Thursday, July 24, 2014

Angry Bird or Sugar Daddy

Correcting our broken image of God
Micah 6:1-4, 6-8

With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow before God most high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with myriad streams of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my crime, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? You have been told, O man, what is good, and what the LORD requires of you: Only to do the right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.

            What is your vision of God?  Even though we cannot see God, each of us has an idea, a mental picture, of who God is.  And how we see God dramatically determines how we live each day.  Some people see God as a strict judge, ready to condemn us for the smallest misstep.  That was Jonathon Edwards’, who in 1741 preached a famous sermon called, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.”  He literally wanted to “scare the hell out of people” in order to save them.  Others picture God more like a “Daddy Warbucks” or “Sugar Daddy,” who overlooks our faults and, like a doting grandfather, gives us whatever we want.  Even those who don’t believe in God spend a lot of time and money arguing with those who do.  They believe in a “shadow God” who’s not really there, but they still write books and make money off a God who doesn’t exist.  I know, I bought one of Richard Dawkins’ books!  How we see God determines how we live.
             That’s why in the Bible Philip eagerly asked Jesus, “Show us the Father!”  In other words, what does God look like?  Jesus answered him, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.”  Jesus is the perfect icon of the Father.  That’s why at Mass we stand when we hear the 4 gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  When Jesus speaks, he reveals not only who he is, but also who the Father is.  And Micah in the first reading today tells us how this Biblical vision of God should make us act.  He says, “Only to do the right, and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.”  This is not Jonathon Edwards’ “Angry Bird,” (your know, the video game) and it’s not a “Sugar Daddy,” it is a Father who loves his children but also expects a lot from them.  How we see God determines, to a dramatic degree, how we behave.

            You know, you can also ask this question the other way around: how we behave is a clue to how we see God.  In other words, begin by examining your behavior.  If you find yourself scrupulous and living a fearful and anxious life, it may mean you have a Jonathon Edwards’ vision of God.  If, on the other hand, you live a carefree, reckless and irresponsible life, you may see God as a Sugar Daddy, who never holds you accountable.  If, on the other hand, you’re making tons of money on books about a “shadow God” you’re probably an atheist!  You see, there is no escaping God.  You can ask the question from whichever side you like – begin with God or begin with your behavior – but they are two sides of the same existential coin.  Who you think he is and how you live your life are inextricably bound together.

            Today, pray like Philip did and say to Jesus with all your heart: “Show us the Father!”  And start to correct your own broken image of God.


            Praised be Jesus Christ! 

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