Lectionary: 269
Go and take your place in the temple area,
and tell the people everything about this life.”
What shall we say when we "tell the people everything about this life?" Is it fun? Exciting? Does it pay well? What perks can new members expect? The Roman Empire was apparently ready for a new religion. The old pagan gods were too ridiculous and sophisticated people sneered at them. The vast majority of people who never traveled more than a few miles from home kept to their old ways. Some travelers, warriors and merchants developed new "mystery" religions and snubbed the Roman gods. But Christian missionaries introduced a New Way to know God and to find reason, rest and sanity in him.
Today millions of people search for meaning in a supermarket of religious ideas. A large sign hangs over every department, "Take what you like and leave the rest." People toss Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist or Yoruba ideas into their New Age shopping baskets, according to their tastes and their financial means. Arriving home they combine these elements with spices from Hollywood and call it spirituality. They, of course, disdain any suggestion of "organized religion." While older folks insist they are still "Christian;" younger people have found they don't need that particular condiment.
The Faith of the Apostles cannot be found in that supermarket. True, some of our teachings have been copied from us and are vended there. But ours is not a religion of syncretism. Our doctrines are patented; they cannot be cut out of our creed and inserted into other religions anymore than a man's heart can be transplanted to the body of a pig.
The Apostles, as we read in the Acts of the Apostles, announced the name of Jesus:
"There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.” (Acts 4:12)Believers are baptized into that name. His anointing is our own and we dare to call ourselves Christian, a word which means anointed. The baptized celebrate Eucharist and share union -- Communion -- in his body, for we are the Body of Christ. We have heard God speak to us as thunder over the Jordan River, "You are my beloved."
Why would anyone dilute such a word with alien notions? Why would anyone want to transplant foreign organs into the body of Christ? We have more important things to do, like "tell the people everything about this life.”
Rather than dilute the faith with other religions, we search the scriptures daily for deeper understanding and appreciation, even as we celebrate Thanksgiving (Eucharist) for the blessings God gives to his beloved.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.