“And, you, seeing this…” Matthew 21

As I grow closer to entering my seventh decade of life, I feel less inclined to squander time and more inclined to notice what I might have missed along the way. Jesus gave a principle of faith as recorded by Matthew in the 21st chapter of his rendition of the Gospel that I believe speaks to this perspective of life.

After being challenged by the religious leaders as to the authority by which Jesus was teaching, the Master of Humanity responded with his own questions about the message of John the Baptizer. What did the leaders think of John’s authority? Matthew records the quandary the clerics were in, for if they accepted John’s authority, the follow up question from Jesus would be, “Why did you not follow John’s teachings?” And, if they replied with a rejection of John’s divine authority, they would put themselves in opposition to the public’s high regard for John. Thus, they gave no answer with an admission of ignorance. Jesus would not let the matter rest there, and surging ahead he made a remarkable statement, “For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.” (Matthew 21.32 NIV) Jesus seems to be saying that God expects us to look at our own life’s experiences to discern direction and purpose.

Rather than restricting this statement to the immediate context of Jesus’ exchange with the clerics, I have taken this broad statement as a principle of life. Regardless of what one might believe in the form of doctrines, and in spite of our religious and cultural prejudices, Jesus seems to be telling us that LIFE is a primary teacher. What we see, what we experience, what we perceive from life’s interactions, these have a place in our faith journey – even if it contradicts what we believe, especially if it contradicts what we have been taught to accept as authoritative. Jesus’ challenge to the leaders was that those morally and socially marginalized people, the people that they would so easily reject, were in fact the embodiment of the Kingdom. So, look and learn, ponder and perceive, behold and believe. Scripture and tradition are the beginning points to guide us into interpreting and understanding what the gift of life brings us in our journey.

Wise teachers have often stated this principle in various ways. Such a view of life and faith for some would represent a radical departure from faith as being totally dependent on Scriptural Text or received dogma -, beginning stage religion. Too often we are stuck there. It’s like the little boy who announced to his parents one day after school that he was finished with his schooling forever. His mother was shocked, but played into the scenario, “Son, you are only in the third grade. What on earth will you do with your life when you grow up?” His reply came instantly, “I will teach the second grade.” Beginning stage religion, judgment and punishment, reward and vengeance, on and on it goes, beginning stage religion is just that – a place to begin, not reside forever. Jesus said, “Look at life and learn. Adjust your faith to what you witness of the grace of God.”

Times of suffering and transition in life often interrupt and reveal who we really are. Painful or enlightening experiences, joyful and gracious moments, all can break us open to deeper truths and less self-reliance when it comes to connecting the points of light and truth in the world in which we live. And that’s largely the point, I live right now. One day, I will not be here, but here I am now. So, God comes to me and I come to the Divine Light in MY LIFE, not anyone else’s. My life is a sacred text, too. Your life is your sacred text, too. Scripture speaks to us and our lives speak back. Too often I have misread the Scripture only to find LIFE pointing me to a better way of understanding that Scripture. “Go and read,” Jesus said to the people as he would quote from a prophet and say, “Go and read, now having heard me and seen what you have seen, go and read again.” (e.g. Mark 12.26; Luke 10.26) Take time to study John 5.36-40 to see how Jesus accused Scripture readers of not ever hearing God’s voice. There are jewels in that text.

Yes, we grow through rupture and repair. Life is a conversation with itself. Living our days is a work of soul craft. God comes to us disguised as our lives. Listen, see, believe. Moses had to be on the mountain to receive the Torah, the mountain is life. David had to be among the sheep to be able to know the Lord as the Good Shepherd. Jesus had to be in the desert, on the mountain, in the Temple, on the cross to be the Lord of Life. Paul had to be putting people into dungeons, being in the dungeon himself and in that desert wilderness for three years to begin to know Christ. On and on it goes, life is precious. Life is a gift, even in its bitterness. Life is our learning time, our shaping time, our falling and getting up time.

Take time for noticing, time for reflecting, time for learning, time for your life. Let your life speak to you.