent made by Moses helped to heal those who were snake-bitten in the wilderness, as they complained about their current plight. What does this mean though? Why did Jesus compare the crucifixion with a somewhat obscure passage about the Israelites’ disobedience?

Pretty quickly we realize that the Son of Man being lifted up indicates the manner of death that Jesus would undertake upon the cross. And yet, if we expand the conversation that Jesus was having with Nicodemus in John’s Gospel even a little bit we hear that those who believe in the one lifted up have eternal life. Still to me this appears a little blurry. If we believe in Christ, then we gain life everlasting. Yes, we have heard this before many times, and I believe it, but this bit about the snakes in the wilderness still does not compute.

Looking more specifically at the story from Numbers may open up the wisdom of Jesus’ words for us. The snakes in the wilderness were not random. After being saved from a life of slavery in Egypt the people of Israel began to grumble to God. They took their complaints to Moses saying, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.” Earlier in the Book of Numbers God gave the people the “miserable food” of manna, right before this story Moses had led the people to waters flowing from a rock, but this sustenance appeared boring to the people. Thus, they complained. God’s response startles me. He sent snakes.

God responded to the people’s complaints not with an affirming pat on the back or a hopeful way forward, but instead with poisonous serpents. These snakes bit the Israelites and many even died. The result of these bites though was for the people to recognize that they had sinned. Oddly enough the serpents helped the Israelites to see that speaking against God and against God’s servant had been foolish. This tough love led them to believe once more. We can understand this in our own lives. If we see a negative consequence of something that we have done we may change what we are doing, still it is hard for me to believe in a God who would send snakes, or a flood in the story of Noah, or even a worm in the story of Jonah. To quote Indiana Jones, “Why does it have to be snakes?”

While this bit of the story seems odd and perhaps a little tough for me to comprehend, something more exists if we dig a little deeper. When the people asked Moses to pray for God to relent. God’s response was not to take away the serpents altogether. Instead, God told Moses to make a serpent and when the people looked at the serpent they would live. This is where it gets really interesting. When the people were bit, as a response to their sins of impatience and unbelief, they were to look at a serpent, which was in fact a sign pointing to their sinful state. The serpent that Moses created signified both the results of their sinful state and the salvation that God would offer to cure them of its repercussions. Jesus very easily could be seen in a similar manner.

When we look upon Jesus high on the cross we are forced to see both the consequences of the sin that poisons us and the salvation that heals us from it. The sins of the world literally put Jesus upon the cross. Were the people of Jesus’ day not sinful they would have been able to see his true nature; however, God’s will was ultimate love and sacrifice even in the face of individual and systematic evil. When Jesus told Nicodemus, who would have been familiar with the story we heard from Numbers, that the Son of Man must be lifted up like the serpent in the wilderness our Lord connected a very important set of dots for the religious leader and for us.

Until we confront our sinful nature and have the courage to look at the wrongs we commit, then we will continue to live in a toxic state continuously bitten by the offspring of our sins. And yet, when we boldly believe in God something changes. We must be willing to trust that God will guide us through even those times when we have to confront the darkest parts of our selves. When we look at the serpent, which is the result of our sin AND the sign that points to our salvation, then we finally receive the antidote that gives us life. To believe in God is to trust that even in our sinfulness God’s love will guide us into life. May we be bold enough to see our sinful nature and even bolder still to believe that Jesus is the cure for our poisoned, fallen state!

Not To Be Forgotten

Four days ago I quietly celebrated the Annunciation, that day when nine months before Christmas the Angel Gabrielle came to deliver the astonishing news that Mary would bear God into this world. With only three-fourths of a year left to shop for the big day I am sure you have already completed all your purchases. I myself am already beginning to think about what Christmas movies I want to watch to get into the spirit of the season.

Number one on my favorite Christmas movie list is It’s A Wonderful Life, which I have to watch for Christmas to happen. Several other films crowd the list for the second spot behind that classic starring Jimmy Stewart. One very much in contention is Home Alone, the movie in which Kevin McAlister gets left at home by his family, while they travel to France. As Lauren Salerno pointed out in her Lenten meditation last week, this story carries some similarities to when Jesus was left at the Temple by his parents. I was never left alone anywhere by my parents for any significant length of time—at least to my knowledge, maybe I blocked it out. Still Home Alone, Jesus’ being left at the Temple, and today’s Old Testament reading from Isaiah all bring me to feeling the pain of being left or lost.

Perhaps it is not a vacation without you, or Mary and Joseph neglecting Jesus, or a nursing mother forgetting her child, but I bet all of us have felt the sting of abandonment. Your best friend not calling on your birthday, a spouse forgetting your anniversary, or even feeling as though your number will never be called at the DMV, these are just a few of the multitude of examples that could very well leave you feeling abandoned. When I think of moments like these from my own life I cannot help but feel a great pain in my heart—in particular a couple of moments can still cause a saline substance to well up in my eyes.

During those times I recall looking up to the skies as though I were expecting to make out God’s face in the clouds or writ large in the starry night sky. I wondered where the Almighty was hiding. Why wouldn’t he show up, so that I could scream at Him face-to-face? Crying and screaming at God I felt acrimony, heartbreak, and fury all wrapped together. I shouted to the heavens, “How could it be in a moment of such pain that you abandoned me? How can a loving God leave me alone to suffer? Where are you when such pain washes over me that I think that I will surely drown?” It did not matter that many of my wounds were self-inflicted or revolved around illogical choices I had a hand in making, what mattered was that I felt abandoned.

After I exhausted my supply of tears, once I had worn myself out with screaming upward, at the end of my yelling in the strange quiet that followed, I found myself somewhere new. I discovered a pasture on the bare heights—maybe it was not immediately, but in the aftermath I would happen upon it. I learned that even in my anger God had not struck me down with a scorched wind. In those bitter moments I saw that God had not left me. Instead, God stood with me silently, patiently waiting, while I grieved the most intense losses of my life God was the invisible shoulder on which I wept. As Isaiah put it, “The Lord has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his suffering ones.”

During this season of Lent we call to mind the intense pain that Jesus experienced in trials, temptations, and torture. Our Incarnate God was intimately familiar with grief and trouble. There were times when even he felt alone and abandoned—in the garden and on the cross. While it might bring us some solace that Jesus knows what we experienced, what is more fitting for me to remember is that as God experienced the pain of humanity even those moments of isolation were made holy.

As we journey towards the horizon of Holy Week, and as we experience moments of pain in our own lives, when it feels as though we are completely alone, may we remember that our God stands united with us always. Whether we feel God’s presence or not, God always stands with us, weeps with us, is with us. Though we may want to say, “The Lord has forsaken me, my Lord has forgotten me,” God not only knows us, but through Christ God goes with us through times of suffering. God shall make the mountain paths walk-able, give us food for the wilderness, and lead us by springs of water, for he never forgets us even if all else abandon us, to God we are not to be forgotten.

Planet Earth, Zootopia, and God’s Holy Mountain

Planet Earth and Zootopia help to begin a conversation about Isaiah and God's Holy Mountain.

Have you ever watched the documentary series Planet Earth? I recall with glee the first time I watched these at my friend’s home right after college. I was completely blown away! Right there captured in high definition were intense and intimate images from all over the globe that were so remarkable it was hard to believe these events actually happened on planet earth and not some production studio or on some other planet altogether. I have tried to watch this series again with my wife, but if the episode features predator stalking prey we run into a problem.

 

This natural drama stands out as one of the beautiful aspects of this series. A shark ripping a seal ten feet out of the ocean as the predator clamps down its rows of teeth around the prey defies physics. An owl silently swooping in to scoop up a mouse that the bird spotted from hundreds of yards away lifts me out of my seat. However, the one scene even I concede gets my stomach turning features cheetahs chasing down a limping baby gazelle. As usual, my wife stands correct (but don’t tell her I said that). 

“Out in the open field the cheetah’s speed is only matched by one creature,” Lord David Attenborough might say. “Cheetahs will work together as a team to corner the herd of gazelle, then as the predator forces its prey to make a decision, one of the weaker members of the flock will be separated from its mates. At first the young gazelle will dart away from the big cats, but eventually the pack of predators outmatch the prey.” It’s these moments that while extraordinary to watch give us soft-hearted folks nightmares, as we empathize with the adolescent gazelle, even in this circle of life.

“The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. 9 They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 10:6-10)

In seminary class in which we talked about what God is like we read this passage from Isaiah as a descriptor of what the Kingdom of God will be like. As we read it I remember thinking about Planet Earth and the shark, the owl, and the cheetah. I slowly raised my hand to ask, “What if Isaiah has it wrong? I mean, isn’t the wolf the most wolf-like when it’s stalking the lamb? Are not leopards, lions, bears, and snakes made to be hunters?” I may empathize with the gazelle, but how do we separate the pinnacle essence of a creature from the creature? The professor turned it back upon me and the class. We spent an hour wondering about what is the highest order of a cheetah or a fox? 

This summer I got another glimpse of an answer to my question when the youth went on our work week and watched the movie Zootopia, a film by Disney. In this animated world made up of talking animals predators have given up their hunting ways and live in peace with prey. Yet, as the plot unfolds following a bunny breaking into the ranks of the Zootopia Police Force a mysterious crime spree happens in which predators actually attack prey. I will not give away the ending of the movie, as it is well worth watching, but while watching this movie I saw the way that animals (including humans) interact differently. I still may not have an answer for my question from seminary, but I caught an image of hope. 

Something more exists for all of us. The cheetah is called to something more even than when he is hunting down the gazelle. The same may be said for the owl or the shark. Yes, we may appreciate what animals do when they hunt in this world, but all of creation is called to something even more than we may be able to imagine. God calls each of us to dwell on God’s holy mountain where we no longer hurt or destroy. Instead, we will be so filled by the knowledge of the Lord that we cannot help but bow to the divine in the other as that other bows to respect the divine within us. 

We are in the season of Advent when we hope that this Kingdom of God will come, not just in the future, but right now! And in this time, we are called to slow down enough to remember God’s ultimate reality. The best is yet to come as the Cursillo community reminds us. We are each called to listen to how God is calling us to be a part of God’s Holy Mountain. 

How will we defy even our greatest human instincts to dream with God, like a lion lying down with a lamb? How will we allow the Holy Spirit to so dwell within us that we cannot help but see God’s Holy Spirit tying all of us together? How will we live our lives so connected to the Christ living within ourselves that we see in all other creatures the Christ that dwells in them? Slow down this Advent season, dream with God, and seek to create God’s Holy Mountain right here and right now!

You Can Handle The Truth (With God’s Help)

Jack Nicholson as Col. Jessup in A Few Good Men

Even if you have never seen A Few Good Men I am certain you know one scene from that movie. Lt. Kaffee (Tom Cruise) interrogates Col. Jessup played by Jack Nicholson about a command the Col. ordered. When Kaffee presses Jessup the Col. delivers one of the most famous lines in cinematic history: “You can’t handle the truth!” You can’t handle the truth!

The line might not seem all that significant to us, but somehow it transcends the scene and even the movie, such that most of us have heard it. I believe these words stand out to us because in our own lives we struggle to handle the Truth too! The Truth cannot be bought, corrupted, or swayed it simply is, and so often we have a difficult time allowing it to be in our lives.

Maybe it is that relationship that is not what it used to be. Spouse and spouse, or parents and children, or friend and friend might both know the Truth that things are not how they were, but confronting and accepting the Truth is too tough, so things just keep going how they have been. Perhaps the difficult Truth is that your health is not how you would like it to be, but actually allowing that to set in is too difficult. Everyone complains about work or traffic, but confronting the Truth of that discomfort is another story. It might even be that you do not like the way you connect with God, but you can’t handle the Truth. You are not alone though, I believe we all struggle to handle the Truth.

Growing up I was for the most part an exemplary kid and this was no exception out at camp. As a camper, leader, and staff member I stood out as a paragon for how to act and to be. And yet, one summer as a supervising staff member I thought I was above all those rules I had followed for so long and with some friends I snuck some beer out to camp. Now when we got caught, because of course we got caught, the directors did a lot of hand wringing and finger pointing, but there was hardly a slap on the wrist in terms of punishment. Still something happened that startled me, as it confronted me with the Truth.

A day after this incident, I went to the camp office and there was the camp’s most steadfast matriarch, a woman about my grandmother’s age, with the dignity of the queen, and the faithfulness of a saint. She asked me if I intended to let everyone know that I had been a part of this violation of the rules, to own up to the truth. I stood there scared and silent. As her eyes met mine, she confronted me with the Truth, “A man is only as good as his word.” I knew the truth, she knew the truth, and now we both knew that each other knew the Truth. Could I handle the Truth?

Jesus assures us in today’s gospel lesson that the Truth will set us free, but how difficult it is for us to actually allow the Truth to permeate our lives. We believe we can hide in the shack of sin, separation, and isolation, but Jesus bids us come home to the household of God. For the Jews who have begun following Jesus and confused this invitation to freedom as a slight towards their Father Abraham and for us who so often hide in the shadow of sin what Jesus tells all is the Truth, the whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth.

The Truth, as one Biblical scholar put it, was that Jesus was not victim, nor was he victimizer. Throughout Jesus’ Passion, he did not fall into saying, “Whoa, is me!” nor did he come back for cosmic revenge once it was all over. Rather he showed this path where he let who he was, what he taught, and how he lived speak the Truth. We are about to enter into Holy Week when Jesus will hold up a mirror of Truth for all humanity. He reveals to us all our flaws, imperfections, and corruptions that make us humans. In holding up this mirror he also shows us his Truth.

On the night before Jesus died, he not only ate with his followers, but he also served his friends by washing their feet. He then taught them one last time. In the midst of this he invited them to follow him where he was going. Thomas, the curious one, said but we don’t know where you are going and asked how can we follow you? Jesus replied saying, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life.” I am, meaning both Jesus and that Great I AM, is the one path, the unmistakable Truth, and the ultimate reality!

Despite what Jack Nicholson said in A Few Good Men, we can handle the Truth, but only with God’s help. As we walk ever closer to Jerusalem where we will see Christ’s Passion, Crucifixion, and Death we are called to follow and we are called to allow the mirror of Christ to reveal our Truth. We are sinful, we are broken, and we are nothing without God, but to walk with Jesus allows us to see the other side of this Truth. Christ who dwells in us all leads us out of the house of sin and into the Household of God! You can handle the Truth, for Jesus tells us, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life.”