2024-05-17 A Meditation on Tangibles

“18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” (Rom 8:18-25 ESV)

Boasting in the tangibles, the factor called “Decision” shows a firm alternative to all spiraling notions of evolution or come-what-may factors in life. We decide, and therein answer a rather easily overlooked question: who, what, and how may a Judgment Day actually occur? On what are we, in that hazy and hasty hour, actually resting upon? And therefore to “Decide” is no factor of differential between the long-fasting prayer warrior and the new convert: both, all sins of manifest persistence aside, have that tangible, the Decision, the question both posed—taken seriously—and answered in a Christ-affirming affirmative.

The fact is we do not have an all-seeing perch, in times and hours that matter. The fact is a rather simple Decision echoes in those murkily-situated ears. The fact is a posture even New, not long exercised or perfected in all Holiness, is enough to carry us… provided we have that New Testament faith: by our words shall we be judged; it is our calling to save self and soul not via good deeds or proofs of our contrition, but by the simple accomplishment of saying, “I believe” (Matt 12:37; Rom 10:10).

So all is not simply coasting along, victim of time and chance, manifest destiny a pre-written affair. It actually matters we stood tall and vocalized our hopes, our destinies, our beliefs. It actually matters we submitted body and soul to a basic training or a servant-minded role in the community, as militants, as doctors or nurses, as officers of the law, as teachers and public servants. And we shall also be found at the last day: somehow only a meek few are saved? Then that shall be us, who have by now forgotten the gestures and decisions that kept us close to the servant mindset of a Christ follower, of a good “Jew” of the Faith, of a good “Catholic” unanimity and universal brother-, sisterhood.

That is, strange the ministrations of peace unto the soul that has not yet signed on the dotted line, who is late to the wedding banquet, who was lazing about—perhaps “employed”, but not about the King’s Business—and who wonders, will my latter day “good deeds” ever be sufficient to make out my soul as a Saved phenomenon? So there will be code and rubric, machine and sorting discipleship, that makes out in very catholic or tangible senses a Final Judgment! What of the latest machines who we make into our overseers? What of the latest societal structures we adopt in hasty good-enough mindset? What of our SATs and our admissions, our boasting points of an alma mater or our resume’s quiet plea? And how, shall God judge without caving in to a false rubric, a false allegiance, our flawed tendency to forget life questions and sign on the dotted line of “good works”, “reputation”, “pedigree”? Somehow, that actual and loving Judgment called Christ’s, will mesh with our existing structures, and a New Day will dawn, each woman or man to his or her field and plow, each gamesmanship of wartime now a plethoric game of Peace. Each hastening or talking point now just taken as seriously, live ammo even in Peace Time, the listener being Christ who listens in, the Boss being Jesus who monitors what we do in the secret places, the Therapist being Father on High, Mother Above, who sees nothing judgmental only therapeutic need: this is the good Listener, who hears and addresses all hang-ups and senses of impending judgment.