William Holman Hunt’s famous painting, “The Light of the World”, depicts Jesus knocking at a door, somewhat overgrown from lack of use and without an outside knob. The painting is based on Rev. 3:19-21 in which Jesus awaits an invitation to come inside. In the Gospel of John, Jesus is not nearly so polite. He has no problem, even though the doors are locked, letting himself in.
The risen Christ comes to us in our fear with his Easter gift of peace without our having to do anything to allow it to happen. Even when we fail to recognize our need for that peace, even when we think we are unworthy to receive that peace, Jesus comes to us saying Peace be with you. Had the logic of the Hunt painting ruled the day after the passion and death of Jesus, fear would have been victorious. Thank God it did not. Instead, the grace and peace of the risen Christ confronts our fear head-on. The disciples were not allowed to play out the drama of their angst (here I am reminded of the Beach Boys song "In My Room". God always comes down. Alleluia.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Fifth Sunday of Lent - Year A (John 11:1-45)
In the context of the early church’s use of John 11:1-45 (the raising of Lazarus) as part of the immediate preparation of “the elect” for baptism, this particular passage shifts in focus from a miracle story to a teaching about the meaning of baptism. As such, it imparts some important lessons.
1. Baptism is the result of the initiative of Jesus and not the individual coming to the sacrament. In Jesus, God calls Lazarus from death to life.
2. Baptism must always be seen in the context of a larger community of faith, and not simply as a matter between an individual and Jesus. In the gospel passage, Martha and Mary are very much a part of the story.
3. The new life of grace begun in Baptism, while not the fullness of life to be experienced in the resurrection of the body, is a foretaste of that fullness. Baptism brings about a real change in the person being baptized.
4. The death and resurrection experienced by the baptized makes the physical death that must inevitably come to each of us less fearful.
5. The celebration of baptism is a witness to the world of God’s power at work in Jesus Christ.
1. Baptism is the result of the initiative of Jesus and not the individual coming to the sacrament. In Jesus, God calls Lazarus from death to life.
2. Baptism must always be seen in the context of a larger community of faith, and not simply as a matter between an individual and Jesus. In the gospel passage, Martha and Mary are very much a part of the story.
3. The new life of grace begun in Baptism, while not the fullness of life to be experienced in the resurrection of the body, is a foretaste of that fullness. Baptism brings about a real change in the person being baptized.
4. The death and resurrection experienced by the baptized makes the physical death that must inevitably come to each of us less fearful.
5. The celebration of baptism is a witness to the world of God’s power at work in Jesus Christ.
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