The Crucial Creative Difference
In the summer of 1973 on my way back to Rome from Seattle, my Pittsburgh classmate David and I decided to meet in London and travel for a couple of weeks in England, Scotland, and Ireland. On that trip, we arrived in the port city of Larne in Northern Ireland on a Scottish ferry. It was late so we decided to find a B & B right away. We found one right away and knocked on the door. A woman answered the door (probably the owner, we thought) and on the wall behind her was a picture of Jesus. We thought “This is the place.” Little did we know that this woman was a militant Protestant and hated Catholics and thought they were going straight to hell non-stop!
The next morning at breakfast the land lady asked us "Where are ye headed?" We said (somewhat reluctantly) “Rome.” This immediately piqued her curiosity, and after some more questions, we admitted we were studying theology in Rome to become priests. There was a long moment of silence and then she popped a final question: How many birthdays does a Christian have? I was speechless, so surprised, I couldn’t put an answer to together, but thank goodness David could. “Two,” he said, “The day you’re born of your mother and the day you’re born again by the Holy Ghost!” Her face dropped in surprise and she exclaimed: “You’re the first Catholicks I’ve met who were saved!”
Today is the first Sunday of Epiphany and, as you might remember, Epiphany means “manifestation” or “shining on.” The question we start with is “Who is this Jesus?” Jesus hears about John baptizing at the Jordan and he goes and presents himself for baptism with all the other folks. Out in the water each person confesses their sins and is baptized by John. In Mark’s account, Jesus doesn’t say anything and when he comes up out of the water a voice is heard saying: “You are my Son, the Beloved; in you I am well pleased.” This first Epiphany reveals who Jesus is: a beloved Son, most pleasing to his Father.
A whole new Creation is beginning with Jesus’ baptism. In parallel with our Genesis reading, the very first verses of our bible, Mark’s Gospel begins with “The beginning.” In Jesus’ coming among us a new Creation takes place. In the Genesis story God created the heavens and earth in seven days (a “day” might mean millions of years), so in Jesus, the beginning of a new world commences. It may take many “days” for this second Creation to bear fruit, but one thing is for sure, it has started!
What is the fruit of this new Creation in Jesus: real peace and harmony between all human beings: The realization that we are all beloved children of our Father who is in heaven. It will take time for all humans to realize this, but progress is being made.
The Creation story of Genesis and Jesus’ Epiphany are different from all other ancient stories of creation in a most important aspect: there is no element of violence. If we had time to look at the creation stories of the Maya or the Enuma Elish of the Babylonians, we would see the role of the shedding or outpouring of blood as the source of life on earth. In other words, it was taken for granted by the ancients that creative force is released by violence and bloodletting. But this is not the case in Genesis and the Gospel where the lie (believed for generations even to our own day) that to make a new beginning of creative activity and progress, violence is required, and, in order to bring peace and new life, some must die. This lie is exposed in Jesus’ ministry and eventual death on the Cross. Jesus’ death, and the violence done him by the powers of this world, reveal the real Truth and is power enough to save the whole world. Jesus became the Victim so no one else must be scapegoated and victimized. Jesus was vindicated completely by being raised from death to life.
This is the New Creation we celebrate every time we gather for the Eucharist and drink the cup “Until He comes again.” The Body and Blood of the Lord gives us power in the Holy Spirit, not to do violence to others in order to maintain or create a better life for ourselves, but to serve and give our life for them. Believing in Jesus, we refuse to use “good” violence to conquer bad violence done to us. We gather to give thanks to God and repent from the ancient ways of thinking and become transformed into “Jesus people:” beloved sons and daughters of the Father. It’s a new year and a New Day!
Amen!
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| St. Alban |
Saint Alban Episcopal Mission (English, Anglican Communion) meets for mass every Sunday at 10:00 A.M. (see welcome letter at sidebar) at Casa Convento Concepcion, 4a Calle Oriente No. 41, Antigua, Guatemala.
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| The Reverend John Smith, Vicar 5235-6674 cell telephone (502 country code) |
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