Salvation, Not Condemnation

Gospel: John 3: 13-17

Today's Gospel portion reminds us that the cross of Jesus is not an occasion for condemnation but rather is the means and vehicle for salvation.  Yet, how often is the cross used to condemn.  Many have used it to condemn the Jewish people, blaming them perpetually for the death of Jesus.  Others will use the cross to condemn unjust structures and systems of oppression in its conspiracy to put Jesus to death.  How often has the cross through history been used to coerce, threaten, and frighten others!

Yet we are reminded here that Jesus came not to condemn but to save. In fact, on this very cross Jesus will forgive all who put him to death, uttering not one word of condemnation.  Instead, he prays Psalm 22 as a means of comfort, a psalm that ends with these words: "All the ends of the earth will worship and turn to the Lord; all the families of nations will bow low before you."  It is not a prayer of condemnation Jesus utters, but one of hope and a promise of salvation.

When we wear the cross about our necks, we take upon ourselves this posture of the Lord himself.  It is for us an instrument of forgiveness, of hope and promise of salvation for all people.  If we brandish the cross as a threat or menace to others, we do so to our own condemnation and judgment.  We abuse the symbol of our faith and hope and love.  Let our prayer today be that of the ancient Christians: "O crux ave spes unica" - O hail Cross, our only hope.   

Debt Forgiveness

Gospel:  Matthew 18: 21-35

The ideas of forgiveness of sins and forgiveness of financial debts were intrinsically tied together in the religion of Israel.  The various laws and mechanisms for the remission of debts went hand in hand with the notion of forgiving others of offenses and sins.  Throughout the Gospels Jesus continues that linkage and makes it fundamental to the Way, making it the foundational principle of the prayer he taught us and in today's parable.

In modern Christianity we have separated this link.  We focus only on forgiveness of sin but not at all to financial debt forgiveness.  In fact the modern Christian would hear nothing of this idea of debt forgiveness, wanting nothing more than to trap poor nations in cycles of debt, along with student loan borrowers and those trapped by payday lenders.  The modern Christian creates immigrants, migrants and refugees with economic exploitation and wars, only to condemn these poor folk who seek help.  

To be sure we can and should spiritualize this principle.  We ought to forgive all sorts of people in our lives, from the unknown people to us who cut us off on the road to the aisle hog in the grocery store to the family member or friend from whom we are estranged.  We have been forgiven by God from a great debt, and we ought to forgive both the sins and offenses of others as well as the financial debts and burdens of the poor and marginalized whom we have helped to create.  

Walking, Not Talking

Gospel: Luke 6: 43-49

A religion that began as a religion of the Word has over time becomes the religion of the words.  From creedal statements to elaborate wrote prayers to an endless profusion of hymns that all evoke lovely thoughts and feelings.  Add to that the endless theological tomes and endless words of apologetic and we have a vast array of words that, in the end, are just fancy ways of saying "Lord, Lord" without ever actually doing the work of Jesus.

After all, it is much easier to conduct Bible studies and prayer services than to sit with a dying person and their family members.  It is much easier to write a sermon or plan a liturgical service than it is to visit the imprisoned.  It is much easier to write books than it is to walk with the person struggling with addiction or being with an immigrant family living with constant fear in a hostile country that claims to be Christian but is ruled by cruelty.  

Jesus never wrote a book, nor plan a liturgical service.  Jesus spent the bulk of his time being with those who were sick and dying, providing comfort and healing.  He went out to those gripped by demons of all kinds and helped people become free of those demons.  He sat at table with all sorts of outcasts and his enemies, providing nourishment of body and soul.  That is the religion of the Word.  It is far more authentic than the religion of words.