2024-08-23 A Meditation on the Immediate Need

“9 Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. 2 For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, 4 having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. 5 Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. 6 These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, 7 but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. 8 By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing 9 (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.” (Heb 9:1-10 ESV)

Really warming up to the world around us, it is not only plausible but almost a certainty that the High Priest—and any who walk in His footsteps—will be tried. Will be persecuted. Will be overwhelmed with the extent of the plain human need and awfulness. We ourselves, as His hands and feet in the world, are crucified. On some metaphysical plane? No, in tangible observable facts of ill will or questions circling us in the group-think, in plain averse reactivity to anyone who has a coherent and sensible Spiritual right plan.

Instead of working in stages, such a one as this is jumped on or leaned upon. Such a one as this is shouted down and crucified. We all of us even note the inner intimations and pray that we would Awaken not just to avoidance of the ill-begotten jibe, but to the proaction to do more and better and go on the offensive.

Offensive of Courage to murmur a steadfast word, a route, a travail of the seas that overcomes all rumor mills and temptations—crazy confrontations of two widely differing takes on a matter—to dismiss or to “pray for” (said in a patronizing or suspicious way) such a one as is in our midst revelatory and inspired and upbeat and again, of muttered and spoken and steadfastly evoked Baseline, the Story, the Backup Plan, the Testimony to something Viral. Viral in its ability just to breathe life into the unloved or momentarily—in moments like these—needy and downcast.

All of us are therefore not statically “Christian” or “Non-”, but engaged in a movement either towards or away from the High Priest who was Crucified. We are engaged not just with the youth in the sense of them meeting the elders, but in a Call to assess each and every word by the humble Nazarene. Is it potable? Cogent and Plain? Is it Hopeful and above all, addressing something Human and Pain-struck? Or rather, is it submissive unto a fault, unto the breakdown of all polite society and all mere questions of proper dress and appropriate small talk. Does it jibe and come from a place we wish others wouldn’t have seen, come from a place we’d never trade out in exchange for the slim pickings—Christ Himself—that occupy what all we’ve lost? We wouldn’t choose for ourselves or for others the Crosses that life brings to bear, but also we know Ecstatic in the Moment prayer and Insight and Imputation from Above: God is for us, we learn and live into a sleepless Excitement; we are found in those highways and byways of contrast with more polite community, the strange arenas of our hurting soul, the agitated versions of our thin-struck composure, the cogent reaction to Life that seems to wish us dead at times.