Of Whom The World Was Not Worthy

OF WHOM THE WORLD WAS NOT WORTHY (LK 7:18-35)

I had a severe ministerial midlife crisis ten years into full-time ministry. I pondered the meaning, value and effectiveness of what I was doing. My esteem, confidence, and drive were at an all-time low. Church work was wearisome, people disappointed me, and I felt that I was in a rut, a hole, and a crisis. An older pastor agreed to meet with me once a week for a few months so that I could ask him specific questions on the ministry. My first question when we met was, “What is the value of what we do? Why do we do what we do?” He sobbed continuously, tears trickled down his face as he pointed to some photos displayed on his office wall.

The first picture the pastor pointed to was the picture of a baby. He gestured, “This baby was almost aborted. Her mother was a frightened, pregnant and unmarried teenager who came to see me with her confused and ashamed parents. I told them, ‘You’ve got to keep the baby’. Now the baby is a beautiful teenager and a joy to the family.”

Next the pastor directed me to the picture of a couple and said, “This elderly man was uneasy around people. He had practically no friends. His wife asked me to help make him feel welcome in church, so that he would want to return. Now he is her biggest helper in the senior fellowship and one of the most generous person around.”

The last picture he pointed to me was a picture of himself with a man in his 60s. The story was more poignant this time: “When the former senior pastor died, this man woke from a long slumber of ministry passivity. Since then, he has been coming to church every Sunday at 6:30 a.m. to make sure the church doors, air conditioning, microphone, pulpit, pew, and sanctuary would be ready for worship. The only time he had missed those duties, besides vacation, was when he was admitted to the hospital for heart problems.”

I cried with the pastor, I had no more questions, and I recovered from my ministerial existential crisis.

One of the most controversial, the least understood, but most unlikely role model in the Bible was John the Baptist. John was the last Old Testament prophet, the first New Testament martyr, and the greatest born of women. Born of a priest (Lk 1:5), he shunned the temple for the desert, turned many to the Lord, and chided Herod for marrying his sister-in-law (Lk 3:19-20), which landed him prison, with release unlikely and death apparent. When Jesus came, John sent his disciples to ask John’s last recorded question: “Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?” Jesus commended John before the messengers and the crowd for his mission, courage, and perseverance.

Where is our help when we are discouraged, disappointed or depressed? What can be done when fatigue, frustrations and fears increase?

LIVE FOR THE AUDIENCE OF ONE (Lk 7:20-23)

18 John's disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" 20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?'" 21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 23 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me." (Luke 7:18-23)

One of the main characters in the new Star Wars trilogy, Jar Jar Binks, drove even the most loyal Star Wars fans nuts. Complaints were made about the character’s ample screen time, annoying speaking tone, and bumbling buffoonish actions. Many moviegoers walked out of the theaters for the thirty minutes the elephant face Jar Jar appeared. When Barnes and Nobel offered Star Wars posters, mugs, and plush toys at 50% off, I noticed the only plush toy left unclaimed was none other than Jar Jar.

At the 1999 Visual Effects Society seminar, the media asked Rob Coleman, the movie’s effect supervisor, his reaction to the character. Coleman explained that George Lucas intended the character to appeal to children ages nine to fifteen. To be fair, Jar Jar did his job. The character was an immediate hit with children.