So You Think You Can?

Somewhere along the rail-line The Little Engine That Could morphed into Thomas the Tank Engine.  Both are pretty positive, as far as locomotives go, about cheerfully taking on hard or next to impossible tasks.  As an Old Curmudgeon, I’ve become disillusioned with Positive Thinking: despite my happiest thoughts, the weather never seems to clear up; neither do my friends win the lottery.  Clicking my heels three times hasn’t brought me a bit nearer My heart’s Desire:  I’ve long since given up on the idea of “Home”.  This weekend’s scriptures address our ambitions and shed truthful light on our limitations.

Job has been complaining that God’s unfair, and says that if HE (Job) were In Charge, things wouldn’t be so topsy-turvy…especially for the self-righteous.  Finally, God has had enough, and calls Job out:  “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?….Where were YOU when I laid the foundation of the earth?….Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,…send forth lightnings….tilt the waterskins of the heavens?” (38:2,4,34ff)  No, Job, you’re really not cut out to be God –so be as good a human as you can…and kwitcherbellyachin!

High priests of Judaism are sterling people, says the writer of the Book of the Hebrews. (5:1-4)  They’re chosen to offer gifts & sacrifices, honored by God’s Calling.  And yet they’re human, with all the attendant errors and doubts.  Jesus, however, was begotten to be a priest forever, obediently bearing human prayers and supplications.  The writer contrasts our human imperfections with Jesus’ being made perfect:  although the high priests were (mostly) honorable, the coming of Christ calls them out, as well.  “So You Think You Can?”

The story Mark tells (10:35-45) is evidently central, because Matthew & Luke also refer to it.  James & John, “sons of thunder”, speak their ambitions about seeking the best seats in Jesus’ “glory”.  Considering that Jesus’ “glory” is the Cross, they didn’t know what they were asking!  Jesus asked, “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink…?”  He went on to remind them that the Kingdom of God isn’t based on human procedures:  “whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.”  So, do you still think you can?

Some of our discomfort with these passages is because we all have some Zebedee DNA in our genes.  Job-like, I tend to advise God how things could be done better.  My priestly vocation is a sense of pride, despite my moral pratfalls.  And yes, thank you, I’d prefer the richness of the Heavenly Banquet without going through the pain of discipleship.  Knowing this, you’d think that I would welcome humility!  No; like Whack-a-Mole, arrogance & pride pop up again and again…  Alas, it is to ME that God poses the question, “So You Think You Can?”

God Bless Us, Every One                 Horace Brown King

(Weekly blogs appear each Tuesday, and can be accessed at FaceBook)