Wisdom and Watching

There is a famous bumper-sticker that says “Jesus is coming. Look busy!” This is, indeed, what many Christians think is the sign of faithfulness: being busy doing the Lord’s work. We can thank the reformist John Calvin for this understanding. Even on his deathbed barely breathing he was still feverishly writing. His retort to those around him was, “When the Lord comes for me, I must be found active, not slacking.” Calvinism instilled a deep fear of a judging, merit-based, performance-obsessed and unkind God. This is a deeply internalized perception of the Divine, and a deeply mistaken one. 

What Jesus showed us over and over is God’s mercy and grace always embraces human failings and sin; it just requires us to accept it with humility, repentance, and gratitude.  This is the heart of Wisdom.  Jesus is like the image of Wisdom:  to fix one’s thoughts on her is perfect understanding, and one who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care…. Because to follow Wisdom is to grow in the likeness of Christ. 

But neither Wisdom nor any other manifestation of God will force us to listen, to receive, to grow.  We must make a choice to be present to God, to be open to the manifestations of God’s grace that surround us.  The choice that the “foolish bridesmaids” made that cost them was to rely on performance to win God’s favor, not presence, even with their failures obvious.

This parable reminds me of Mary and Martha, when Jesus said to ever-so-busy Martha, that Mary had made the better choice to just be present.

To “keep awake” means to stay attentive, mindful, prayerful in our present circumstances, ever ready to meet our Lord now and in His Second Coming. It comes from a habit of being present to Christ in prayer and silent meditation.  Jesus comes to us in countless ways in our lives long before we die.  We can tell it’s Jesus by the unselfish nature of the giving and receiving, in kindness and compassion, in mercy, grace, and true justice. Jesus cares not if we are imperfect, he cares that we are present to him, just the way we are.  That understanding is the greatest Wisdom of all.

Amen.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a famous bumper-sticker that says “Jesus is coming.  Look busy!” 

 

It is, indeed, what many Christians think is the sign of faithfulness:  being busy doing the Lord’s work. 

 

We can thank Calvin for this understanding.  Even on his deathbed barely breathing he was still feverishly writing.  His retort to those around him was,

“When the Lord comes for me, I must be found active, not slacking.” 

 

Calvinism instilled a deep fear of a judging, merit-based, performance-obsessed and unkind God.

 

This is a deeply internalized perception of the Divine, and a deeply mistaken one.

 

What Jesus showed us over and over is God’s mercy and grace always embraces human failings and sin;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

it just requires us to accept this with humility, repentance, and gratitude. 

 

This is the heart of Wisdom. 

 

Jesus is like the image of Wisdom:

 

 to fix one’s thoughts on her is perfect understanding, and one who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care….

 

Because to follow Wisdom is to grow in the likeness of Christ.

 

But neither Wisdom nor any other manifestation of God will force us to listen, to receive, to grow. 

 

We must make a choice to be present to God, to be open to the manifestations of God’s grace that surround us. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The choice that the “foolish bridesmaids” made that cost them was to rely on performance to win God’s favor, not presence, even with their failures obvious.

 

This parable reminds me of Mary and Martha, when Jesus said to ever-so-busy Martha, that Mary had made the better choice to just be present.

 

To “keep awake” means to stay attentive, mindful, prayerful in our present circumstances, ever ready to meet our Lord now and in His Second Coming.

 

It comes from a habit of being present to Christ in prayer and silent meditation. 

 

Jesus comes to us in countless ways in our lives long before we die. 

We can tell it’s Jesus by the unselfish nature of the giving and receiving, in kindness and compassion, in mercy, grace, and true justice.

Jesus cares not if we are imperfect, he cares that we are present to him, just the way we are.  To do so is the greatest Wisdom of all.

Amen.