Dangerous bears and upraised eyebrows begone

By John Pearring

Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest
Colossians 1:21-23
Luke 6:1-5

Often, one little phrase or word in scripture gives us pause. And, like in Colossians 1:21-23, the pause comes after some very good news. The scriptures excite us, and then reminds us of our role in the inevitable fate of creation.

“You once were alienated and hostile in mind because of evil deeds; God has now reconciled you in the fleshly Body of Christ through his death, to present you holy, without blemish, and irreproachable before him . . .”

Yeah, baby. We have been reconciled—forgiven, cleansed of sin, and are now “irreproachable.” Nothing can turn us away from God again. We will live in the land of milk and honey. Whew.

But, there’s a dangerous and envious bear that comes with the honey, a testy pause which catches our breath and halters our steps. From alienated and hostile, when we performed evil deeds, we begin a holy process which demands continuous follow-up:

“. . . provided that you persevere in the faith, firmly grounded, stable, and not shifting from the hope of the Gospel that you heard, which has been preached to every creature under heaven . . .”

We are not yet perfected. The inevitable weakness which we display in the face of more and more, cleverer and cleverer temptations await every coming moment. That reaction to "provided that you . . . ," is a stutter in our step, pinged by the demons we’ve known so well. We do not have to hang on that stutter step provided that we persevere in faith. Perseverance, persisting toward a purpose in the face of speed bumps and discouraging words, marks our day. The New Testament hammers on the importance of perseverance.

•  " . . . how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? Announced originally through the Lord, it was confirmed for us by those who had heard” (Heb 2:3). 
• “No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified”(1 Cor 9:27).
• “Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall” (1 Cor 10:12).

Jesus said, “He who endures to the end will be saved” (Mt 10:22; 24:13).

The era of early Christianity was no picnic. Pagan society mirrors our current days. Persecution isn't always physical, then or now. Families and friends warned their Christian relatives that their excitement over the resurrection of Jesus didn’t fit with the times. It sounds very familiar. Secular folks feel the need to correct our faith as fantasy with everything from a raised eyebrow to ordinances and laws that pen us in, or out, depending on the circumstances.

Persecution can be subtle and emotionally challenging. It’s not just the oddness of being Christian or Catholic that bothers us. It’s a budding of doubt that creeps into our life of prayer, devotion, and giving of self. Emotional reactions after a wonderful initial experience that salvation is real has its own temporary energy, but the presence of God provides an energy that never wanes. Keeping our eyes upon God makes it imperative for Christians to understand that, “by your endurance you will gain your lives” (Lk 21:19; Rom 5:3; Col 1:11).

There’s a second word to hook onto perseverance—endurance. Consider that thousands of years had passed when Jeremiah wrote, “See, days are coming—oracle of the Lord—when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah . . . They will no longer teach their friends and relatives, “Know the Lord!” Everyone, from least to greatest, shall know me—oracle of the Lord—for I will forgive their iniquity and no longer remember their sin” (Jeremiah 31:31-34).

Several thousand more years have gone by since then. Everyone has endured their own 25, 50, 75 and 100 year journey of perseverance. The waiting, as short as it really is, is not solitary. Christ is with us through every temptation we endure. And not with just a consoling pat on the head.

As the Lord of the sabbath, Luke explains that Jesus took his disciples through a field of grain on the holy day. They were hungry and he fed them in an act of law governance that stunned the Pharisees. One of his first run of miracles followed with the healing of diseases and exorcizing of demons when people from Judea and Jerusalem sought him out. He cured them all in the face of legal persecutions and obstinate whining.

As disciples today, our indwelled Holy Spirit is there with us during temptations and persecutions to fill our hearts with courage and our minds with perseverance. He lifts us up with miracles, too. He astounds us with abundance, unwarranted blessings, and undeserved grace. We don’t have to travel to find him and wait in line to talk to him. He is with us to keep us aligned with the hope of the Gospel that you heard. 

The burden of temptation is lifted by the presence of God—the law of truth written upon our hearts by the Father, the body and blood of the Son, our brother, nurturing us, and the living Holy Spirit not just tracing our every step but walking with us hand in hand. Perseverance is not only possible but firmly grounded in our being. 

The universe has been waiting for Jesus since the fall. We endure for only a little while longer when we will all share the honey without a dangerous, threatening bear, insulting eyebrows, and legal shenanigans halting our progress.