(Mark 8: 27-38; Proverbs 1: 20-33)
How frustrating it must be for Wisdom. She sees things so clearly, it is so obvious to her, and the people just don’t get it. She takes to the streets raving and raging; she rants and rips the citizens’ ignorance. How long will they seek and search, wonder and worry, when the answer is right there in front of them?
How fitting it is for the stupid people to suffer for their ignorance, for their unwillingness to see what is true and real. Wisdom is right in front of our eyes, waiting for recognition and acceptance. If we fail to see it, we get what we deserve. That makes sense, but only in the way of the world and not as Jesus’ way.
The battle between the wisdom of the world and that of the cosmic divine rages to this day. It began as soon as humanity realized its own consciousness and ability to think, decide and act, as far back as the Garden of Eden. There’s another instance of this conflict in the gospel reading. Peter is accused of being Satan, a strong accusation, of being an opponent.
But the outcome come is that even those who oppose Jesus, they too will follow. If we’re paying attention to the preposition “behind”, Satan, the opposer is behind, following Jesus. Just like all of us who seek to live in his way. Ironic, isn’t it?
All this happened when Peter figures out who Jesus is and the great, wonderful secret that he had been keeping … not that he was God’s own Son but that he was the Messiah. The legend, the story, the hope and dream was of a mighty and fearsome leader who would defeat all the enemies of Israel, restoring the natural order of the world – everlasting peace with all nations subservient to Israel.
Jesus wants to keep that truth a secret, the revelation that he is the Messiah would shatter what he was trying to do. Jesus ushers in the kingdom of God in his own fashion, with substance over show. And if word leaked out that he was The One, all of the expectations and distractions would prevent him from being able to live and teach the message of his gospel in his way for as long as he could. The claim to Messiah-hood would be questioned by the self-abasing, humbling nature of his message. So it was important that the secret stayed safe.
Although there is another irony at play: for all the secrecy that was needed in Jesus’ lifetime, we in our lives would be condemned for keeping our faith a secret. It’s the same message vocalized by Wisdom in Proverbs: pay attention, seek God, don’t be afraid to ask. Those who ignore Christ, his message, those who are ashamed of his ministry of inclusion and care will ultimately find themselves excluded and shamed themselves.
If we follow Jesus, listening to the wisdom he embodies, we have refuge and safety in the end. In the meantime there will be hardship and persecution, but endure the sufferings of life and there will be an eventual reward. There is a bit of reap what you so, karma will get you in the end. What do we make of this religious triumphalism?
What is the point of doing the right thing, living the right way, if in the end Jesus wins out after all? Do we choose to follow God because we want to be on the winning team? Isn’t that why Jesus wanted to avoid the Messiah label?
That isn’t faith, that’s self-interest. Surely divine wisdom would see through such a transparent motivation. Can we do the right thing for the right reasons? Or will the notion of judgment and division in the end cloud our motivation?
The smart thing to do as churches, as individuals, is to pool our resources, to work together, to support one another, to seek the greater good and the higher power and find common cause. But knowing what the smart thing to do is and doing it for the right reason is the learning that we have to do.
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