Sir, we want to see Jesus

5 Lent Year B
March 18, 2018

    I had a really neat thing happen earlier this week.  I was able to talk to my high school orchestra teacher.  I had gotten his email address from another former student, and I wanted to just drop a note to say hello, and to thank him for being a positive adult in my life.  My email said something like, you probably don’t remember me, but you may remember having dinner at my house the night of the spring concert… you were kind enough to drive me there and back…

    Well, when he responded, he said, he not only remembered me, but most definitely remembered dinner at my house, and said he would call later in the week so we could catch up.  It was a delightful conversation, and he remembered things I had forgotten until he said them… we spoke of people we knew and pieces of music that we played… it was great, and I did get to thank him for his place in that part of my life.  We also told each other a little of what our lives look like now, which I am sure we didn’t even imagine back then, at least I didn’t….

“Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.”

Now, when the tell Jesus, I am sure they didn’t expect what happened… Jesus immediately launches into a description of what awaits for him and his followers as they get closer to Jerusalem… I would imagine the Greeks who wanted to see him, weren’t at all prepared for what happened… I don’t know what they expected, but the passage speaks to me of longing for something different, something that might help them to fill the emptiness that they are feeling… surely, they have heard the stories about him and the miracles he has performed; at this point in the gospel, they have likely heard about the raising of Lazarus and all of the controversy; maybe, all they really wanted was to see him for themselves after hearing the stories; maybe they wanted to ask him some questions… we don’t really know… but when they get there, not only do they see him, but they learn what’s in store for him and for those who follow him.  I have to say, it’s not the best public relations job I’ve ever seen, but Jesus gets points for brutal honesty…

Perhaps its a warning; come no further unless you want to spend your lives defending the death of a state criminal; but I think perhaps, it’s more than that; I think it’s an invitation to see a bigger, albeit difficult future and purpose not just for Jesus but for everyone.  Jesus is challenging what he knows is their rather limited view of what’s happening; sure, miracles and signs are great, but even they have their limits. Healing one person, or raising one person from the dead, is good for the one… But now Jesus’ eyes and mind are pointed towards Jerusalem and the events that wait for him there that have implications for the whole world, not just for a few lucky people.  And, if Jesus’ words aren’t enough, we join with those gathered to heard the words of the Father which promise that God WILL be glorified in the future that Jesus has outlined for himself. In John’s gospel in particular, the cross of Jesus becomes a seat of victory and glory… it’s a difficult message for us even now… I cannot imagine what it might have sounded like to those who first heard it.

Seeing beyond what we know is so difficult; I know when I was a kid back in high school, it seemed as though that was my whole world, both the good and the bad; I didn’t see much of a future, let alone the future that eventually became my reality; as I got older and experienced more, things became somewhat clearer, and there were others along the way who’s vision was perhaps a bit sharper than mine; that was one of the gifts of the conversation from earlier in the week; knowing that there were others in that time and place who could see beyond that time and place and at least imagine a future that was different…

I want to see Jesus… today, and every day… and I admit that I don’t always want to see and hear what he might have to say to me.  Jesus’ visions of the future are dangerous and frightening sometimes. For those of us who pray and read scripture and take his presence into ourselves… nothing is the same as it was before that time; imagine what the Greeks who wanted to see him felt like when they DID see him?  Nothing was the same as is was, and they couldn’t go back to the way it was, especially once the journey toward Jerusalem began. Much would be required of them as they walked with him. And, just in case we forget, there are things required of us too. It’s not the kind of requirement that pays Jesus back, but rather the requirement to love one who shows us love.  If we truly see Jesus, loving him isn’t far behind… and if we love him… there is no other response possible than to love him in all that we say and do… but first we have to see him… we have to see him in the poor in our streets; we have to see him in the dying; we have to see him in the women and children who are alone and fighting to live; we have to see him in the people we hate, as well as in the people we love; we must see him in the Eucharist given for all of us… we have to look past what WE think it means to see Jesus, we have to think past what we think following him means, and see what he has asked us to see and whom he has asked us to love… Are we ready to have God’s law written on our hearts?  Are we ready to accept the judgement of this world, as Jesus is lifted up to draw the world to himself?

May our hearts long to see Jesus… may we see him as he is, and not as we have made him.  May we long to love and be loved; may we long to to his will this day and always.