Good Shepherd e-news

Dearly Beloved,

If you've ever attended a big concert with a famous musician or spotted a movie star in public, you know that everyone is paying attention. Because when someone with wealth, power, and prestige enters the room, we feel their presence. Their popularity and prestige leads to a kind of visible splendor. You've probably heard someone say, "And there he was, in all of his glory!"

After interceding on Israel's behalf, asking God to remain present with his people despite their disobedience, Moses makes a strange request. "Show me your glory, I pray." To which God replies, "I will make all my goodness pass before you." Moses wants to see God's visible splendor, but God says, "I can't show that to a human being--you would die!" In telling Moses that he'd show him his goodness, then proclaiming that he would be gracious and merciful, God is sending a message: My inner-glory is my goodness. It's my character to forgive, embrace, and show mercy. This is a different kind of glory than we see in Tom Cruise or The Beatles!

In the Old Testament, God had to conceal his visible splendor in a cloud, the tabernacle, and the temple. The key was hidenness. It was impossible for the holiness and splendor of God to come into direct contact with sinful human beings, so God, while present, had to "keep a distance" so as not to destroy anyone! Well--what would it take for this glory and splendor to come close?

Saint John writes, "And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory" (John 1:14a). When God takes human flesh in Jesus, his glory is veiled in skin and bones, but comes close! He lives among human beings. He is able to bring his holiness and his goodness to us. This is nothing short of amazing! And just as God proclaims his mercy and grace to the people of Israel, in Jesus he extends that mercy and grace beyond Israel to all of the world.

So, God's Word challenges us to understand glory in a new way. God's glory is manifest in his embrace of sinners--those who are unlike God, those who have run away from God, turned their backs on him. We see it most powerfully as Jesus hangs on the cross and cries out, "Forgive them, Father. They don't know what they're doing." It is this enemy-love, the embrace of those who have hurt us, offended us, insulted us, that we as followers of Jesus are called to embody.

Imagine a world where people began to embrace their worst enemies! Such a world would point to the New Creation where God's Peace will reign forever. And such a vision starts with the Church--a.k.a. You and Me. Embracing with mercy and compassion those we find it most difficult to love and forgive is not easy, but it is the only way. It is the way of the cross. And it is the way God's glory will be put on display in this hurting world.

In Jesus' Name,
Fr. Cameron+