The Rev. Virginia W. Nagel
Episcopal Diocese of Central NY (Retired)
Today's readings from the Jewish Scriptures and from the Gospel both confront
us with miracles, things that we simply cannot explain in terms of our
present-day understanding of science. At the same time, both readings confront
us with the need to be thankful to God for the blessings he sends us, whether or
not we understand them. Psalm 146, a psalm which focuses on giving thanks for
blessings received, gives us voice and words for this. So far, so good. But, in
view of all this, what are we to make of the reading from Galatians, in which
Paul sets forth his credentials to be considered a true apostle and minister of
Jesus the Christ? Somehow, the reading from Galatians just doesn't seem to fit
with the others. What can the Church have been thinking of, to put this reading
with the other two and with that beautiful psalm of thanksgiving?
I suppose my first reaction, if I'm trying to be a good Christian, might be
to borrow one of William Penn's favorite prayers: O Lord, help me not to
despise or oppose what I do not understand.
We all have the tendency to react first and then to think about whatever it
is we are reacting to. So, it would seem that now, after our first reaction of
puzzlement, is the time to think about the connections: food that does not get
used up but miraculously refills its containers in time of famine; a dead or
dying boy restored to life and health; a dead young man brought to life again
and restored to his weeping mother; and a hymn-prayer of thanksgiving for
blessings received from the Lord. How do all these relate to the credentials of
an apostle and minister?
Well, for one thing, all three Scripture readings speak of blessings
received, and the Psalm is a prayer-hymn of thanks. Obviously, we need to
remember to thank God for the blessings he gives us, large and small...all the
way from life, family, home, clothing, food and work to do, to the blessings we
often ignore such as good weather, a peaceful heart, a beautiful landscape, or a
good night's sleep.
We also notice that there seems to be some emphasis on the right person being
in the right place at the right time to do whatever God wants to get done in
that situation. Paul, in his former identity as Saul, set out to persecute
Christians. He was in the right place...the road to Damascus...at the right
time, to encounter Jesus and to receive the call not only to conversion but to
apostleship. God sent Elijah to the tiny town of Zarephath at exactly the right
time to meet up with the widow who was setting out to find wood for her kitchen
fire. Jesus entered the town of Nain at the precise time that the funeral
procession was setting out to bury the son of the widow. Perhaps we are being
reminded here that we should pay attention when God the Holy Spirit urges or
nudges or outright pushes us to do something or go somewhere, even if it was not
what we had planned to do or where we had planned to go.
And then there is the point of being the right person to do the right thing
in the right place at the right time. How do we know if we are the "right
person?"
Well, Scripture makes it clear that Jesus knew that he was and is God the
Son. You can't get much more sure than that.
Elijah had experienced a mind-blowing call from God to be God's prophet and
spokesman, and had been received as a prophet by other prophets and by the
general public.
Paul's mind-blowing encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus was followed
by several years of meditation, study, and finally by the acceptance of Paul as
an apostle by the other apostles, who admitted him to their fellowship, and
also, we are told elsewhere, laid hands on him in blessing and in token of
passing on the work of apostleship...an ordination, if you will.
All of this contrasts with the self-important proclamations we hear from
various personalities who claim that they were chosen by the Lord for some work,
but who have no endorsement or confirmation from the church or others working in
the Lord's vineyard. The truth is that being chosen by God to do his work is not
the kind of thing that most people think of as a step to success. Elijah, Paul
and Jesus himself were at various times rejected, stoned, kicked out of town,
seen as enemies of the church and government, made fun of, and sometimes in
actual danger of their lives. Jesus, of course, died on the cross for us, as
part of his redeeming work. Being the "right person" means to be chosen by God,
affirmed by the church, and on target for all kinds of disagreeable happenings.
It's not a path to earthly fame and fortune by any means. Yet, we hear again and
again from those whom God has chosen about how happy they are to be doing God's
work, how they thank him for choosing them, never mind the sufferings that go
along with it. Paul has several eloquent passages in his various epistles
telling how much he values his selection by God to do God's work, even though he
had to endure so much pain and difficulty in the process.
This is not to say that ordination is the key to doing God's work. What I
think we need to keep in mind is that a person who is aware of being called, or
gifted, or chosen in some way for some specific task, needs more than a personal
decision to do that work. The illness or wounding of a family member, a major
crisis, the shocking dawning of a realization of some great need in society, or
the repeated suggestions of many friends and relatives have set peoples' feet on
the path to a specific career. But, I think, we need to be aware that it's more
than a personal desire to be this or to do that. The desire needs to be backed
up by adequate preparation, study, experience and by acceptance of others who
are qualified to endorse a newcomer to a field, whether it be an accrediting
agency, a church, the passing of an examination, or a professional association.
Tarzan could stand up and beat on his chest and proclaim himself king of the
jungle, but real work in God's name, or in the name of God's other attributes
such as justice, mercy, compassion and love for others, requires more than that.
To sum it all up, it seems to me that the Church knew what it was doing in
selecting these particular Bible readings and putting them together for our
reflection and learning today. I am sure there is much more to be learned from
the sililarities and the contrasts we find in today's readings. It would be
profitable for us to keep thinking about them, off and on, during the coming
week...as well as to keep repeating William Penn's prayer, O Lord, help me
not to despise or oppose what I do not understand.
Amen.
