Big Numbers

This morning I have suddenly become fascinated by big things. Not exactly of the ‘size matters’ kind, but the presence of impressive things, whether they be church budgets or nice vehicles or nice teeth or nice hair.  What would the watering hole or Tim Hortons or after church chinwags be without the “Wow” factors. Everybody likes to elicit the occasional big laugh or success stories or big connectors in conversation – some of course needier of those than others!

Today's occasion of discovery is Daily Prayer, a regular online Anabaptist somewhat Lectionary-based devotional guide. The gospel reading was John 2:1-11, the miracle at the wedding. After the reading there is always ‘silent or spoken reflections,’ a sacred time, nobody looking for big entertainment or debate here. Even so, today one of the group participants noted the huge amount of wine provided by Jesus. Six stone jars each containing twenty or thirty gallons would contribute to about 180 gallons of wedding hoopla, obviously more than needed for this occasion, no matter how we might visualize the excess! After the meeting (Zoom, by the way) that big image is still with me.

[First I must type in parenthetically. I cannot but express appreciation for this regular opportunity to participate in quiet and orderly prayer with any who wish to log in. It has been a life-saving gift to me! It may appear as contradiction to my last blog where I celebrate free flowing unscripted speech or activity among people gathered for worship. Here I cannot but register my gratitude for almost the opposite - regular unadorned Bible reading and quiet personal prayer. These prayer times are orderly; they're scripted and they're good! More should avail themselves of this opportunity. I am indeed a fan of free unscripted speech; but here hasten to add it’s important for this freedom to have its source deep in the stirrings of the soul. Those stirrings may well come up in the discipline of quiet prayer. If joy and conviction, then it must be shouted from the rooftops (eg Acts 4:20). I advocate for more of that hallelujah stuff especially in our staid slightly academic educated Mennonite circles (German circles, as Tony Campolo would say 😉 ). If, however, it be merely a cry for attention or inner restlessness then of course it’s better to shut up.]

Back to the topic at hand, the BIG things! What fascinates me about the gallons and gallons of wine is that it receives no explanation or effort to have it make sense to the ordinary reader. The water to wine incident is a context setter, setting the stage for what will follow many more times in the next several years of Jesus’ ministry. The wedding is an ‘important ordinary’ occasion among the people of Cana in Galilee. Here we encounter the first recorded miracle of Jesus, with the commentary going on to taste test. It's quality, not quantity. And the significance is not lost on the people, What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him (2:11).

Now, some later occasions of similar vintage. Jesus feeding 5000 comes to mind. This reminds me of my sister-in-law who undertakes immense catering projects – almost superhuman – singlehandedly catering to banquets or special occasions, baking hundreds of buns or squares or cakes. Grandchildren and neighbors will help out here or there, but it’s her project, her event.  And when it’s over it becomes the town conversation (at least the conversations she’s involved in) for the next week or so. It’s an ordinary thing but almost a miracle.

I think about Jesus (although sister dear would protest at so noble a comparison). Jesus’ ministry becomes huge in very ordinary settings. Somebody is born deaf or blind or mute; a child is convulsing or a woman has an issue of blood. Some of these things are of the type that would cause us to clap hands over mouth; certainly not the prayer requests that show up in church where we only hear about death and cancer, but no demon possession or mental illness, etc. Word gets out among the ordinary people that Jesus is not afraid; in fact he handles the big ones right alongside the little ones, and if need be he also feeds the crowds.

Something very ordinary and down home, and something hugely beyond our wildest imagination. Jesus came to his own, his own people, and in that context there were things he just did, because that is how a supreme rabbi might care for the people! His mother, kind of nervous and aware of the big mandate her son has from God, gets worried, “They have no wine” she says to him, and then micro-managing just like many good mothers she makes sure the servants get it right, “Do whatever he tells you”(:5). Jesus gets it; both the mother reminders (!) and the big assignment. A miracle is performed, the party continues. I love it.

Those miracles of Jesus, Big Number events which attracted more and more followers; and they happened right in among the Q and A times as he met people here and there, village after village. And of course there were Romans, and Samaritans (John 4)and Canaanites (Matt 15) - in other words more than just the home crowd. Big news has a way of doing that. This also gets the tongues wagging, questions raised especially from those who thought they knew it all, and of course the recourse to theories and explanations of many things, this leading to the crucifixion. Hmm, Jesus among the religious and the political. Election anyone? 😟

I’m wondering what BIG things Jesus is available still to do for us, things that the Messiah, the Christ, is here for. “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? (Matthew 7:9-10). More available than we might think. In John 16, towards the end of his earthly ministry, Jesus said to his disciples that although his departure was imminent, they would not be left alone. They will have the paraclete (the comforter), his Holy Spirit (:7). Big things. Little things. They happened, and available for us still.

Next time I hear one of these big convincing "wow" stories, be it science or coronavirus or environment or immigration or militarism or just plain bs, I will probably be thinking about this. Where might Jesus join the conversations? Of late I have poised that thought a few times. Interestingly people of other than Christian faith seem more interested in it than fellow born-again Christians! Among us Christians it moves into branding; who's brand are you wearing? And then we talk environmentalism or social activism or evangelicalism or liberals or conservatives or, most recently, vaxing or not. Inter-faith conversations, on the other hand, move right into it, Jesus by power of his Spirit here among us all! So very interesting, and also not as hard on the nerves.

Turns out this sounds a bit like a sermon. I’m okay with that. This is after all my blogpost, and my only promise at beginning of these blogs was to "say it as I sees it." 😊 This is my thought for the day.  

Also, along with this thinking - and this definitely no sermon - I do have a couple BIG prayer requests going. Pray that it may be so. Thank you for reading.

Outside the Script

I have been thinking about scripting lately. Lots of opportunity these days to think about that. In this last Sunday’s worship at our church we had some sharing time in preparation for congregational prayer. A young woman took opportunity to share in an animated, quite convincing manner what might be characterized as a ‘three-minute sermon’.  Also noteworthy to me was her folksy presentation and what I perceived as the congregation response perhaps best described as reserved. Why? I’m not quite sure, but my guess is that the illustrations and the animation was coming from slightly beyond the comfort zone – perhaps a hint of downtown speakeasies or maybe just hoping the service not go overtime too much.

Very similarly, just the day before, I had spent some time reading our denominational periodical, kind of yearning for some adventurous text, something more than routine business as usual. Lo and behold, there it was – kind of anyway!  The editorial, still on pandemic theme and well written, set a wise tone. “Moving toward normal,” was the title, and included this sentence, “In the future normal, whenever that might come, we must avoid the temptation to settle back into old routines without evaluating whether they will serve us well” (Canadian Mennonite, Aug 16, p.2). Point also made that this will need to include more than what happens in the one hour of worship on Sunday mornings. And then the publication ‘is what it is,’ seems like old hat for this reader. The usual: a nice article on spiritual direction; a perspective from the executive minister of our denomination, “Why don’t we talk about evangelism?” making plans for a nationwide gathering next summer; some good thoughts and information pieces on fundraisers; possibility of online church for good?  It’s informational and it’s wholesome for those of us who don’t mind reading and espousing ‘things of our church’ (also included is listing of 3 births, 3 weddings, and 26 deaths. No baptisms).

This is ‘news’ within the community which will probably be around for the remainder of my days on this earth. I cannot but wonder, where is a hint of recent discovery? Any tie-in with what’s happening among our U.S. neighbors, or other parts of the world? Any kairos moments that might go off-script just a bit? I noted a few samples kind of in that direction. One of the columnists, looking at himself in the mirror, got disgusted with his slouchy physique brought on by corona non-exercise and proceeded to dance it out (“It’s about getting weird”, p.12), offering a smile for us cerebral Mennonites. One of the correspondents writes a piece about several young people seeking to address a challenge, weak wifi signal in tenement housing, faced by immigrant kids doing online schoolwork during the pandemic. And then the interesting section, "Readers Write." A big farmer writes in somewhat indignantly to C.M.'s senior writer re a previous article about small scale farming, obviously not quite in tune with agro-business. Then another farmer letter grabs my 'even fuller' attention. This one from my long ago home stomping grounds near Osler, SK on another topic! It's a critique of our trademark Mennonite pacifism alongside our modern lifestyle convenience practices. To him the contradiction of belief and practice proves it doesn’t work! Written in a somewhat crotchety or contrarian style, I disagree with his conclusion, but note the evidence of spiritual depth here – reminds me of Psalm 42:7, Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls.  Here is challenge to the inner spirit of each one of us. Although he hopes for “more balanced, honest, and realistic conversations” I see here an invitation for him and every one of us - even to the big farmer above - to experience (yes experience) the peace that passes understanding. Indeed, pacifism as a lifestyle in our modern society fails the test if there be not an initial spiritual commitment (Luke 9:23). Much reflection needed on this latter prophetic word. 

So, overall, my faith community is ‘working at it.’ Working at it diligently and perhaps even discovering a new script? 😏 I remember once upon a long time ago when I was a young pastor, attending a Triennial Conference of our whole North American General Conference Mennonite Church, at none other than the scenic Estes Park, just north and up the mountain from Denver, CO.  It was a good time and place to be with several thousands of others. On one of those evenings the crowd was in a particularly celebrative mood. I don’t remember the theme anymore, but I remember that evening.  Our keynote speaker, Dr. Tony Campolo, was just getting started, “Your enthusiasm, your singing, and your goodwill is everywhere here tonight. What a commendable genuine hard-working people,” he gets into stride, “but you are so ---- German!” He said it as only this Italian evangelical social-activist sociologist could. We roared with laughter at his joke so tritely placed in this excellent speech, and I still smile at this smart-ass speaking to us like that. I’m 100% sure that wasn’t in his notes, but he spoke it, and it’s a poignant memory still!

The need for diligence and order and even control (pacifist of course) is why we have always had carefully built barns and nicely cultivated fields and good sausage - and four-part harmony singing in church. As Dr. Campolo and many others know, these are commendable traits, but not necessarily the full requirements of Christian faith.  In fact at present time the largest percentage of Mennonites are non-white and living in the southern hemisphere.  And they are likely not Mennonites because of our Dutch-German origin and orderly worship services. They sing and dance and clap and admonish each other in full-on community of believers! They are Mennonite because, tired of warfare in their countries, have discovered us brothers and sisters with a peace theology that is a natural follow-up to new life in Jesus Christ.  

With this latter awareness I hope that some healthy emotion may yet find a way even into our North American Mennonite churches. To me it’s a no-brainer. We’ve got to loosen up. Emotion is part and parcel of appearing before God who knows everything about us anyway. What’s to lose? Our ordered life style may be appropriate for those of the Germanic DNA but absolutely non-essential for entry into the Kingdom of God. Personally I care not about Mennonite living, but much enjoy Anabaptist Christian living, laced with hospitality and openness to learn from all peoples, so very important in today’s repopulating world.

As suggested in the above-named editorial our significant events may be happening other than Sunday mornings. I only hope and pray that if they want to happen on Sunday morning we won’t turn a blind eye because they may be off script a bit.

For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34).