Fourth in Lenten series

I am tempted to congratulate myself. The idea of re-reading John Shea’s “The Challenge of Jesus” (Image) has turned out to be a very wise decision. In fact, the book is so inspiring that, rather than congratulate myself, it probably would be better if I was grateful to the Holy Spirit.

John’s insights are on my mind not just while I am reading the book but at other times during the day. I notice that they are on my mind at times when I engage in formal prayer.

Just recently, I found John’s e-mail address and I am going to contact him and thank him for sharing his marvelous insights. When I first read “The Challenge of Jesus” 30 years ago, I liked what I read but, with this second reading, I seem to be getting more from the book. That’s often a sign of just how good a book is, if on a second reading it continues to provide insights.

One aspect of his treatment of the Incarnation that I like is his stress on what the Son of God’s taking on flesh reveals to us not only about God, but about us, about our human nature. When Shea writes about the Incarnation, his emphasis is not about an event that took place 2,000 years ago but about God’s continuing presence to us. The question that Shea forces upon me is, “What difference does the Incarnation make in my life?” This is a question that each Christian must ask his or her self. Lent is an excellent time to ask the question.

Danger of Highs

Commenting on experiences of the divine mystery, Shea notes that, if we emphasize the extraordinary too much, then we are in danger of making the rest of life religiously unimportant. I think that he is correct. He writes the following:

“Yet for the religious person a dangerous temptation often accompanies transcendent experiences. When they are exclusively focused on, religion can degenerate into a search for personal highs. The always and everywhere presence and influence of God is overlooked in the quest for transcendent moments …What must be understood is that religious experience is that moment when the person becomes aware of the religious dimension. The religious dimension is always present and active but only enters into consciousness at certain key times.

Religious reality is not about ‘this’ experience or ‘that’ experience but about the perduring dimension of ultimacy which grounds and permeates all of human life and which is revealed in ‘this’ or ‘that’ experience … Jesus is not a total exception, an unprecedented divine visit; he is total revelation, the uncovering of the hidden but always active God.”

There is a tendency for many of us to look for the exceptional in religion, the miracle or extraordinary sign. This is understandable, but it can produce problems. Perhaps it is good to remind ourselves occasionally that what God has done for us and is doing for us is greater than any miracle or extraordinary event. The ongoing loving presence of God in our lives is greater than any miracle we might imagine. God is totally in love with us. If we believe this, what miracles do we need?

Homily Theme

Recently at a Sunday Eucharist, in my homily, I pointed out to the members of the congregation that what God has been doing in history is continuing right down to the present moment. I stressed that God was active in the Eucharist that we were celebrating. I mentioned that God had a plan for the Jewish people and for the people who lived at the time of Jesus but also for each of us. I noted that, in a sense, God was searching for each and every one of us - not just for people, not just for Catholics, but for me. I stressed that God is searching for each person in the congregation in the sense that God wants to enter into a deeper love relationship with us. As frequently happens I felt as though I was preaching to myself but I believed I was articulating a truth that perhaps many in the congregation needed to hear.

To think about God pursuing us, searching for us, is awesome. But this profound truth about God and us should not frighten us. The God Who is searching for us is Unlimited Love. Whatever God wants for us cannot hurt us. God’s self-giving love for us is the most radical and basic truth about us. The challenge of Jesus is that each of us is called to welcome God’s love into our lives.