The Bittersweet berries (aka Nightshade) are opening. This vigorous, woody vine is labeled invasive because the plant will take over if the gardener isn't paying attention. That's the negative connotation. Still, for its bright attractiveness, florists make it available for people to bring into their homes. We might have seen it in autumn holiday church decorations.
But the word invasion can have a positive sense as well. A medical treatment can invade malignant cells. The allied invasion at Normandy pushed back the Nazi war machine. Can I imagine Christ's teachings invading (taking over) me? Here are eleven Jesus-teachings (there are many more) which, may receive scant attention despite our claims of being familiar with them. After each verse I pose a thought or question, perhaps encouraging something of a new heart-invasion. Have the teachings of Jesus ever shocked my systems?
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Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him," Matthew 3:13. Jesus was baptized, and I am baptized too. This means, I have been soaked, saturated, flooded, inundated and drenched with Christ. This is who I am. Easily enough confused with, "I'm a member of my parish, a believer, an employer, a shopper, an American." All of this is passing and limited. Plato likens it to our living in a cave and mistaking the shadows on the wall for the real thing. Being baptized is more than being nice.
"From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 4:17. The Greek word for "repent" means turn. So, Jesus isn't suggesting we start thumping our chests, "Oh I'm such a miserable sinner." Repent is a positive invitation—an ongoing invitation to turn, turn, turn. Like the ripening of fruit exposed to light all around. I read somewhere that fruit ripens from the inside—out.
So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics and paralytics, and he healed them. Matthew 4:24. Compassion comes from two Latin words that mean, deep feeling with the other. Careful and sincere seeing and listening makes for a good beginning.
Jesus said, "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Matthew 5:44. Loving an enemy might mean wishing him/her well. Praying for them might mean asking of God that they receive all they need for salvation. In a go-to-blue-blazes, blow you up world, that's very kind.
"But when you pray go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret..." Matthew 6:5. Jesus isn't talking about my bedroom, man cave or hideaway. He has in mind my inner room - the place of my most private, guarded thoughts and feelings. Archbishop Anthony Bloom says, "Don't pray until you feel something."
"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10. Might this mean we have a faculty for higher thoughts—thoughts above our ordinary mentation: the slavish thoughts of making money, maintaining a reputation, keeping it all going, making everyone happy, looking correct...
Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matthew 16:24-25. "Take up your cross" is much more than putting up with the aches and pains of life. There is no love without sacrifice. Sacrifice is irksome at best. Jesus tells us to lose your life. Could that mean losing what we THINK or PRETEND is our life—in all of it's distraction, superficiality, ownership, busyness, outer presentation. Then we can begin to find our inner, higher life, which is our real life.
"And looking around on those who sat about him, Jesus said, "Here are my mother and my brethren! Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother. Mark 3:35. Blood family is too small. Jesus is starting a new family. I should not imagine that only Catholics in good standing do the will of God. Notice Jesus looked around, as if he is looking around the world—looking at the great circle of humankind throughout all time.
"Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter." Mark10: 15. Children are spontaneously learners (not to be confused with passing tests in school). Children are usually ready for anything new. Children love surprises. Do I have any experience of God that sounds or feels like this. Or has my religion become predictable and staid— a mental exercise—more about showing up on schedule. Thinking back on seminary—we were trained to be answer men, tradesmen, troubleshooters who knew the manual. There was nothing of becoming holy men who experience the thrill and wonder of God. We had five hundred acres of forest and were never told to go and walk there.
"For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him." John 3:17. I remember years ago when I was teacher in New York City, walking past newsstands on Monday mornings, and frequently seeing news papers with bold headlines reporting the previous day's cathedral homily, "CARDINAL CONDEMNS." How tiresome, a religion that's known for its condemnations. By contrast, I'm thinking of Mother Teresa who used to say, "A smile is something (a resource) we all have to share." The poorest third-world people often know and practice smile-gift far more than those in the first-world who have everything. Imagine the world being saved by smiles, bows, eye contact, greetings and handshakes (well, once covid passes).
"And he (the lawyer) answered, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.' And Jesus said to him, 'You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.' But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, 'And who is my neighbor?'" Luke 10:25-37. We might wonder if "desiring to justify himself" means that he was hoping Jesus would give him a back door—a way to minimize the expectation. Then Jesus told what is perhaps the most well-known story of all time. But let's be sure of this—the hero of the story (the Samaritan) is a heretic, as far as the Jews of Jesus' day were concerned. So much for, "My religion only" or "Sign the fidelity oath" thinking.
Of course I need also to ask myself about the guy who's been beaten up, left naked and thrown away in the ditch at the side of the road. Who is he? She? They? I might reflect on this prior to my November vote? Think broadly—from an informed place.
