Last week we started our sermon series on the things we lay down and pick up. We looked at the woman caught in adultery and her accusers laying down their stones and picking up honesty about their own sinfulness. Of course, Jesus helped them along in this self-discovery by writing their sins on the ground. Confronted with their sins, they dropped their stones and found compassion for the woman. As we walk this journey through Lent, we continue to explore our own self-examination and what we might lay down and pick up in its place.
Let’s say, you are about to meet a group of new people. You would like to make a good first impression. These people will soon only have snippets of information about you, and yet will make an evaluation. This evaluation would be based on your appearance, your behavior, your manners, and values. So if you could only use three adjectives to describe yourself to these people what three adjectives would you use? How would you like them to see you?
Do you have the three adjectives? If you’re stuck maybe you want to know who is in the group, before choosing your adjectives. If it is work related we might want to be seen in one light. If the group is more social you might play-up your more fun-loving side. Let’s face it, we want some people to see us one way and others to see a different side to us.
I’m gonna give you a moment to choose you three core adjectives….
All of us construct who we are in this life. We have experiences, thoughts, education, family dynamics which shape how we present ourselves. Our employment, where we grew up, our generation all influence how we construct ourselves. Then our environment can also play a role. I know that when living in the Hamptons, there were more expectations to be a certain way- the car you drove, which beach club you belonged to, the social events you attended all played a role in how you were perceived. Even though none of those things really said much about a person. I will say one of the things I like about where we live is the freedom we each have to be our own person. And yet we still construct that person.
Another way of saying this is to say we wear masks. We show only the parts of ourselves we want others to see, and we hide the rest. When asked how are you, you reply fine, even though your mother is in the hospital, or you are struggling with depression, or you constantly worry about your child on drugs. This is not a bad thing- we do this for self-preservation. Yet it separates us from those around us and from God. Or another mask might be we only talk about our successes in life, our travels, our joys, our kids. Because if we really showed our brokenness, the part Jesus came to save, then our fear is you might not like me. So we hide, so we create ourselves the way we want to show the world.
As a teenager, I was always afraid someone would discover the real me, see me for who I was, broken and hurt. Now to the rest of the world I was the successful, Vice president of Senior class, cheerleader, honor society, youth group leader and elder. But inside I did not feel that great. So I constructed this successful person. I always wanted my insides to match my outsides.
Personal inventories, maturing as a Christian, getting that Christ died for me, for all my brokenness, help to bridge that gap.
But the gap is still there. We all have a gap, we all construct who we are.
The rich young man had a strong constructed identity. He had done what the law required. He had kept the 10 commandments- specifically the five dealing the social interaction.
He did not murder, commit adultery, steal, or bear false witness. He honored his parents.
It was almost like a check list. Does that sound familiar? We say to ourselves, “I go to church, I pay my taxes, I follow the 10 commandments.” This is how we construct our good person identity. This is how we hide ourselves, from others. But we also try to hide ourselves from God. We construct our good person so that we do not need God. We hide behind what we do right, so that God might not see what we have done wrong. But reality is God sees. “O Lord, you have searched me and known me!” You know my thoughts, my words, my actions. The Psalms declare God knows and loves us still. But to live in the light of God’s love we have to show our authentic selves to God, allow our true selves to stand before Christ. The same Christ who died for our sins, so that we do not have to be held captive to our constructed selves. Jesus frees us to be a new creation, closes the gap, so that our insides match our outsides.
Young children show their authentic selves, their insides that match their outsides. The kingdom of heaven Jesus tells us belongs to them. Jesus laying hands on the children was a way of recognizing that we come into the world with our insides matching our outsides, as whole people filled with squeals of joy, exuberant hugs, big voices to express the wonder all around us. But somehow, we learn we need to stop all of that, only show the good stuff, construct who we are.
Yet the rich young man knows that there is more. He has done all the law requires, he knows that his insides don’t match his outsides. So he asks Jesus, “What do I still lack?” It is a question we can each ask, “How do I close my gap? What do I still lack, Lord?” Jesus answered, “If you wish to be perfect,” sell your possessions, give the money to the poor and follow me. First let’s look at perfect. In the Jewish tradition perfection means, “completeness” (Feasting on the Gospels, Mt 2, p.199). We are whole and complete when our insides match our outsides.
Jesus tells the man to give up his possession and follow him. Now there are several ways of understanding this. First this is what this man needs to be right with God. Money is getting in his way, his possessions are too important, and Jesus wants him to change. This might apply to some of us here.
Secondly the Catholic interpretation is that priests and those called are to follow at this level of dedication. Hence their vow of poverty.
Or finally, Jesus saying give up all you have applies to all of us and what we all need is to check our possessions at the door and follow Jesus. Does that make you uncomfortable? The disciples were uncomfortable too, asking who then could be saved? Jesus said, “For mortals this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” We can address the things we lack, we can become our authentic selves, we can give away more of what God has given us. We can be good stewards.
Hear these words from 1 Timothy, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way, they will lay up treasure as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life” (Tim. 6:17-19).
That sounds like living in the Spirit, living so God can use you, living so that our insides match our outsides.
Now think of your three adjectives, I bet these are your authentic self. Was one of those generous? Was one of those compassionate so you follow the great commandment and love your neighbor as yourself? Was one of those authentic, so that you can lay down your mask, lay down your constructed self, and pick up your authentic self. Now this might feel overwhelming, even impossible. For mortals this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Amen.
