What’s In the Air?

Lucy The Cat stands half-way out the door with her head back and eyes slitted, sniffing the air  that’s much fresher than that of our winter-locked house.  She’s checking to see which of her friends–or not–have traversed her back porch, perhaps leaving messages there.  She’s much better than I or other humans at using this sense to evaluate the nearby environment.  This weekend’s scripture readings have a certain atmosphere about them:  is there something new in the air?

Numbers, a book rarely visited, tells about the complaints of the Exodus People struggling through the wilderness: “it was better in Egypt!”   They didn’t like the bitter water, so Yahweh showed Moses how to sweeten it.  They complained about no bread, so Yahweh sent manna.  Dying of thirst, Yahweh showed Moses where to strike the rock.  Complaining of a rigid diet, Yahweh sent them quails.  In the 21st chapter we read, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?  For there is no food and no water,  and we detest this miserable food!” (v.5)  Then the Lord sent poisonous snakes… (“You wanna complain?  I’ll give you something to complain about!!”)   So Moses made a serpent of bronze, by Yahweh’s direction, and set it on a high pole.  “Whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.”  Look…up in the sky…it’s a serpent!

Paul didn’t like snakes any more than I do, which is minimal.  But he wrote to the Ephesians about the contrast in their lives between Then and Now.  “You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air…” (2:1-2)  Like the aforementioned Lucy, he was remarking on the contrast in their lives, a Breath of Fresh Air in Christ.  Here again we welcome Grace, extended in kindness to save us from the wilderness.

John’s Gospel introduces Nicodemus as a leader of the Old Way, and Chapter Three clears the air about the person of Jesus.  We often fixate on verse 16 without landing on the preceding verses:  “And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”  As Jesus is lifted up on the cross AND lifted to heaven –a continuous process in this Gospel–those who see him (even though snake-bitten) will live.  Is there something new in the air, Nicodemus?

The season of Lent confronts us with the appreciation of a new atmosphere.  Although hope for Spring springs eternal in our feline’s heart, the time of renewal doesn’t lurk yet behind the door!  We have wintry days to live out, and still are nipped by frosty serpents.  BUT a richer air is gonna come, I believe it!

God Bless Us, Every One              Horace Brown King