I remember those early days of ordained ministry, when starting sermon preparation felt like unwrapping a gift; when people loved all my crazy ideas; when they wanted to nurture the “baby priest,” when I more often felt filled with the power of the Spirit. Sigh! Was it like that for Jesus? Luke tells us that, after Jesus’ baptism and 40-day testing in the desert, Jesus was doing great:
Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.
Jesus started his formal ministry in his own region. And what he taught and the works of power he performed – healings, exorcisms, that water-into-wine trick – garnered him lots of attention and approval. But he knew better than to get hooked by all that affirmation. Had he been vulnerable to that, the devil would have bested him in the wilderness. I believe Jesus was able to receive the adulation without counting on it. In his heart he must have known that his mission would prove controversial once people really understood his message: come close to God and put all your trust in Him – no matter what it costs you in human terms
Sometimes our early days of faith can feel very bracing, exciting, fulfilling. But as our sense of connection to God is weakened through our distraction or stress, and disappointments pile up, we can become spiritually complacent or stuck in routines. I suspect beneath most complacency is anger; anger that God has left us where we are, not blessed us in certain ways we deeply desired to be blessed. Our focus turns inward and we can lose sight of the blessing that is all around us, coming at us through other people, through the beauty of this earth and its creatures, through our own God-inspired creativity.
You may not feel this way; if you don’t, hallelujah. Chances are you may have at some point and worked and prayed your way out of it. That’s the path we’re given – to be honest with God about what we’re feeling, and what we’re not, and ask the Spirit to help open our spirits again.
Being praised by everyone isn’t all it’s cracked up to be; sometimes it ends in crucifixion. Being adored by God is a gift that will never end.
No comments:
Post a Comment