St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, a Priest who could quite accurately be described as one who singlehandedly brought Christ to primitive Ireland, stands tall among the Ambassadors of Christ’s Church. Not only did he personally baptize thousands. He courageously led them in Christ’s “Way.” Out of a daily existence in which his life was always at risk among the barbaric, pagan Irish he mentored them into a culture which, one Historian said, “Spared Civilization.” (How the Irish Saved Civilization, Thomas Cahill)
Without doubt the qualities that brought paganism to such a level of noble influence were and still are those found in people who, holding nothing back, trust God with the nature and direction of their lives. They learned this from the example of that humble, abandoned man who, in his “Confession” (See St. Patrick’s Confession …) wrote,
“But I see that even here and now, I have been exalted beyond measure by the Lord, and I was not worthy that he should grant me this, while I know most certainly that poverty and failure suit me better than wealth and delight (but Christ the Lord was poor for our sakes). I certainly am wretched and unfortunate; even if I wanted wealth I have no resources, nor is it my own estimation of myself, for daily I expect to be murdered or betrayed or reduced to slavery if the occasion arises. But I fear nothing, because of the promises of Heaven; for I have cast myself into the hands of Almighty God, who reigns everywhere. As the prophet says: “Cast your burden on the Lord and he will sustain you.” [Psalm 55:22]
Behold now I commend my soul to God who is most faithful and for whom I perform my mission in obscurity, but he is no respecter of persons and he chose me for this service that I might be one of the least of his ministers.
For which reason I should make return for all that he returns me. But what should I say, or what should I promise to my Lord, for I, alone, can do nothing unless he himself vouchsafes it to me. But let him search my heart and nature, for I crave enough for it, even too much, and I am ready for him to grant me that I drink of his chalice, as he has granted to others who love him.
Therefore may it never befall me to be separated by my God from his people whom he has won in this most remote land. I pray God that he gives me perseverance, and that he will deign that I should be a faithful witness for his sake right up to the time of my passing.
And if at any time I managed anything of good for the sake of my God whom I love, I beg of him that he grant it to me to shed my blood for his name with proselytes and captives, even should I be left unburied, or even were my wretched body to be torn limb from limb by dogs or savage beasts, or were it to be devoured by the birds of the air, I think, most surely, were this to have happened to me, I had saved both my soul and my body. For beyond any doubt on that day we shall rise again in the brightness of the sun, that is, in the glory of Christ Jesus our Redeemer, as children of the living God and co-heirs of Christ, made in his image; for we shall reign through him and for him and in him.
For the sun we see rises each day for us at [his] command, but it will never reign, neither will its splendor last, but all who worship it will come wretchedly to punishment. We, on the other hand, shall not die, who believe in and worship the true sun, Christ, who will never die, no more shall he die who has done Christ's will, but will abide for ever just as Christ abides forever, who reigns with God the Father Almighty and with the Holy Spirit before the beginning of time and now and for ever and ever. Amen
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Short Attention Spans Call for Frequent Reminders
Samuel “Dr.” Johnson of whom it is said, “The latter part of the 18th Century is often called the ‘Age of Johnson,’ wrote, “People need to be reminded more often than they need to be instructed.”
When was it you last read through the first 5 books of the Bible; especially the last 4 of those 5? It’s actually a rather difficult read. This is largely because of the highly repetitious, meticulous detail. The Book of Exodus has 40 Chapters. 20 of them are almost exclusively given to the intricate description of how the “Tabernacle” would be built; the attendants to it should be dressed; and the rituals conducted in and around it carried out. The next Book, Leviticus has 27 Chapters. They are all devoted to definitions of the type and purpose of myriad sacrifices and precise details regarding their preparation and offering. Numbers has 36 Chapters. They are mostly about a Census; some narrative; but, largely Laws and allocation of land. There is more narrative in the 34 Chapters of Deuteronomy. Still much of it deals with the division of the New Land to which Israel was being lead; the reiteration of the 10 Commandments and Covenant; and the Blessing of the Tribes. Reading through the pages of these details can be overwhelming. It’s hard to keep track of which ritual is which. The prospect of remembering every detail is foreboding especially when you hear the Lord describing the consequences that follow if you don’t get it right. Jesus Himself said to the proselytizing Jews of His day, “you bind burdens too heavy to carry… .” They’d made a vast and weighty Theocracy out of the Laws and Rites presented in their Scriptures. Priests and Scholars alike wielded their Holy Books and Temple Hierarchies like sharpened scepters over their Subjects.
What good, then, do these ponderous writings do?
They remind.
We do, as Johnson said, “need to reminded more often than we need to be instructed.” The people Moses lead through the Red Sea and on to the shores of the Jordan River had very short attention spans. Why they’d only travelled a short while after God made a roadway through an Ocean for them and drowned a pursuing army in the Tsunami that followed when they began to grumble about the food and beverages He was providing. Just a few days later, when Moses had been alone with God on Mount Sinai for what they thought was too long they insisted that their Priest built them another god. Almost 40 days was simply too long for a person to have to wait on one’s deity. Sadly we’re made of the same textiles.
The mixed reviews Lent gets illustrate that. The general opinion among Christians is that we don’t need to “go back over our sin and all that suffering” anymore. Jesus work is done. We live in “Grace.” Let’s focus on the “good stuff;” the “Resurrection;” the imminent “Second Coming;” and all it promises. Why the Middle Easterners are about to wage the Great Battle. Jesus will split the Mount. Israel will win. We’ll all be “Home Free”! The truth is that such thinking is, in itself, harmful. We sin when we refuse to recognize our need for regular spiritual examination. Invariably such refusal anaesthetizes us to our misguided disregard for lost people when we view the end of time so cavalierly. Christ “bore the sins of the whole world in His body on the cross.” Who am I to sit back in my “Easy chair,” resting on my laurels. We have no laurels. What we have is undeserved. The overarching theme of my most recent Book, I Don’t Look Broke but You Can’t See the Cracks, is “We’ll never really understand Grace ‘til we’ve faced the nature and impact of our own sin.”
That is why we need to be reminded frequently. I’m not sure annually is frequently enough. We need to go back to Galilee and join Jesus and His followers all the way to Gethsemane; to the High Priest’s House; to the Praetorium; to the whipping post. We need to carry Jesus’ Cross for him. We need to weep with his Mother once again. We cannot hear the plea for our forgiveness too often! No darkness ever was or ever will be as dark as that which settled around Him that day. That darkness is what settles forever upon all humanity if sin and death prevail. We need to hear and feel the earthquake. We must see the crumbling tombs and know this is Life’s final sword thrust into the bowels of death. We need to be reminded that with the tearing curtain and Christ’s cry of victory God and Man are reconciled. We cannot have joy if we haven’t suffered and died with Jesus. We will never really know the magnitude of our Resurrection if we haven’t suffered with our Life Bearer!
Remember!
When was it you last read through the first 5 books of the Bible; especially the last 4 of those 5? It’s actually a rather difficult read. This is largely because of the highly repetitious, meticulous detail. The Book of Exodus has 40 Chapters. 20 of them are almost exclusively given to the intricate description of how the “Tabernacle” would be built; the attendants to it should be dressed; and the rituals conducted in and around it carried out. The next Book, Leviticus has 27 Chapters. They are all devoted to definitions of the type and purpose of myriad sacrifices and precise details regarding their preparation and offering. Numbers has 36 Chapters. They are mostly about a Census; some narrative; but, largely Laws and allocation of land. There is more narrative in the 34 Chapters of Deuteronomy. Still much of it deals with the division of the New Land to which Israel was being lead; the reiteration of the 10 Commandments and Covenant; and the Blessing of the Tribes. Reading through the pages of these details can be overwhelming. It’s hard to keep track of which ritual is which. The prospect of remembering every detail is foreboding especially when you hear the Lord describing the consequences that follow if you don’t get it right. Jesus Himself said to the proselytizing Jews of His day, “you bind burdens too heavy to carry… .” They’d made a vast and weighty Theocracy out of the Laws and Rites presented in their Scriptures. Priests and Scholars alike wielded their Holy Books and Temple Hierarchies like sharpened scepters over their Subjects.
What good, then, do these ponderous writings do?
They remind.
We do, as Johnson said, “need to reminded more often than we need to be instructed.” The people Moses lead through the Red Sea and on to the shores of the Jordan River had very short attention spans. Why they’d only travelled a short while after God made a roadway through an Ocean for them and drowned a pursuing army in the Tsunami that followed when they began to grumble about the food and beverages He was providing. Just a few days later, when Moses had been alone with God on Mount Sinai for what they thought was too long they insisted that their Priest built them another god. Almost 40 days was simply too long for a person to have to wait on one’s deity. Sadly we’re made of the same textiles.
The mixed reviews Lent gets illustrate that. The general opinion among Christians is that we don’t need to “go back over our sin and all that suffering” anymore. Jesus work is done. We live in “Grace.” Let’s focus on the “good stuff;” the “Resurrection;” the imminent “Second Coming;” and all it promises. Why the Middle Easterners are about to wage the Great Battle. Jesus will split the Mount. Israel will win. We’ll all be “Home Free”! The truth is that such thinking is, in itself, harmful. We sin when we refuse to recognize our need for regular spiritual examination. Invariably such refusal anaesthetizes us to our misguided disregard for lost people when we view the end of time so cavalierly. Christ “bore the sins of the whole world in His body on the cross.” Who am I to sit back in my “Easy chair,” resting on my laurels. We have no laurels. What we have is undeserved. The overarching theme of my most recent Book, I Don’t Look Broke but You Can’t See the Cracks, is “We’ll never really understand Grace ‘til we’ve faced the nature and impact of our own sin.”
That is why we need to be reminded frequently. I’m not sure annually is frequently enough. We need to go back to Galilee and join Jesus and His followers all the way to Gethsemane; to the High Priest’s House; to the Praetorium; to the whipping post. We need to carry Jesus’ Cross for him. We need to weep with his Mother once again. We cannot hear the plea for our forgiveness too often! No darkness ever was or ever will be as dark as that which settled around Him that day. That darkness is what settles forever upon all humanity if sin and death prevail. We need to hear and feel the earthquake. We must see the crumbling tombs and know this is Life’s final sword thrust into the bowels of death. We need to be reminded that with the tearing curtain and Christ’s cry of victory God and Man are reconciled. We cannot have joy if we haven’t suffered and died with Jesus. We will never really know the magnitude of our Resurrection if we haven’t suffered with our Life Bearer!
Remember!
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