In a sense the Bible is full of exceptional people. There is the one out of
ten healed lepers, who returned to give thanks to Jesus. There is the woman of
Samaria at the well who dared to question Jesus, and the boy who offered Jesus
his small basket of fish to feed the crowd. Today we meet Nicodemus, another exceptional
person. He appears in John's Gospel two other times. Nicodemus was a member of
the Jerusalem council and in Jesus' final days when the council discussed whether
to seek to arrest Jesus, he alone bravely defended Jesus, advised caution, and
urged the council to give Jesus a fair hearing rather than relying on slanderous
hearsay. Lastly it is Nicodemus who together with Joseph of Arimathaea obtained
the body of Jesus from the cross and prepared his body for burial.
We, too, as people of faith, are exceptional people, not because of our educational
accomplishments, economic status or public popularity. We are exceptional because
we have had the opportunity to hear the Gospel and to be given the gift of a community
where the good news may be further explored and practiced. Of course no one can
force us to accept Good News and we are far from being a perfect community. Yet
despite all failings, God's message prevails. We are taught that forgiveness promotes
health rather than revenge, that an embrace is more satisfying than a slight,
that resentment destroys, selfishness leads to emptiness, and sharing to greater
abundance. We know that in some way we have no greater purpose on this earth than
to seek and enjoy loving God and to seek the best for our neighbor's welfare.
Bernie Siegal was a physician who wrote a popular
book about ten years ago entitled Love, Medicine, and Miracles. A central theme
of the book was that patients who treasure life, who value the beauty and ability
to love, overcome in some way their sickness and become the one out of nine, the
exception who lives much longer or is able to function to a much greater extent
than modern medicine says one should. On the other hand, patients who constantly
fear their disease, who remain bitter and resentful because good health has eluded
them, inevitably see themselves as part of the nine who will never beat the odds.
Those who fear and cultivate anger shut down their body’s recuperative powers.
The angels’ announcement to the shepherds on
the fields outside Bethlehem is still operative in this world. "Have no fear,
for to you is born this day a savior." People of faith will face many, many
challenges ahead, but “have no fear” for the future of the community
of faith. God's grace will prevail and people of faith will be offered the tools
to live as exceptional people.
To be sure, an integral
part of the mission that God invites us to accept, concerns the other nine. People
of faith know that the whole human family has worth, that Jesus intends no one
to be lost, and all people are in some manner exceptional people.
Many of you will remember the old rabbinical story about the sage who gathered
his pupils together and asked, "How do you know when day is coming and night
is ended?" One pupil spoke up, "could it be when you see a tree in the
distance and can tell that it is a fig instead of an olive?" "No,"
said the sage. "Is it when you can smell the fresh dew on the fields?"
offered another. The sage shook his head. "Is it when you hear the animals
in the barnyard beginning to stir?" No", the sage answered, "it
is none of those things. It is only when you can look into the eyes of a stranger
and recognize it is the face of your sister or brother. If you cannot do that
it is still night." It is still night for nine out of ten in the world.
We gather around the table to receive the presence of the living Lord in a special
way. Then we go out from here, beyond these walls carrying God's spirit with us.
There are still many like Nicodemus who in some way are seeking renewal, refreshment,
or meaning, who know that they are running on empty, and in some way for whom
it is still night, who are waiting to be invited and guided into the light. Yes,
it can be a daunting task, and like Nicodemus it can be a gradual process. Neither
Jesus nor Nicodemus deserve reproach because Nicodemus didn't become a disciple
after one night’s conversation. For while People travel at different rates
and arrive at different times we are all exceptional people.
