2 August 2013 - expect the unexpected

2 August 2013 - expect the unexpected

Is he not the carpenter’s son?

We get used to Jesus.  The danger is that we can set limitations on our expectations of him.  Jesus is always ready to surprise us.  But he can't surprise us if we're stuck looking at a past version of him that exists only in our memory.  The real Jesus is always moving.  He is doing something new (cf. Is 43:19).

In his home town we hear:

And he did not work many mighty deeds there
because of their lack of faith.

Let us be open to the Living God.  Just because Jesus doesn't demonstrate his wisdom and mighty deeds in his native place when he is growing up doesn't mean he doesn't want to display them there now that his mission is begun.  But even though the people get a sense that what he teaches is in fact wisdom and that the deeds he does are in fact mighty deeds they are still all to ready to dismiss them in favor of their expectations based on the past.

We are acutely aware of this danger.  Every time we pray and, apparently, are not answered our expectations are (wrongly) lowered.  How are we to fight against this temptation?  God provides a way.  The feasts he establishes for us to celebrate purify our memories.  They reveal God's saving hand at work throughout history.  They show that the small sufferings of his people are taken up into greater victories.  They open us to anticipate even greater victories to come until, finally, even death is defeated (1 Cor. 15:26).

“These, therefore, are the festivals of the LORD
on which you shall proclaim a sacred assembly,

We often find ourselves taking more joy in the passing things of this world than the eternal things which endure.  These feasts are meant to be a graced occasion for us to experience joy in the things which more truly deserve joyousness.

Sing with joy to God our help.
Take up a melody, and sound the timbrel,
the pleasant harp and the lyre.
Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
at the full moon, on our solemn feast.