Millions look at the same viral videos
but they see radically different things:
some say they see an act of self-defense
in response to domestic terrorism;
some say they see a deliberate act of murder
fueled by rage and hatred;
some say they see a tragedy unfold
that could and should have been avoided.
Perhaps some of these people
are simply lying about what they see
in order to advance some agenda.
But I suspect in most cases,
people are being honest when the say
that they see such different things,
because they are looking
through different lenses,
lenses that filter what they see
and only let in certain sorts of truth.
but they see radically different things:
some say they see an act of self-defense
in response to domestic terrorism;
some say they see a deliberate act of murder
fueled by rage and hatred;
some say they see a tragedy unfold
that could and should have been avoided.
Perhaps some of these people
are simply lying about what they see
in order to advance some agenda.
But I suspect in most cases,
people are being honest when the say
that they see such different things,
because they are looking
through different lenses,
lenses that filter what they see
and only let in certain sorts of truth.
You can think of lots of analogous cases
in our divided and quarrelsome culture.
Some say they see a lump of cells
that might destroy a woman’s future,
while others say that see a child
made in the image and likeness of God.
Some say they see law-breaking foreigners
who threaten American prosperity or security,
while others say they see neighbors in need of refuge
who enrich our economy through their industry
and our culture through their distinctive heritage.
And we find ourselves wondering how
we can ever resolve our divisions and quarrels
when the realities we see
seem so radically different.
We find ourselves wondering if we are fated
to see the world through lenses pre-crafted
to make us see as Democrats of Republicans,
liberals or conservatives,
woke or MAGA.
in our divided and quarrelsome culture.
Some say they see a lump of cells
that might destroy a woman’s future,
while others say that see a child
made in the image and likeness of God.
Some say they see law-breaking foreigners
who threaten American prosperity or security,
while others say they see neighbors in need of refuge
who enrich our economy through their industry
and our culture through their distinctive heritage.
And we find ourselves wondering how
we can ever resolve our divisions and quarrels
when the realities we see
seem so radically different.
We find ourselves wondering if we are fated
to see the world through lenses pre-crafted
to make us see as Democrats of Republicans,
liberals or conservatives,
woke or MAGA.
When people looked at Jesus
they also saw different realities.
Some saw a merely human teacher
whom one might follow if his message
seemed interesting or useful.
Some saw a dangerous agitator
who aimed to overturn
the religious and political status quo,
and probably get his foolish followers
and a bunch of innocent bystanders
killed in the process.
Some didn’t see him at all,
caught up in their daily lives
and far too busy to pay attention
to an unimportant person
speaking about unimportant matters.
People looked at him through different lenses,
lenses that filtered what they saw
and only let in certain sorts of truth.
they also saw different realities.
Some saw a merely human teacher
whom one might follow if his message
seemed interesting or useful.
Some saw a dangerous agitator
who aimed to overturn
the religious and political status quo,
and probably get his foolish followers
and a bunch of innocent bystanders
killed in the process.
Some didn’t see him at all,
caught up in their daily lives
and far too busy to pay attention
to an unimportant person
speaking about unimportant matters.
People looked at him through different lenses,
lenses that filtered what they saw
and only let in certain sorts of truth.
John the Baptist, however, seemed to see
something in Jesus that no one else saw:
He saw the Lamb of God who takes away
the sin of the world;
he saw the one on whom the Spirit
descended like a dove;
he saw the one who ranks ahead of him
because he existed before him.
John looked at Jesus with eyes of prophetic insight,
and saw with eyes illuminated by the light
that was coming into the world,
the light that shone in darkness
and which the darkness could not comprehend.
something in Jesus that no one else saw:
He saw the Lamb of God who takes away
the sin of the world;
he saw the one on whom the Spirit
descended like a dove;
he saw the one who ranks ahead of him
because he existed before him.
John looked at Jesus with eyes of prophetic insight,
and saw with eyes illuminated by the light
that was coming into the world,
the light that shone in darkness
and which the darkness could not comprehend.
We Christians have been illuminated by this same light,
for we see in Jesus what John saw:
the living Lord whom death could not conquer.
And we, like John, are called to see all of reality
by the light of the Lamb who takes our sin away.
We are called to let Jesus be the lens
through which we see and understand the world.
But how often do we look at the world
through some other set of lenses?
Perhaps we do this because we have identified
our favored ideology with the Gospel
and conformed Jesus to our political faction.
Or perhaps it is because we think that we need
one set of lenses to see the truth of Jesus
and another set of lenses
to see the truth of the world.
But nothing in the Christian faith suggests
that Jesus conforms to our ideology
or that our sight can be divided up this way.
Jesus Christ lays claim to the whole of our lives
and calls us to see everything in his light,
to view all reality through the lens of the Gospel.
for we see in Jesus what John saw:
the living Lord whom death could not conquer.
And we, like John, are called to see all of reality
by the light of the Lamb who takes our sin away.
We are called to let Jesus be the lens
through which we see and understand the world.
But how often do we look at the world
through some other set of lenses?
Perhaps we do this because we have identified
our favored ideology with the Gospel
and conformed Jesus to our political faction.
Or perhaps it is because we think that we need
one set of lenses to see the truth of Jesus
and another set of lenses
to see the truth of the world.
But nothing in the Christian faith suggests
that Jesus conforms to our ideology
or that our sight can be divided up this way.
Jesus Christ lays claim to the whole of our lives
and calls us to see everything in his light,
to view all reality through the lens of the Gospel.
But what exactly does that mean?
How do we come to see the world
in the light of Christ?
We must see his light
by encountering him, as John did.
We must come to know him
by immersing ourselves in the Scriptures
and by opening ourselves to the possibility
that doing so might turn our worldview upside down.
And if the strange world within the Bible,
the foolishness of the cross,
and the weakness of the all-powerful God,
do not unsettle our presumptions
about the world of our daily life,
then we may not have encountered
the Jesus who is there to be found.
We must come to know him
by living more deeply
the life of his body, the Church,
drinking more deeply
of the free and prodigal grace
that is offered to us in the sacraments.
And if the freedom with which grace
has been given to us in the Church
does not create in us a spirit
of generosity and mercy toward others,
then we may not have encountered
the Jesus who is there to be found.
We must come to know him
by seeking him out in those places
where he himself has told us he can be found:
in the hungry, the thirsty,
the stranger, the naked, the imprisoned,
in the distressing disguise of the poor.
And if we see in the needy
only a threat to be kept at bay,
then we may not have encountered
the Jesus who is there to be found,
and woe to us on the day of judgment.
How do we come to see the world
in the light of Christ?
We must see his light
by encountering him, as John did.
We must come to know him
by immersing ourselves in the Scriptures
and by opening ourselves to the possibility
that doing so might turn our worldview upside down.
And if the strange world within the Bible,
the foolishness of the cross,
and the weakness of the all-powerful God,
do not unsettle our presumptions
about the world of our daily life,
then we may not have encountered
the Jesus who is there to be found.
We must come to know him
by living more deeply
the life of his body, the Church,
drinking more deeply
of the free and prodigal grace
that is offered to us in the sacraments.
And if the freedom with which grace
has been given to us in the Church
does not create in us a spirit
of generosity and mercy toward others,
then we may not have encountered
the Jesus who is there to be found.
We must come to know him
by seeking him out in those places
where he himself has told us he can be found:
in the hungry, the thirsty,
the stranger, the naked, the imprisoned,
in the distressing disguise of the poor.
And if we see in the needy
only a threat to be kept at bay,
then we may not have encountered
the Jesus who is there to be found,
and woe to us on the day of judgment.
Scripture, sacrament, and service:
these are the places where we hear the voice:
“Behold the Lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world.”
These are the places where the light shines
so that we may come to see the world truly.
These are the places where
our comfortable ideological lenses
can be stripped away
and reality seen,
as uncomfortable as that
might be at times.
These are places where we learn
to see the world together
with the mind of Christ
through the body of Christ.
these are the places where we hear the voice:
“Behold the Lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world.”
These are the places where the light shines
so that we may come to see the world truly.
These are the places where
our comfortable ideological lenses
can be stripped away
and reality seen,
as uncomfortable as that
might be at times.
These are places where we learn
to see the world together
with the mind of Christ
through the body of Christ.
Let us pray that Christ the Lamb,
who takes away the sin of the world,
might have mercy on us all.
