In fear, we plan our tomorrows

By Steve Hall

Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Ezekiel 37:21-28
John 11:45-56

First, it was a book, then a play, then a television production, and finally a movie. Twelve men had watched the meticulous presentation of the details of the crime and sat through long sessions of arguments about the meaning of those details. They were tired of the disruption the event had brought into their lives and were ready to go home. They were the men of the jury. They were bored with this legal affair even as they took the matter seriously. They wanted life to return to the ordinary with which they were familiar. Cynicism was not the norm among the group, but it certainly reared its ugly head during their deliberations. For these and other reasons, Twelve Angry Men has become a classic among films.

No one ever said why they were angry, though the various presentations showed them as argumentative and belligerent. Still, the cause of their anger is not mentioned.

Another jury gathered several centuries earlier, and there were probably more than twelve members. They, too, had heard meticulous presentations of the man’s crime. They had set through long sessions of arguments about the meaning of the events described. They were tired of the disruption the event had brought into their lives and were ready to go home. They were bored with this legal affair even as they took the matter seriously. They were the men of the jury. They wanted life to return to the ordinary with which they were familiar. Cynicism was not the norm among the group, but it certainly reared its ugly head in that gathering at the high priest’s house. But more important than their boredom, more important than their desire for the ordinary or the return to normalcy — more important than any of that was their fear.

“If we leave him alone, all will believe in him,
and the Romans will come
and take away both our land and our nation.”

Fear is a mind-killer, destructive of rational thought. Anger is often the companion of fear, and so it was on this occasion. It was inevitable that at that gathering of Pharisees and Sadducees, cynicism reigned.

“You know nothing,
nor do you consider that it is better for you
that one man should die instead of the people,
so that the whole nation may not perish.”

Repeatedly, they had been told in their Scriptures, “Do not be afraid.” It was a line they would easily ignore as the various troubles of the times confronted them. Fear ruled. God was allowed no time to show that he was in control — protecting, providing, saving.

We know that God does not have emotions, yet in his words to Ezekiel, we hear the angst of one who knows that people will suffer because things are not as they could be or should be. Here, we find an unimaginable depth of longing. It may seem strange to say, but God, too, hungers and thirsts for righteousness — for the righteousness of all creation — for all things to be the way they were meant to be. To this end, he proclaims:

“I will . . . gather them from all sides. . . . 
I will make them one nation. . . .
. . . there shall be one prince for them all.
Never again shall they be two nations . . . .
No longer shall they defile themselves . . . .
I will deliver them . . . .
I will deliver them . . . and cleanse them so that they may be my people and I may be their God.
. . . there shall be one shepherd for them all . . . .
My dwelling shall be with them; I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

The human heart's desire is pitiful compared with God's hunger, desire, and passion. The self-serving stance of those who had gathered with Caiphus is even more menial when seen against the backdrop of God’s unbounded love.

But what can we achieve with our meager attempts to affect the world around us? With caution, we go about our days. In fear, we plan our tomorrows. A reassessment may be in order.

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me, to devour my flesh,
my adversaries and foes, they shall stumble and fall.
Though a host encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.
One thing have I asked of the LORD,
that will I seek after;
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the LORD,
and to inquire in his temple.
For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent he will set me high upon a rock.
And now my head shall be lifted up
above my enemies round about me;
and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the LORD.
(Psalms 27:1-6)

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