Toe-tipping and Jumping into Joy (midweek)

 

Baptism of Christ, Oil Painting by Daniel Bonnell

Fr. Tony’s Midweek Message

February 28, 2018

Toe-tipping and Jumping into Joy

“Thus we see now what in these days God calls us to.  We are now planted by the waters in which some Christians wade to the ankles (and be we thankful for that), some can but creep, as it were, in the way of grace, and some, it may be, can walk on with some strength; some have yet gone deeper, till they be wholly drenched in grace, and this we should all labor after.”  John Cotton, Way of Life or God’s way and Course” (1641)

 One of the great problems with boutique religion—faith that shops for the convenient and attractive, that picks and chooses the parts that appeal to us, that seeks above all for what we think we need and makes us feel good—is that it cannot challenge us, transform us, and lead us really beyond where we already are. 

Jesus asks us to get up, starting wherever we may be, and follow him (Matt 4:18).   Thomas replies, “but we do not know the way.”  Jesus replies, “I am the way”  (John 14:5-6).

Dipping our toe tips into the living water is a common response to Jesus’ call.  It is good and for many people sufficient.  But it differs little from tasting a bit from here or there, spitting out the unfamiliar or overly flavorful.  Walking waist deep in the water is also good, but if we try to run we find that the water becomes more and more of a hindrance as we struggle harder and harder.  If we are truly to follow Jesus, we need to throw ourselves whole-hearted into the flood, let the water bear us up, and then let ourselves go with the current driving the waters. 

This may appear hard or even impossible at first—who has not felt, in early swimming lessons, that that water is going to fail in holding us up, and will pull us under and kill us?  But bit by bit we learn to relax and trust as we go deeper and deeper in, learn more and more new tricks from more experienced swimmers in the water together with us.   Gradually we gain confidence and even at times proficiency in overcoming the unreasoning fear in our hearts that threatens to break out into panic and drown us.

This is not a way to escape pain or challenge.  C.S. Lewis wrote, “Talk to me about the truth of religion and I’ll listen gladly. Talk to me about the duty of religion and I’ll listen submissively. But don’t come talking to me about the consolations of religion or I shall suspect that you don’t understand” (A Grief Observed). 

Yet, one of the words we use to describe the Holy Spirit is the Paraclete, the one we call up to be beside us, our Advocate.  And another way we translate the word Paraclete is “Comforter.”     God with us is sufficient and makes us strong enough, even in pain and doubt. 

The wonderful thing is this:  when we are drenched in grace and letting the tide of God sustain us, joy and peace do come, despite the pain and threat. 

All it takes is focusing on Jesus, on following Jesus, and then letting go of all else.  In this, we lose ourselves yet find our true selves, turn over the things and those we love the most, and find them ours in the truest sense. 

Gave and Peace. 

Fr. Tony+