Although I am a big fan of the gospels, there are moments when Jesus’ words and actions truly baffle me. As God’s Son who was sent from Heaven to save the world, it stands to reason that He would want to reveal Himself in big ways so that people would spread the word about Him, rally to His side and help usher in the Kingdom of God right on schedule. Instead, He is consistently inconsistent about publicity causing me to wonder, “What’s up with that?”
In Mark’s Gospel, when Jesus exorcises a possessed man and refuses to let him join His band of followers He tells him to return to his home and to tell his family what all has occurred. A few passages later, he raises Jairus’ daughter from the dead, but this time He gives strict orders not to talk about it. Quite frankly, this makes no sense to me.
I understand that Jesus was not seeking fame or a reputation as a healer and He never intended for His “super powers” to overshadow His message, but come on! Calming a storm is a big deal. Casting out a demon? Yeah, that’s newsworthy. Raising a child from the dead? That’s a front-page story with a banner headline if there ever was one! Why try and keep it quiet?
I took up the issue with my religion teacher as a teenager saying if Jesus were a little better at public relations things might have worked out a bit better for him in the end. “I don’t get it. He wanted people to believe in him, didn’t he?” I argued.
“Of course He did,” my teacher replied.
“Well, maybe if he would have been a little more forthcoming with his ‘abilities’ and didn’t talk in riddles as much, the chief priests and Pharisees would have believed in him and gotten with the program.”
“And then what?” my teacher challenged me.
“And then…nothing,” I shrugged.
“And then…nothing,” the teacher repeated, with extra emphasis on the last word.
Reality hit me like a ton of bricks. If Jesus had encouraged word to get out, if He would have shouted, “I am God” from the rooftops, if he would have rode into town like the cavalry and gotten everyone on board, He wouldn’t have died. He couldn’t have saved the world. He would have simply been stuck in it. As it was, He knew humans could not keep quiet about what they experienced and he counted on them to do their part and insure that He would be the sacrificial lamb He needed to be in order to fulfill His plan.
I won’t lie, I still struggle with the things Jesus said and did. I still shake my head at what appears to be inconsistencies in His ministry and I spend more than a little time trying to come up with a revisionist narrative that may have had a happier ending. However, that’s when I have to remind myself that no matter how much I ask; it’s unlikely He’s going to tell me the answers. If I stay solid in my faith, trust in His plan and use the gifts He has given me, one day I will be with Him in a much better place…and we will live happily ever after.
Today’s Mass Readings: MIC 2:1-5; PS10:1-2, 3-4, 7-8, 14; MT 12:14-21
