I’m pretty excited and more than a little intimidated as I prepare this reflection because this Sunday I have been invited to my former parish Holy Family in North Java to preach to the children at the church outdoor picnic about the gospel that asked the disciples: “Who is Jesus?
Renee their teacher warned me that she has a dozen kids ages 8 to 14. who get excited about coming to her religion class. So I will bring my special puppet Spinach and we ask the children this question: “Who is Jesus?”
What would your response be? Do you ever get the urge to go beyond the churchy language and really wrestle with what your faith in Jesus means and why it’s important to you? Certainly, some will say they call upon Jesus in time of need and find him a comforter and a helper. Others might say they look to Jesus as the model of the Godly life. I like that last part, but our gospel lesson shows us he’s a petty weird model to follow—a model who tells us he’s going to be rejected and killed and then urges us to deny ourselves and take up our cross in order to be his followers.
What is it, exactly, that Jesus models? What tells us about who he is? He’s certainly rather modest. He doesn’t want his identity to be made known. He lowers himself to wash the feet of his disciples like a slave would do. He looks silly riding into Jerusalem on a baby donkey. He clearly has empathy for others. He breaks society’s rules and hangs out with the “wrong” crowd and accepts unacceptable people. He tells people they’re forgiven. He preaches non-violence and love for the poor and for enemies. He reminds us that everyone is our neighbor. And he talks back to authority.
In the gospel reading Peter identifies Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus doesn’t deny this, but he doesn’t want this bit of news to be spread around. I always figured that Jesus knows people will misinterpret that title. For Peter, the anointed one of God would be a political leader and a real badass warrior who would vanquish the enemies of the nation.
It seems that for a lot of folks living in America today, that is exactly how they see Jesus. As Christianity slips out of the mainstream of American life a breed of Christian jihadists has sprung up to fight what they perceive are the forces of Satan. They will rescue unborn babies, revoke LGBTQ+ rights, ban books, dictate curriculum to teachers, put the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms, eliminate inclusive language, and champion a whole truckload of their other cultural priorities—and do it with a screaming zeal that would seem excessive from the Taliban.
What should I tell these children about Who Jesus Is? Spinach will have their attention and I will share these thoughts. Jesus is someone who will never scold you. He will always will be with you when you are having a bad day. When you cry because someone was a bully and called you a nasty name, Jesus will wipe your tears and tell you He loves you. Like on the cross when he said, Father, forgive them they know not what they do.” Who is Jesus? He is kind, gentle, humble, forgiving and accepts us just as we are, tatoos, wrinkles and rings in our ears and nose. I want these kids to confirm a living faith, not just conform to an institutional church.
Who do you say Jesus is? What do your actions, your words, and the way you live your life say about you and Jesus? What are we telling your kids and grandkids about who Jesus is?
Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that we take time to have a little talk with Jesus. May we pray in our hearts that our actions and words model Who Jesus Is.
