Jesus Chose

Rough Customers

“Never once did Jesus scan the room for the best example of holy living and send that person out to tell others about him. He always sent stumblers and sinners. I find that comforting.”

Nadia Bolz-Weber (Accidental Saints: Finding God in All the Wrong People)

          Now that Easter is over and we have sung our Alleluias and watched Andrea Bocelli break the sound barrier in Milan, let’s get down and dirty about Jesus. Nadia Bolz-Weber mentions in her Easter sermon (The Corners; Patrix for Easter Sunday, 2020) that Mary mistook Jesus for a gardener. When Mary Magdalene saw him outside the tomb that first Easter morning when she went to anoint his body with burial spices, he was dirty. I guess tombs and graves would tend to be that way. But Jesus was never shy about getting dirty. He was no neat-freak in white linens like we moderns make him out to be.

          Instead, Jesus was the man who spat in the dirt and made paste to heal blind eyes. The one who drew in the sand of his homeland while recommending that the men who were ready to kill a woman for adultery search their hearts and let whichever one of them was without sin cast the first stone. Jesus was the one who chose fishermen and tax collectors and prostitutes and every manner of sinner and reprobate for his disciples. And not only chose them but had the audacity to send them out to preach to others. That must have chapped the holy behinds of the powers that be. Jesus was, in fact, a bit of a reprobate himself.

          Lucky for us, because in choosing those rough, dirty men as disciples, Jesus made clear that his people came from among the working class. Not from the upper levels of the society of his day, but from those humble enough to listen to his message and walk in his footsteps. The one we worshipped as the risen Lord yesterday, is the same Jesus who told his followers to clothe the naked, care for the sick, provide food and water to the poor and hungry, visit the prisoner. (Matt. 25:36) He told them, get down off your high horse and take care of the children. He didn’t really say that, but I’m pretty sure he meant it.

          All of this is to say, don’t worry that you’re not good enough—maybe you have a few rough edges, a small problem with addiction or don’t use the King’s perfect English—just love. That’s what Jesus said it comes down to: Love God and Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself. Even if your neighbor happens to be dirty—or alien or black or brown or female or, God forbid, a democrat or a Muslim—love them anyway. Jesus does, and he’s the Risen Lord. Right?

                                                  In the Spirit,

                                                  Jane