Spiritual Hiccups - At the Edge of the Picture

Given America's history with slavery and race, it can sometimes be difficult to hear Jesus speak of masters and slaves as he does in today's gospel. Perhaps it helps if we change "slave" to "servant," and there is some warrant for doing that because the Greek word can mean either.

Regardless, I gained some new insight into this passage when I read Fr. Richard Rohr's meditation for today.  He was speaking of a different passage Matthew when he wrote,  

As Jesus says, “No one can serve two masters, he will always love one and ignore the other” (Matthew 6:24). Our first and final loyalty is to one kingdom: God’s or our own. We can’t really fake it. The Big Picture is apparent when God’s work and will are central, and we are happy to take our place in the corner of the frame.

Because I am a part of the Big Picture, I do matter, and substantially so. Because I am only a part, however, I am rightly situated off to stage right—and happily so. What freedom there is in such truth! We are inherently important and included, yet not burdened with manufacturing or sustaining that private importance. Our dignity is given by God, and we are freed from ourselves!

Many of us do not like to play supporting roles.  We want to be center stage, not off at the edge.  (Pastors can be particularly prone to this.)  Yet, as Fr. Rohr so well points out, finding our proper place in the picture is freeing.  Conversely, confusion about our place creates a life that is constantly at odds with what it is meant to be.

I think that one of the joys of Christmas is getting lost in the story, the painting if you will.  We are happy to stand off to the side with the shepherds and play a supporting role.  For that moment, God's story is front and center, and we are content with the role of faithful servants.

But soon Christmas is over, and the baby Jesus is grown and calling us to follow him and embrace the life he teaches.  But we do not always care for the role Jesus gives us.  We object to our place in the Big Picture, and so we push him to the side and claim the center for ourselves.

Gracious Savior, help us to keep you at the center when the decorations are all gone.  Pour out the Holy Spirit on us, that we may discover the freedom and joy of living out our place in the wonderful work of art that is your coming reign.

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