In seminary we loved to talk about Juxtaposition. I believe the source was Professor Gordon Lathrop's work - he showed how both the bible and the grand tradition of Christian worship tend to take single images and pair them up in odd ways. I imagine had he watched Glee at the time, he'd call it a 'theological mash-up,' but at the time, the only word for him was 'juxtaposition.' Some examples of this are obvious: The Death of Jesus, and the Victory of Jesus, more or less juxtaposed in the symbol of the Cross. In the water of baptism are 'juxtaposed' the ideas of washing, and the idea of drowning (and rebirth, obviously). We Lutherans sing a Kyrie and a Gloria every Sunday, (save in Lent): the Kyrie, usually somber and plaintive, the Gloria usually soaring and joyful. Mash up!
In the bible, there's plenty of examples, but no one mashes it up like St Paul:But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. (2 Corinthians 4.7-12)
There's meat to grind there: "Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies." I can spend some time meditating on THAT mash-up, at least.
What I have discovered about Good Shepherd here this last year is another mash-up, another juxtaposition: The Journey and the Promised Land. Obviously, those are biblical themes - Moses led the Children of Israel for forty years in the wilderness before he led them across Jordan into the Promised Land. The Journey for us is obvious - the mission statement of our church says we 'invite you to join us on a journey of discipleship, following Jesus.' That's as good a mission as I can imagine. And yet, here we are in a brand new building, on our own eleven acres of Holy Land. Promised Land, into which we 'Crossed Over' here not so long ago.
Now, juxtapositions bear fruit when they are balanced - and become sterile when unbalanced. A church always victorious, always successful, always triumphant can quickly become meaningless if it cannot 'carry in (its) mortal body the death of Jesus.' In the same way, a morose and condemning church can often forget to 'make visible the life of Jesus in our bodies." But in balance, there is truth and peace and righteousness!
So we have to live, people of Good Shepherd, in the balance between Promised Land and Wilderness Journey. In the Promised Land, we can see God's gift to us, this wonderful eleven acres, this beautiful building, this sense of place, of home. In the Wilderness Journey we can see, as all Christians have found through the centuries, that this world is NOT our home, we are only passing through, and our race is not yet run. Both of these almost contradictory statements are true. If we accept one and reject the other, we lose. If we embrace both truths, and live in the balance, we will prosper.
So love this land, but love more the Lord who provides it. Love this building, but consider it a Tabernacle, built for speed not comfort, and not a temple, or, God forbid, a fortress! Love this land, but consider it a Talent, something lent to us by the Master to be put into use, and not a birthright to be held tightly and fallow.
And in this new year, consider again that we, the people of Good Shepherd, are on a journey of discipleship. We are here, but we're going someplace. There is a circle of life, an eternal return even, but following Jesus there is a beginning, a middle, and an end. That's not a contradiction, it's a juxtaposition. And it's the truth. Happy New Year, and we'll see you this week!
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