This week, I stood at the grave side with a tiny casket. A young couple and close family gathered to bury a baby boy who died seven months into a pregnancy. The couple sat there to bury their hopes and dreams for this child along with that casket. Hopes of a little boy to cuddle, and feed, and raise. Hopes of a little boy to run with and play with and hunt with and fish with. Dreams of watching him graduate from high school and college and then get married and have children of his own. All these hopes and dreams now shattered by the reality of a broken world. A world where children die before they are even born. What does one say to parents who find themselves surrounded by such pain and grief.
Jesus says, "Rejoice and be glad, for yours is the Kingdom of God."
Really, Jesus. Is that the best you can do?
Yesterday, I spoke with a member who had a lobe of her lung removed. She had a tube in the remaining lung which made her uncomfortable to say the least. She was forced to have the surgery because of a spot of cancer they found there. This is not this member’s first go round with cancer. She’s already had to take chemo for a different form of cancer. She endured. That cancer is gone only to be replaced by another. The doctors were confident they removed all the cancer with the removal of that lobe, but now comes the waiting to see if indeed they are correct. Will there be further treatment? Will her body have to endure even more pain and suffering battling this invasive disease? What does one say to a child of God who finds herself in such a situation?
Jesus says, "Rejoice and be glad, for yours is the Kingdom of God."
Really, Jesus. Is that the best you can do?
Friday, I presided at the funeral of a member of this community who did not attend church here. He had been in failing health for a while, but now he leaves behind a widow who also has numerous health problems. She is now left to wrestle with what life will be like without her husband. Will she be able to maintain their home? Will she be able to take care of herself and face her health issues? Will she have to contemplate moving? Will she have the strength to face her grief and her illness at the same time? What does one say to a person facing such a difficult situation?
Jesus says, "Rejoice and be glad, for yours is the Kingdom of God."
Really, Jesus. Is that the best you can do? I mean, are you saying to each and every one of these people they should suck it up and endure their sufferings? Are you saying they should bide their time as they go through such things because one day they will somehow come across this wonderful Kingdom of God and everything will be hunky dory? Are you saying somehow that because they suffer today, they will get a chance at a better life after they die? Is that what you are saying Jesus? Is that what you were telling all those who were and are hungering, thirsting, suffering and grieving? Is that your answer to all the terrible things that happen to us in this lifetime?
"Rejoice and be glad, for yours is the Kingdom of God."
In some manner, these words seem so out of touch with the reality of most people who suffer. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I am not questioning Jesus and what he is saying. He more than anyone knows what we need to hear and how we need to act in this world, but is Jesus offering us words of comfort telling us to focus on a reality that we will only experience in the life to come? What about what people go through right here and right now? What about their pain? What about their grief? What about their hunger and thirst? Is it all about what happens in the future, or is there something else at play when Jesus says, "Rejoice and be glad, for yours is the Kingdom of God?"
What if, just what if, Jesus is not telling all who weep, all who mourn, all who hunger, all who thirst, all who suffer to superficially rejoice and be patient for a reality that is to come. What if, just what if Jesus is telling all of these folks that they are a part of the Kingdom of God right then and right now. I mean, if you look at what Jesus says, he does not say for yours will be the Kingdom of God–the word "is" is a present tense verb. It declares the reality right here and right now. It does not indicate something far down the road. It is immediate. It is immanent. There is no waiting. Yours IS the Kingdom of God.
What if Jesus is telling that young couple, rejoice, I am with you now. I understand your grief. I understand your suffering. I understand what it means to feel like something is unfairly taken from you. I can’t take away your grief and pain and suffering, but I am with you and I will give you strength to endure. I offer you hope. My Kingdom is not far away, it is with you. Rejoice.
What if Jesus is similarly in that hospital room with our church member. What if He is saying to her, "Rejoice. I am with you in the midst of your illness. I am the great healer, and I will work with your mind, body and spirit. I will bring you the healing that you need. It might not be the one that you desire, but I know what is needed, and I will give it to you. I am not far away from you, but I am near. Present. With you even in the midst of all you are having to endure right now. Again, I say, rejoice."
What if Jesus is with that elderly woman who has just lost her husband? What if He is with her right now offering words like, "Rejoice. I am with you in the midst of your loss and grief. I am with you in the midst of your health issues. I am with you as you seek to make tough decisions about your future. I am not far off. You do not have to wait until you cross the threshold of eternity to experience life with me. I am giving you strength. I am giving you wisdom. I am opening doors for you that you never expected. The life ahead of you looks confusing and scary, but rest assured, I will never forsake you. I am with you always. Rejoice."
So often when things happen to us that we consider tragic, meaningless, hopeless, unfair, awful, or whatever adjective you would like to use, we tend to wonder what in the world God is up to. We wonder if He has turned His back on us. We wonder if we have been forsaken. Like Jesus from the cross we cry out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"
But what if, just what if in our moments of pain, in our moments of suffering, in our moments of grief and tragedy, God is most present with us? What if it just so happened that when we thought God was most absent, He was actually most present? What if when we believed we had no cause but to weep, mourn, become frustrated, become angry, and shake our fist or cry our tears, it was actually a time to celebrate because God was wonderfully and radically with us surrounding us with a love and a presence beyond comprehension. What if that was actually happening?
Jesus says, "Rejoice and be glad. For yours IS the Kingdom of God." Right here. Right now. Amen.
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