2012

Merry Christmas?

What gives here? "In the desert I make a way, in the wasteland rivers. The people I formed for myself, that they may announce my praise." Isaiah 43 in February? Is "one crying in the wilderness" next? No, not really.

But yes, the first reading is from Deutero-Isaiah and we are used to hearing it during Advent, but today it is proclaimed for the words that follow: "It is I, I, who wipe out, for my own sake, your offenses; your sins I remember no more." Instead of preparing us for the birth of the Savior, today Isaiah prepares us for the adult Jesus who puts to some scribes the question, "Which is easier to say… 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk?" No, we are not being readied for Christmas—we are being readied for LENT 2012, which begins this week.

The Gospel passage from Mark for this Sunday portrays Jesus "at home" in Capernaum, in a house where people have so crammed themselves in to hear Jesus speak that they are out the front door and blocking any further entrance. But before we would think on the good fortune of the paralytic with his roof-climbing buddies, we should take a second look at all of these pushing and shoving people in and around the house. First and foremost, note that they are not all friends of Jesus, nor of one another. Indeed many have come in hope of discovering "the promised one," but some have also come in hopes of pulling the rug out from underneath this suspect (perhaps even dangerous) prophet. It is a crowd of believers, or "wanna-be believers," and some huge doubters—and—I would offer, a pretty good match for the crowd gathered in this church today.

Who are you people, anyway? Why have you come to St. Rita today? In church today would you count yourself a devout believer or at least a "wanna-be"? Or in the recesses for your heart and mind would you count yourself (whether small, medium, or huge) amongst the doubters? —Thank God, like the song proclaims, "ALL ARE WELCOME!"

Truly, the gospel passage for today is good preparation for Lent. It is sort of a litmus test of where we find ourselves and for what kind of Lent we should prepare for. As we approach Holy Communion today to receive or to seek a blessing, do we approach with the firm faith that Jesus is present body, blood, soul, and divinity? Or do we doubt? Do we approach believing that Jesus loves little old me unconditionally and desires that I be with him in heaven forever and forgives me all of my sins if I have true contrition? Or do we doubt it? The interesting thing is, wherever we would place ourselves on the believing or non-believing grid, the formula for Lent and how it should be spent is the same—in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Lent is the same for all, because whether doubter or believer it is in prayer (even prayers without words) that we meet the Lord, it is in fasting or backing off from excess and normal satisfaction that we are cleansed, and it is in almsgiving or care for another that we experience a release from the selfishness that can never know God. Hold a newborn in your arms or stand in the middle of the California Redwoods and try to deny the existence of God. Think back on how often in life God has actually instructed your heart and see how long you can keep from welling up with words of thanks spoken or unspoken. I believe, too, that if we recall over time how important forgiveness has been to us in our human relationships—either in forgiving or being forgiven—we might more easily count ourselves as among those packed into Jesus' house in Capernaum at least on the cusp of passing from wanting to believe to believing in him. Where exactly do we find ourselves—at what point on our journey to the Father—these few days from being marked by ashes?

Stewardship and Today's Scriptures
Forgiveness, too, is a gift from God. Freed from the paralysis of sin, the man in today's Gospel was able to stand and give witness to the power of God. How do I let sin cripple me? Am I a good steward of the gift of God's forgiveness?