Adulation

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accomplishments, Acts of the Apostles, agency, Barnabas, compliments, heal, humility, instruments of God, Paul, self-esteem, talents, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, witness

It’s difficult for some of us to take compliments. In “the old days” we were taught to “be humble” which meant to be self-effacing, never taking credit when we did a good act, looked pretty or handsome or performed well in a recital. Parents were often afraid their children would get “a swelled head” and think themselves better than others. While the sentiment was noble, lots of damage was – and maybe still is – done to self esteem as these children grew into adulthood. Today we understand that it’s good to acknowledge the accomplishments of others; humility is really another word for truth. The caution is for us to realize that many of our accomplishments come from God-given talents as well as our own effort and that we walk through life with the help and guidance of others – which I guess means we still occasionally need that person who will keep us from getting a swelled head. Keeping our ego in check is a lifelong balancing act.

In this morning’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 14:5-18), Paul and Barnabas are making their way from town to town, sometimes being persecuted for their preaching but sometimes just the opposite, as in Lystra, where they are able to heal a lame man who had never walked. As a result the people began to speak of them as gods and their temple priest brought oxen and garlands to offer in sacrifice to them. Their response was swift and strong. They tore their garments and said to the crowds, “Men, why are you doing this? We are of the same nature as you, human beings! We proclaim to you good news that you should turn from idols to the living God…In bestowing his goodness, he did not leave himself without witnesses…” They understood agency (see previous post) and knew that they were instruments of God’s healing. They knew and exercised the gift that had been given to them but did not forget the source of the gift. No unbridled ego there, just faithful witnesses.

May it be so with us.

Are You Listening?

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agency, Andrew, Eli, Here I am Lord, John the Baptist, Lamb of God, looking, Peter, Psalm 40, readiness, Samuel, Simon, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Although the readings in the early days of this new year often center around the theme of call, there is a fair amount of diversity in the specifics – and, on Sundays, emphasis from the Hebrew Scriptures as well. This morning we read one of my favorite texts from the First Book of Samuel (1 SAM 3) which could be performed as a short comedy sketch. Samuel is a child living in the temple under the tutelage of Eli when he hears God call his name in the night. This being his first such experience he thinks Eli is calling so he runs to him and says, “Here I am. You called me.” Eli, probably a bit groggy from sleep, says to him, “I didn’t call you. Go back to sleep.” This happens again, not once but twice and it is only the third time that Eli realizes that it is God calling Samuel.  He then directs Samuel that when he hears God calling he is to say, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

The move from Samuel to the Gospel of John is punctuated by Psalm 40 which fairly shouts: I have waited, waited for the Lord and he stooped toward me and heard my cry. He put a new song in my mouth! Then we see John the Baptist standing – as if waiting – with two of his disciples as Jesus walks by. He is recorded as saying, “Behold the Lamb of God.” Immediately the disciples leave John and follow Jesus. John does nothing to stop them as he knows that his role is herald. When Jesus turns around and sees them he asks, “What are you looking for?” They counter with the question: “Where are you staying?” “Come and you will see,” he says and, amazingly, they do. One is Andrew who goes and tells his brother, Simon, of the experience and brings him to Jesus as well.

Setting these scenes in such detail might seem a bit much but I think necessary to illustrate two things about call: readiness and agency. How ready are we at any moment to respond to God’s call in whatever form it comes to us? Secondly, are we willing to hear messages from others that may move us to such a response? Eli, John the Baptist, Jesus himself and then Andrew were instrumental in the movement of Samuel, Andrew and Peter toward God. Today seems a good day to reflect on our own readiness and then to thank God for those in our lives who have been catalysts on our path to “Here I am, Lord!”