When I first told my wife that I was going to create a blog she responded with, “Isn’t that the same thing as gossip?” I have to admit that many blogs I have seen sure look like gossip. I guess it’s the natural progression of history. First, the fence. Then the phone. Now the net. My wife sure has a way of keeping me in line!
I have no interest in dealing in sordid affairs of people and religious/political situations. I am focused on expanding the Kingdom of God. Issues of justice, mercy and humility (Micah 6:8) will guide this discussion.
When John the Baptizer was in prison (death row by today’s standard) he was coming to the end of his life and he probably began to wonder if he was on the right track or had he made a mistake about this Jesus. Sure he had affirmed the true identity of Jesus and requested that Jesus baptize him but Jesus answered, “permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Now that John’s life lay before him there may have been doubts or at least questions. So John sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “are you the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?”
Jesus heard the question and never rebuked the followers of John, nor did condemn John for his lack of faith. Jesus answer is more informative by what he didn’t say than by what he did say. Notice that Jesus did not point to the large crowds that followed him, hanging on his every word (not to mention the loaves and fish). Jesus did not describe the great cathedrals or houses of worship and praise that he built. Jesus did not list his publications nor his photo ops with Caesar or Pharaoh or other noted dignitaries.
Rather Jesus determined to validate his identity by the people he touched. No not the wealthy and comfortable, but the poor, the sick, the lame, and the blind. It was the castaways of society that Jesus spoke of as descriptive of his identity as Messiah.
The Church (aka the Bride of Christ) is in desperate need of validation today. We have great and beautiful buildings with glorious instruments amid comfortable (albeit posh) surroundings. But folks drive by with no thought of what goes on inside our religious monasteries. The poor come for help and we give them a few crumbs to hold them over for awhile. Far be it that we would actually commit to real help that result in a sustainable future.
What would happen if the Church actually committed and catered to the poor of our community as much as we commit and cater to the rich?
