13 December 2019 - shall we dance?

Today's Readings

(Audio)

'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance,
we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.'

God went out of his way to find a melody that would move the hearts of all. He sent John who lived a life of rigorous asceticism to give witness to Jesus above and beyond the material goods of this world. John pointed away from sin and toward the lamb of God. Yet those for whom John was overwhelming ought still have been able to find comfort in the Son of Man who lived a more moderate life, not entirely deprived of the goods of the world. The Son of Man gave wine at Cana and bread to the hungry crowds. Yet the people accepted neither. When confronted with John they said they wanted someone more like Jesus. When actually confronted with Jesus they preferred someone more like John.

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said,
'He is possessed by a demon.'
The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said,
'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners.'

In what ways are we like that generation? How much of what we say is really an excuse not to dance to the divine music? How much is a vain attempt to maintain a rigid control over ourselves that excludes the freedom of giving ourselves up to this music? We are so clever about our excuses, perhaps even fooling ourselves. At one time we say we want one song and at a different time another song. Yet really we don't want to dance to any music but our own.

But wisdom is vindicated by her works.

Those who take up God's call to dance and to mourn in time with his heart vindicate the works of Jesus. They are those who by faith become children of God, sons and daughters in the Son, who is himself the power of God and the wisdom of God (see First Corinthians 1:24). In our own lives the wisdom of God is vindicated.

I, the LORD, your God,
teach you what is for your good,
and lead you on the way you should go.
If you would hearken to my commandments,
your prosperity would be like a river,
and your vindication like the waves of the sea;
Your descendants would be like the sand,
and those born of your stock like its grains,
Their name never cut off
or blotted out from my presence.

We are called to a freedom that can only be found on the other side of self-will. It is not something static and predictable. If it were, we could know the path entirely in advance and accept it on our own terms. It is rather the music Jesus describes. Though it changes, the beauty and wisdom of it does not change. Let us dance to that music.

He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.