Have you ever been called a fool for being a Christian? I have. Have you ever felt like a fool in front of others when a discussion about Christianity comes up? If so, then don’t be alarmed or fight it because that is exactly what we are learning about ourselves according to the worldly understanding of Christian faith. Which is what Paul says in today’s reading:
The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. The message of the cross is about our salvation – the gift of eternal life in Heaven. So those who reject God’s offer of salvation have no option but to ridicule it because it doesn’t make sense. Paul follows that up with – but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Maybe you’ve gotten embarrassed when you’re with a group of friends and the topic of religion comes up and people are making fun of Christians, and you remain silent. Or maybe one of your favourite TV shows or comedians starts to make fun of the Bible or Christians. Do you stop watching – do you boycott – maybe you’ve had a bit of a snigger at it. As much as it would be good if you could argue back and convince them otherwise – sometimes that’s just not going to happen and you could find yourself out of your depth because they are raising some very challenging comments about the Christian faith that are hard to defend and has everyone around them agreeing.
If the Christian faith was easy to defend then we wouldn’t need faith to believe it – just clever arguments. In fact that’s exactly what St Peter says when he later talks about his account in the Transfiguration. And remember, Jesus told him not to tell anyone about this until he had risen from the dead. He said – For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We SAW his majestic splendor WITH OUR OWN EYES. There are many arguments that people will confront us with that can actually have a detrimental effect on our faith. Like – if Jesus rose from the dead then why hasn’t he shown himself. That’s not a valid argument otherwise when Jesus was challenged – come down from the cross and we’ll believe in you – then he would have done so. Or remember the rich man and Lazarus.
The rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus back to warn his brothers – they’ll believe if someone from the dead comes back. Abraham says they won’t believe even if someone returns from the dead.
So many times after performing a miracle Jesus would instruct the recipient of the miracle to not tell anyone because they just won’t understand. Which is what Jesus says at the end of our Gospel reading: After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. And we have the example of Doubting Thomas after the resurrection who was not present when Jesus showed himself to the other disciples. Unless I see the nail marks – I won’t believe. On this occasion Jesus responds to that request because it was important for the Apostles to have that eyewitness account. But he follows that up with – blessed are those who believe without seeing.
So Paul knows how our message is going to be received – as foolishness. But he doesn’t want us to be dismayed about this but accept that this is how the world will see our Christian faith. So Paul says that rather than become defensive to work on your own faith and allow God to deal with those who try to put us down. God says: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise. (I, not you) Has not GOD made foolish the wisdom of the world? In fact, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. So don’t be led astray and away from your faith. Even Jesus faced the foolishness of his people who didn’t get him. Even his own family thought he was mad: In Mark 3 he says – Jesus’ family went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”
In today’s Gospel the Jews said: What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews tried to apply human logic and wisdom to his answer, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” But Jesus was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
Much of the Christian faith is foolishness to the world: Born of a Virgin. A king born in a barn in a feeding trough. A victory over death by dying on a cross. The saviour of the world humiliated – spat upon – and mocked. The mighty king riding into town on a donkey.
St Peter gave his advice on how we approach this issue. He said to live out your faith and In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
Notice – firstly be an example – live out your faith. Secondly – always be prepared for the moment to share. Thirdly – gentleness and respect. Lastly – keep a clear conscience. And in doing this we don’t need to attack. No, Peter says by your good behaviour THEY will be ashamed of the way they treat you.
Jesus said, before he died, love one another and everyone will know you’re my disciples. And in the 10 commandments God has shown us how to live a good life. Not in order to attain eternal life but to be a blessing to others. And when Jesus was asked which of these was the most important – Love God with all your heart and love your neighbour as yourself. And Jesus gave an example of what this looked like when he told the parable of the Good Samaritan. Helping everyone – even our enemies. Loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us. Again – foolishness to those who don’t understand what and why we do these. But that’s because they don’t understand how much God loves them. That God loves them so much that he sent his one and only Son to die for them. That while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.
God made him who had no sin to become our sin so we could become God’s righteous. Foolish behaviour by God – by the world’s standards. But for us it is such Good News because it is the power and assurance of our salvation.
