Please Explain

In Matthew 13 and 14 we find a number of parables in which Jesus compared the Kingdom of Heaven to everyday objects or situations. Routinely, his disciples didn't understand and asked him to explain. We read the explanations of these parables and have to wonder, "Was it Jesus or was it Matthew who interpreted these wide open parables in such specific and narrow ways?"

I just finished reading William Young's touching and faithful novel The Shack. In it God does a lot of explaining to a man who is bound up by grief, guilt, anger and fear. Most of the explanations are likely to be comforting to many because of their wide open and flowing theology. Others of the explanations are likely to be troubling to some because of their wide open and flowing lack of ecclesiology. Specifically, in The Shack, Jesus says with utter simplicity and clarity that he was never a Christian, and God says equally clearly that it was never about ritual.

Some Biblical scholars are doubtful that the explanations really came from Jesus's lips. They are more likely to be the interpretations of the parables by the Christian communities that built up in the first century after his resurrection. They were attempts by faithful Christians to find meaning in Jesus's words in the face of their current circumstances. The Shack, I think, falls into this very Christian tradition.

It would be nice to have explanations, don't you think? Or would it? To whom should we turn for them?

Mike+

Getting Out of the Boat

In yesterday's Gospel (Matthew 14:22-33) Jesus went walking on the water. This is pretty amazing, but the point of the story is that Jesus is the Son of God (see verse 33). We should expect that Jesus should be able to do things that we cannot do, like heal the sick, raise the dead and walk on water. But in the story Peter asked Jesus to "command him" to come to him--and walk on the water also. Jesus did, and for a brief moment Peter participated in divine possibilities.

At the end of Matthew's Gospel Jesus gives the disciples the "Great Commission" that they should go all over the world, teaching others what he taught them, baptizing them, and thus spreading the kingdom of heaven. I think this is another command to "get out of the boat."

In today's world we Christians have a unique message. It goes like this, "God loves us all so much he sent his son to live and suffer and die as one of us, so that through Him we all can live in the kind of relationship with God and others that was intended for us in creation." In the teachings of the Son, we can see how God would have us live with each other; and in the actions of the Son, we see the love of God for all of us; and through faith in the Son we all can find our way back to God.

There are a number of fine world religions, and today we Episcopalians are much more respectful of them than previous generations of Christians--so much so that we leave the fulfilling of the Great Commission (inviting others to meet our Lord) to members of more radical expressions of Christianity. If we leave all Christian proselytizing to them, aren't we ensuring the slow demise of our own tradition? Don't we have a message of God's love that the world needs? I think we do.

Jesus called Peter out of the boat, and Peter did something he never would have believed was possible. Jesus calls us all out of the boat, and into even greater divine possibilities--maybe even spreading the kingdom in ways that are respectful of others.

What do you think?

Mike+

Five Loaves, Two Fish

In yesterday's Gospel(Matthew 14:13-21), the disciples suggested that Jesus send the large crowd away to buy themselves some food. Jesus replied, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." They replied, "We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish."

The part of their reply that resounds to me is, "We have nothing..." In the face of such a large need, their few resources seemed so small that the disciples counted them as nothing. Their intent, which I think is clear from their suggestion to our Lord, was to send the folks away, then use what little they had to provide a meager meal for themselves. This is the attitude of scarcity. I remember a children's TV program from years ago, with dancing puppet figures singing, "Won't do a little 'cause you can't do a lot." Scarcity rules.

So the question comes out like this. "What is my tiny offering against the huge needs that surround me? I can hardly afford gas to get to work, and oil is going to be outrageous this winter, how can I help so many with so many needs when I have so little?"

Jesus's actions are taken from an attitude of abundance. He blesses the disciple's tiny offering and it is not only enough but more than enough--12 baskets full over the top! Abundance trumps scarcity.

A can of soup, a bag of rice, a tin of meat, some coffee or powdered milk or peanut butter--these things make tiny offerings aginst the hunger that surrounds us. A backpack, a pair of socks, or a wool stocking cap make a tiny offering against the needs for school supplies or clothing for winter that surround us. But when we all pitch in and let the Lord bless our little offerings, somehow they become enough.

I couldn't help but notice, that instead of getting by on a tiny meal, the disciples shared in an abundant feast. The tiny gifts they counted as nothing, but gave to the Lord anyway, blessed them also.

Abundance trumps scarcity. Five loaves and two fish are more than enough in God's hands.


Mike+