Jn 6:1 After this, Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee [of Tiberias].
My role in the mission of the Kingdom does not seem very important or glamorous this morning. The mundane sunshine, the constantly green grass, the monotonous blue sky, are dulled by my aches and pains, my tired body and, like this verse, crossing the Sea of Galilee, [1] are rather dim, drab, common-place, without pizzazz, and I am tempted to dismiss their importance in the overall scheme of things. Let’s get on to the real stuff, where’s the real action, let’s get down to the real nitty-gritty. Let’s get out there and save the world!!!
Wrong! All is not drab, common-place…We must throw away our monochrome, grayscale glasses and see the world as it really is. We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. [Rom 8:28] All are within the Providence, the purview of God. God know each sparrow, and cherishes each hair on my head [Mt 10:29-30]. He feeds the birds of the air and clothes each wild flower more splendidly, more naturally, in more humble elegance than any haute couture fashion designer could ever hope to achieve.
Wrong! I am not here to save the world. That was done very nicely, thank you very much, 2000 years ago on a cross outside Jerusalem, but one whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie. [Jn 1:27] I am here to be saved, to let the blood and water [Jn19:34] flow over me. I am here to rise up, spring to new life and announce this great and glorious news…that death is no more, that life eternal reigns, that my sins, my heinous outrages against humanity, myself included, and God, are forgiven, that the sufferings of the world can be signs of the Kingdom at work in us, depending on how we address them, work with God to recreate them, to set all humanity, all creation free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. [Rom 8:21]
Wrong! I am looking at the world, the mundum, the mundane with unholy eyes, thinking with an unholy mind, willing with an unholy will, longing with an heart of stone. I am missing the point. I need to ask the Spirit and He will bless these eyes, he will reveal the workings of the Kingdom in everything that happens, from the changing of a baby’s diaper to the building of a skyscraper to the teaching of a class to the texting of a friend, all are part of the workings and building of the Kingdom. For it is you who have accomplished all we have done.[Is 26:12]
Wrong! Nothing, no minute, infinitesimal, thing, not the blinking of an eye, not the passing word [Mt 12:26], not the least of these, my brothers [Mt 25:40] is unimportant, passé, without import in the Kingdom of God. Thus, my mission, if I choose to accept it, is gloriously mundane, without fanfare, prosaic, is getting up each morning, looking at myself in the mirror to remember just who I am…and who I am not…deny myself and take up my cross, my attaché, my purse, my backpack, my tool belt, my iPod, my scalpel, lesson plans, my dishrag, my Kevlar, my tractor keys, my life daily and follow Him. Yes, we make disciples of all nations [Mt 28:19], we preach always,…sometimes we even use words. God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing,…so that no human being might boast before God. [1Cor 1:28-29]
[1] Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
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