Pentecost III
Of course, this weekend marks the beginning of astronomical summer, with the northern hemisphere's summer equinox. Long days. The world of the early Church marked this with the feast of John the Baptist -- traditionally six months older than Jesus -- who famously said, "I must decrease that He might increase." 'He' being Christ, in our lives. Enough room. And, of course, the days get shorter from here on out, you know. Decrease, that Christ might increase and grow in our hearts, like the Tree of Life he is...
Jesus, in Matthew, uses the famous image of taking up whatever might be our own 'cross' as a way of following in Jesus' way. Not avoiding difficulty, or truth-speaking, or the real pain of suffering... but taking it up, without fear, knowing we are promised not magic resolution, but healing and transforming presence and peace, strangely. 'Taking this yoke upon you' to find that someone else is shouldering it along with you.
He also famously speaks of division: the word spoken of the kingdom of God, and its righteousness and justice -- which is Truth, itself, plainspoken and real -- can split even the closest of relationships... if that relationship, itself, is not founded on truth. Truth will always find a way to be spoken, sometimes like a splinter working its way toward the skin's surface. "There is nothing secret that will not become known," Jesus says. Nice words for Fathers' Day, yes -- but, we all have secrets, family and otherwise, places of pain or areas we inherit or continue, that need the word of truth, spoken in love and courage, to find wholeness. After all, this is also the One who says that knowing the truth will actually make you free. Not happy, not rich, not physically healthy... but free.
There has been much necessary truth-speaking in our common life of late. We inherit a lot of family secrets in the American family. Difficult words to hear, difficult secrets to uncover. But, trust that the One who is 'increasing' in you will continue to speak the word of truth in you, and through you.
Jesus adds, "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul." Truth, indeed. And, trust that the One who keeps the soul in the path of Truth values and knows you, in your particularity, with your secrets and histories. We are more intimately known by God than we can imagine, seeking us out in strange ways with the transformative Truth. God's eye is on the sparrow, and must know us even better, Jesus tells us.
What fruits does that truthful, healing intimacy bear?