"We are the Collective Body of Christ."

Dear Friends,

            I rarely go through a day without hearing several stories about our church.  People usually say something like, “I want to tell you about my church…” or “about your church…”. But in the end, they wind up telling me about something wonderful and loving that someone who worships here has done for someone else — a kindness, a visit, a hug, a listening ear, a meal shared…and although I wasn’t there, didn’t know about it, ‘we’ all get credit. In this case, good credit for someone else’s act of love.  Because we’re not in this “Church” alone. 

We’re the collective Body of Christ by God’s design.  We’re individuals, yes, but it’s our life together that makes us Christ’s body.  We come together for worship, and we form a new, mysterious being that has community identity, a new address, and a life of its own.  For good or bad, we also have a community mandate and reputation, so we get credit for the good or blame for the bad actions of anyone who calls a particular parish their home.  We call it church, and it’s more than its individual members.  Rather than the building, “church” is the people formed into the Body of Christ. So maybe we should always be asking, “How are we following Christ?  Do we resemble Jesus more now than last year?”

          There’s a story in Luke’s gospel about how Jesus feels when we don’t remember we belong to him. In chapter 13 of Luke, Jesus says:  “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it.”  He laments, in tears, “how often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings and you were not willing.”  Jesus wants to protect and help those he loves, and they reject him.  

            Jesus has been calling the crowd to repent, to change their lives by turning to God.  He’s painted a picture of the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom is like a tiny mustard seed that grows into a great tree and all the birds made their nests there; like a small amount of yeast that makes all the flour rise.  It’s hard to tell if people understand because they keep asking about salvation.

            Now Jesus is risking his life to bring the kingdom to the edge of Jerusalem and the people following do not seem interested.  Jerusalem is ruled by a fox, named Herod, who has an army of soldiers.  Jesus has disciples who serve the the weak and least wanted.  Herod squashes rebellions.  Jesus prays for his enemies and turns the other cheek. 

            When Jesus laments that Jerusalem will not accept him, tradition says he weeps from a spot opposite the city on the slope of the Mount of Olives.  When Israel is safe for traveling again, and if you travel there, you’ll find a little chapel built on that spot, designed around Luke’s story and shaped like a teardrop.

            Several years ago, my husband and I visited Jerusalem, and I got a chance to see it.  The altar sits in front of a round window that frames a panorama of the city with the gold dome of the Temple shining in the sun.  On the altar, there’s a round mosaic of a picture of a white hen with a golden halo. Her red comb fits like a crown, her wings are spread out to cover seven yellow chicks crowded around her feet. 

            The chicks looked happy under their shelter.  The hen looks ready to fight if anyone bothers her babies.  Under the picture in red letters in Latin, it says, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills prophets and stones those who are sent to it. How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing.”

            Are we willing to follow the One who was willing to die for us?  Are we willing to tell others about our church, invite them to come visit with us, and hear this story?  Our life together makes us the Body of Christ.  Holy Week gives us an opportunity to follow Jesus from his lament on Palm Sunday, his last Supper on Thursday, to the Cross on Good Friday, through the dark to the other side, where we celebrate Easter.  Our worship and prayer help us live his story as God defeats death forever.  It is worth our sacrifice of time.  It is a journey filled with meaning and hope. 

This Holy Week,  I invite you to worship in one of our 87 churches and receive the grace we need to face our days.  This is the good news that only Jesus can provide. I hope I see you at church!