Sounds Just Like Mom
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series VI, Cycle A
Object:
We reflected earlier on Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code and its assertion that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married and were parents of a daughter. True, there is nothing at all in scripture to back up such a claim, but can you imagine what kind of parent Jesus would have been?
The scene in the upper room sounds positively parental. Jesus had spent the night prior to his arrest encouraging the twelve. He had washed their feet giving a lesson in humility (John 13:1-17). He had shared a bit about the future: "In my Father's house are many dwelling places ... I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2). He talked of their connectedness -- "I am the vine, you are the branches" (John 15:1-11). There was that instruction to "love one another" (John 13:34; 15:12, 17). It was going to take that mutual support to withstand the trials and tribulation to come. Needless to say, they could not envision what their master was describing, but Jesus knew. There would be tough times ahead, and he would not be there physically with them to insure their safety. They would be on their own.
Mothers and fathers know that feeling. There is the first day of kindergarten (or pre-school, these days). Again it happens when that driver's license is newly in hand. Once more, it is felt when we unload the car with all that the new college freshman needs to stock the dorm room. Then, there is that walk down the aisle as sons and daughters begin life with someone new.
Jesus' prayer is that of a parent letting go of a child. Listen to some of the words again, and try to hear them as if Jesus were a dad or a mom.
Jesus says, "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world." Dad says, "I have tried to teach them properly." Jesus says, "They were yours; you gave them to me...." Dad says, "Yes, I know that my children belong to God, not me, but I know that they have been entrusted to me for a proper upbringing." Jesus says, "They know that everything you have given me comes from you." Dad says, "They have learned their lessons well."
Jesus says, "I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours." Mom says, "Yes, I could pray some general prayer, but this is very specific and it is for my children, the ones whose welfare you entrusted to me." Jesus says, "I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them...." Mom says, "Lord, I am not going to be there to protect them, so you please be there to protect them." Jesus says, "So that they may be one as we are one." Mom says, "And never let them forget that they are family!"
Jesus says, "I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them." Mom says, "Let them be happy."
Jesus says, "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world..." Dad says, "I'm not asking for any special magical treatment for them." Jesus says, "... protect them from the evil one." Mom says, "the drugs, the booze, the sex, and yes, the greed, the pride, the selfishness, all the ways that evil can invade and ruin a life ... Oh, God, help my babies."
Jesus says, "They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." Dad says, "I never raised them to the standards with which the world is comfortable; I raised them by your standards. Help them to stay different based on the sure and certain knowledge that what they learned long ago is true."
Jesus says, "As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world." Mom says, "There was a time I left the nest; now it is their turn. Take care of them."
Jesus sounds just like a parent. Farfetched? Not really. And right now, he is doing a very parental thing -- Jesus is praying for you. The Bible says so in Romans 8:34 and Hebrews 7:25. Did your folks pray for you? Do you pray for your children? Your extended family, the church? I hope so. Good moms and dads are like that -- they never, ever entirely let go. Just like Jesus. And that is good news, indeed.
The scene in the upper room sounds positively parental. Jesus had spent the night prior to his arrest encouraging the twelve. He had washed their feet giving a lesson in humility (John 13:1-17). He had shared a bit about the future: "In my Father's house are many dwelling places ... I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2). He talked of their connectedness -- "I am the vine, you are the branches" (John 15:1-11). There was that instruction to "love one another" (John 13:34; 15:12, 17). It was going to take that mutual support to withstand the trials and tribulation to come. Needless to say, they could not envision what their master was describing, but Jesus knew. There would be tough times ahead, and he would not be there physically with them to insure their safety. They would be on their own.
Mothers and fathers know that feeling. There is the first day of kindergarten (or pre-school, these days). Again it happens when that driver's license is newly in hand. Once more, it is felt when we unload the car with all that the new college freshman needs to stock the dorm room. Then, there is that walk down the aisle as sons and daughters begin life with someone new.
Jesus' prayer is that of a parent letting go of a child. Listen to some of the words again, and try to hear them as if Jesus were a dad or a mom.
Jesus says, "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world." Dad says, "I have tried to teach them properly." Jesus says, "They were yours; you gave them to me...." Dad says, "Yes, I know that my children belong to God, not me, but I know that they have been entrusted to me for a proper upbringing." Jesus says, "They know that everything you have given me comes from you." Dad says, "They have learned their lessons well."
Jesus says, "I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours." Mom says, "Yes, I could pray some general prayer, but this is very specific and it is for my children, the ones whose welfare you entrusted to me." Jesus says, "I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them...." Mom says, "Lord, I am not going to be there to protect them, so you please be there to protect them." Jesus says, "So that they may be one as we are one." Mom says, "And never let them forget that they are family!"
Jesus says, "I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them." Mom says, "Let them be happy."
Jesus says, "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world..." Dad says, "I'm not asking for any special magical treatment for them." Jesus says, "... protect them from the evil one." Mom says, "the drugs, the booze, the sex, and yes, the greed, the pride, the selfishness, all the ways that evil can invade and ruin a life ... Oh, God, help my babies."
Jesus says, "They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." Dad says, "I never raised them to the standards with which the world is comfortable; I raised them by your standards. Help them to stay different based on the sure and certain knowledge that what they learned long ago is true."
Jesus says, "As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world." Mom says, "There was a time I left the nest; now it is their turn. Take care of them."
Jesus sounds just like a parent. Farfetched? Not really. And right now, he is doing a very parental thing -- Jesus is praying for you. The Bible says so in Romans 8:34 and Hebrews 7:25. Did your folks pray for you? Do you pray for your children? Your extended family, the church? I hope so. Good moms and dads are like that -- they never, ever entirely let go. Just like Jesus. And that is good news, indeed.
