There is a scene in Downton Abbey where Mr. Carson, has just fired unlucky Mr. Molesley, a valet. Carson has gone off to ring the gong, leaving Molesley alone in his office. Mrs. Patmore, the cook, walks by and seeing poor Molesley, head down, demoralized and thoughtful, calls in, "Cheer up, Mr. Molesley, it may not happen." Molesley replies, "It already has."
Flowers are a language. And the crocus, which can bloom as early as February, is symbolic of cheerfulness. That must be because crocuses make their snow-defying appearance when folks are most weary of winter and need some cheering up.
But I think there's more. St. John's Gospel chapters 11 through 16, begins a long movement towards the death of Jesus.
We can imagine how overwhelmed and grieved the apostles were. But then, at the very end of it all, Jesus said:
I have told you all this
so that you may find peace in me.
In the world you will have hardship,
but be courageous:
I have conquered the world. John 16:33
The usual translation of this last verse says, "Be courageous" or "Be of good heart." But there are other versions which have Jesus say, "Cheer up!" Isn't that hopeful?
Just days ago, Ash Wednesday, seventeen high school students and staff were massacred in a Florida High School - in Parkland, called Florida's safest city. An emotionally sick young man passed a background check and bought this militarized weapon that terrorized, wounded and killed.
Now, only the biggest and the worst of these frequent school attacks are reported. Lock downs, swat teams and even tanks in school yards are now called the new normal. We are numb to it and within minutes are talking about "moving on." It's hard to feel cheer.
Still, Jesus has said it, and he knew the awful, abusive power of empire. And he knew how religion could be corrupted. And he knew what having enemies, detractors and a betrayer felt like. He knew menace and killer-violence. Maybe I could at least for today feel some "cheer up" about myself - a lot of us hold bad (even awful) stuff against ourselves.
Jesus doesn't want us holding onto this stuff from long ago. Maybe this Lent, Jesus is saying cheer up to each of us about the past. Nothing good comes of holding onto any of it. God isn't served well or pleased for it. We can cheer up because Jesus is the champion over all of it.
And you know, crocus corms naturalize, which means they spread and can take over a whole lawn. Maybe cheerfulness is like that.
But I think there's more. St. John's Gospel chapters 11 through 16, begins a long movement towards the death of Jesus.
- There is the foreshadowing raising up of Lazarus
- The religious leaders decide on the death of Jesus
- Jesus is anointed by the woman at Bethany
- Jesus is acclaimed as he enters Jerusalem on the donkey
- Jesus makes predictions about his rejection and death
- Jesus assumes the role of a servant, washing the apostles' feet
- Jesus foretells the betrayal of Judas
- The long meditative monologue and prayer of Jesus,
- Jesus' farewell and promise of the Paraclete (the heavenly helper).
We can imagine how overwhelmed and grieved the apostles were. But then, at the very end of it all, Jesus said:
I have told you all this
so that you may find peace in me.
In the world you will have hardship,
but be courageous:
I have conquered the world. John 16:33
The usual translation of this last verse says, "Be courageous" or "Be of good heart." But there are other versions which have Jesus say, "Cheer up!" Isn't that hopeful?
Just days ago, Ash Wednesday, seventeen high school students and staff were massacred in a Florida High School - in Parkland, called Florida's safest city. An emotionally sick young man passed a background check and bought this militarized weapon that terrorized, wounded and killed.
Now, only the biggest and the worst of these frequent school attacks are reported. Lock downs, swat teams and even tanks in school yards are now called the new normal. We are numb to it and within minutes are talking about "moving on." It's hard to feel cheer.
Still, Jesus has said it, and he knew the awful, abusive power of empire. And he knew how religion could be corrupted. And he knew what having enemies, detractors and a betrayer felt like. He knew menace and killer-violence. Maybe I could at least for today feel some "cheer up" about myself - a lot of us hold bad (even awful) stuff against ourselves.
- maybe especially about the mistakes of our youth
- the failure in relationships
- the wrong judgments and
- accusations
- petty (or not so petty) crimes
- getting snagged in exploitation,
- a time of hard hearted or
- mean-spiritedness
- the poor treatment of someone else
- entitlement
- foolishness or
- any way in which I may have caused fear.
Jesus doesn't want us holding onto this stuff from long ago. Maybe this Lent, Jesus is saying cheer up to each of us about the past. Nothing good comes of holding onto any of it. God isn't served well or pleased for it. We can cheer up because Jesus is the champion over all of it.
And you know, crocus corms naturalize, which means they spread and can take over a whole lawn. Maybe cheerfulness is like that.
