Re-writing the Story

A dear friend from London, once a member of a parish I served, sent me a link to a Bill O’Reilly piece on Townhall, entitled “Keep Christ in Unemployment.”  It is another attempt by the powerful to re-write the Gospel of Jesus Christ into a conservative capitalist manifesto:

“Every fair-minded person should support government safety nets for people who need assistance through no fault of their own. But guys like McDermott don’t make distinctions like that. For them, the baby Jesus wants us to “provide” no matter what the circumstance. But being a Christian, I know that while Jesus promoted charity at the highest level, he was not self-destructive.”

Actually Mr. O’Reilly, Jesus was ‘self’ destructive in the sense that as the One for Others he constantly sought to break us humans out of bondage to the kind of narcissistic, “it’s mine to do with as I want,” ego-centric, self-centered rhetoric so often displayed in the media today.

Jesus challenged his own parents in defiance of the laws of his faith, refuting the Fifth Commandment.  Being a Christian Mr. O’Reilly, do you not remember Jesus at the Temple?

Jesus challenged the wealthy to give not just to those who you decide are deserving of help, but to anyone who asks.  Being a Christian Mr. O’Reilly, do you not remember the rich young ruler?

Jesus challenged the self-satisfied to recognize that ultimate victory comes only through what the world calls defeat.  Being a Christian Mr. O’Reilly, do you not remember Peter?

Jesus himself was challenged and accepted that challenge by changing his ways and expanding his understanding of his own ministry.  Being a Christian Mr. O’Reilly, do you not remember the Canaanite woman?

Jesus challenged the Powers, both political and ecclesial, to change their behaviors and liberate the oppressed.  Being a Christian Mr. O’Reilly, do you not remember Caiphus and Pontius Pilate?

Jesus challenged everyone and it got him killed.  That seems pretty ‘self’-destructive to me.  Being a Christian Mr. O’Reilly, do you not remember Golgotha?

In this season of Preparation, as we celebrate once again the memory of a birth which we claim transformed the world, we would do well to remember the words of Christ: “For those who want to save their life will lose it, but those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”

See you in Church. 

Kevin