Saturday
Isaiah 8:1-15; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-18; Luke 22:31-38
“Do not look on him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.”
The end of the second letter to the Thessalonians, which we read today, exhorts its hearers to practical, consistent, humble service, as do most of the New Testament epistles, especially in their closing lines.
Whether or not Paul authored this text, it is the content of this letter that intrigues me. Whoever penned these words, this epistle is one that has been handed down to me by my forebears–thousands of years of Christians have gained the wisdom and insight of God and encouragement for the journey through these words.
As I contemplated the tail end of chapter 3, imagining some first century Christian writing these words, and some other early Christians receiving the message, I started talking back to the bold instructions confidently set out.”For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us” verse 7 intones. “But it’s all so complicated now! There are so many varying convictions that faithful people hold.” “[D]o not be weary in well-doing,” verse 13 admonishes; “oh, but Paul, or writer, who ever you are, I am so weary!”
Then verse 15 (above) stopped me in my tracks.
How easily does exhorting, or even admonishing, turn to self-righteousness, distancing, puffing oneself up? I’m called to reach out from a distant, damning place and to draw near to a sister who is stumbling. I’m challenged not to point and laugh at the folly, but to help pick up the pieces. I’m exhorted to tell the truth–not to sugarcoat danger or temptation–and to humbly walk alongside as we sheep all bleat for our Shepherd to return.
Here, in Advent, we’re called to quiet down our hearts and minds just enough to listen–not only to hear but also to comprehend and respond to the call God has always already made to us. As we seek to rub the sleep from the eyes of our hearts, to be more alert, more awake, more attentive for God’s arrival, we must look beyond ourselves and beyond harsh or cowardly ways of dealing with each other.
Though all of Jesus’ disciples, all of us, run away and abandon him, Jesus does not treat us as enemies. As recounted in today’s Gospel lesson, he tells us–as he tells Peter–the hard truth about who we are and what we have done. He does so in compassion and true filial love.
We are all lost sheep, humbly, blindly stumbling and stuck, waiting for Our Lord and Brother to come and to free us.
Maranatha, Come, Lord Jesus!
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