January 14, 2024 Holy Wisdom Monastery 1 Samuel 1:9-18,20; 1 Corinth 6:12-20, John 1:35-51 Patti La Cross
It is a lovely and rare treat to hear from John’s gospel today, and my privilege to be steeped in it for a time.
I am of the opinion that this gospel ‘pairs well’ with a community like ours, this community of communities. It speaks well to the inclusiveness we treasure, our shared worship, values and leadership. Significantly, many of those Jesus encounters in this gospel are women – women shown as whole, complex, and utterly worthy disciples and leaders!
In recent weeks it has been my privilege to spend time with texts on this Gospel by biblical scholars Raymond Brown and Sandra Schneiders; their work contributes so much to our understanding of this book.
John’s gospel was most likely written by 110 C.E., by which time the 3 synoptic gospels had been passed among circles of believers for a few decades. This Beloved Community seems to have had its origins in Ephesus or Asia Minor, with significant Samaritan influences. As we learn in Jesus’ dialogue with the woman at the well, Samaritans did not participate in Temple worship.
Thus, they didn’t share the deep sense of loss that many Jews had when their allegiance to Jesus had them expelled from the synagogues around the year 90 CE. John’s followers also did not depend on Peter’s leadership.
This later writer recognized the need for another, and distinctive, telling of the Jesus story. One that spoke to their own experiences and challenges in believing.
Since today’s selection is midway into John’s first chapter, a little recap is in order:
The Prologue of this Gospel is a proclamation that the Word of God, who with God made the World, who came into that World, and was neither recognized or accepted.
This theme of failed recognition and acceptance threads through a number of encounters in John.
As characters are introduced in a drama, on Day One we meet John the Baptist:
Challenged by the Pharisees’ minions, he states his identity as “Not the Messiah, nor Eilijah nor a Prophet, but a Voice crying out”. John demurred to the “One who is coming, before whom I am unfit”.
The next day, John saw and recognized Jesus only when a dove signaled his presence. But acceptance of Jesus came quickly for him, who had anticipated the Messiah, and John the Baptizer declared that “this man Jesus is the One Sent by God.”
When John and two of his disciples encounter Jesus again, introductions are made. We learn that one of these 2 was Andrew. Some scholars believe that the ‘unnamed other’ was the person later referred to as the Beloved Disciple – close to Jesus, a witness, but not one of the 12 apostles.
Added to this cast is Andrew’s brother Simon, who is quickly recognized as worthy by Jesus and renamed Cephas/Peter. He is not new to us, but strategically acknowledged – as a link to the other gospels and believers.
When Nathanial hears where Jesus is from, he immediately insults Jesus’ hometown! For context, Joseph and Mary’s village is believed to have held a local community of under 400 civilians, with a huge Roman garrison nearby.
Military bases often overwhelm local communities, and may have led outsiders to suspect the townspeople of possible collaboration with the troops. It is historically true that proximity to a military base drastically increases prostitution, the likelihood of local violence, and of war. And yes, at times the duplicity of some locals for money. So, some suspicion may have been warranted.
Yet Jesus replies in an unexpected way to this insult. He sees beyond Nathanials’ distrust to his genuineness. Jesus really “sees” him, a whole person. Sees him in the very way that people today express the need and desire to be seen and known: beyond race, identity, or achievement. Nathanial is now able to recognize Jesus for who He is: “Son of God, Light, a Beacon for the people.”
The genius of this gospel, in part, is how the encounters are staged between various individuals and Jesus. Regardless of their wariness, Jesus creates a safe and trusting space that frees and transforms those he interacts with.
These scenes each serve as a template, in a way, for meeting others without judgment so as to encounter Jesus, God’s Word, as Love.
That, scholars of John point to, is the purpose of this unique Gospel.It is, in itself, an encounter with the Living Jesus. As Real as was experienced by the cast of this Gospel, the people who walked with Jesus long ago, and the early communities that were formed around their testimony.
We read this Gospel so WE may overcome wariness, judgment and fear. This is my encouragement to each of you, in this frigid week of winter:
That you carve some space and time in these days, for a slow read of this stunningly live Gospel. More than we can predict or imagine, it holds truth and promise in a world suffering so much deceit and despair.
It is written that we may believe in the Word, Who was with God in the beginning, the Word that was God, and through whom all things were made. In Him was Life, the Light of the people. That Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it!
Let us pray: For all Christians, that we may seek unity of purpose in serving the needs of all God’s own without judgment, and working toward peace in our communities, nations, and world, we pray..
For people of all faiths and nations, that a just and lasting peace among us be our daily common goal, we pray…
For all who are at risk because of the severe cold: for those without secure housing, those who’s physical or mental health, or addiction are worse in the winter, and for refugees suffering around the world without adequate water, food or warm shelter, we pray…
For children around the world, that they be given opportunities to thrive and to learn, to know joy, and to have hope for their future, we pray…