Reflection for the 24th Week after Pentecost, 2022
Scriptures: Colossians 1:11-20; Luke 23:33-43
Key Verse: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” (Colossians 1:15)
“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Those are the words Jesus said to one of the criminals next to him. While all three of them were experiencing excruciating pain and humiliation, one of them acted sarcastic, and the other one saw Jesus as the image of God, holy and pure. We don’t know what happened to the sarcastic criminal, but we do know about the other one who was received into Jesus’ kingdom because he saw what St. Paul said in Colossians 1:15, “Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” For this reflection, my focus isn't to blame anyone who persecutes Jesus or sympathize with those who wept in the crowds on that day. Since we are sinners and saints, let us unpack what we have in common with those two criminals, one who acted like a sinner and the other who acted like a saint before they died.
Is it fair to say that sinners are the ones who lack the ability to see God’s image in others including themselves? We have all been born with this special ability since our birth because we believe that this special ability goes all the way back to Genesis 1 when God created humans. So, what does the Bible tell us about the importance of having this ability to see God’s image in others? The first story that comes to my mind is that God chose Abel’s offering over Cain’s offering in Genesis 4. From this story, we can see that Cain lacks the ability to see Abel as God’s image. He took Abel’s life out of his own insecurity and jealousy. In other words, he kills an image of God.
God was hurting and furious but did what our justice system would never have done. Before expelling Cain from his native land, God put a mark on him to remind him of who he belongs to. Out of love and forgiveness, God used that mark to protect him from whoever might harm him. What lesson did Cain need to learn? God asked him to master a skill so that he wouldn’t make the same mistake again out of his own insecurity and jealousy, for the sin that is always lurking. So, what is the skill that God asked him to master? For sure we know that the skill prevented him from hurting himself or others. In this case, the skill, I believe, was the ability to see God’s image in others, including ourselves.
Through our baptism, you and I are marked with the assurance of who we belong to just as God put the mark on Cain. We are constantly reminded of who we belong to. And we are told where and how we can master this ability to see God’s image in others and ourselves whenever we are affirming our baptism. We have all kinds of abilities. We got some of them from birth; we also acquire some through learning and training. Like any ability, if we don’t take this ability to see God’s image in others seriously enough as a necessity, the ability can become just a piece of memory, a story to tell, a faith statement, a church logo, a legend to celebrate but makes no impact in our lives together and in our neighborhoods and our society.
Last week, I made a comment in a group chat. It took me a couple days to decide whether or not to post this comment. It is a group of dear friends that I have known for more than 30 years. We all have different political views, which is fine. But if we allow our political views to harm others, I don’t think it is fine anymore. It started with a criticism about an indigenous celebrity from Taiwan who is currently making his living in China. You might know a little bit about the tension between China and Taiwan. The criticism undignified him as a traitor who wasn’t considered worthy. There was a label for people like him. I responded to the person including everyone in that group: Then, how would you label those of us who are making a living in the United States? People who don’t know about us or have any relationships with us wouldn’t understand that we care and love Taiwan even though we are living abroad. There are many biases or even prejudices against people like us. That celebrity has his own story just like people living abroad including me. We all have our own stories.
The group stopped chatting for a week. Then I made another decision. I wished them well and acknowledged that my comments and my values might not have been expected and left the group. Then a couple of them reached out to me privately and said that they didn’t have the courage to say anything. They agreed with me and credited me as a brave person. I told them that I wasn’t brave but was prepared to lose a group of dear friends. My own reflection is this. I left the group not because I am better, but I need to better myself and others if there is an opportunity for me to see God’s image in others. Negative comments create biases, prejudices, divisions, bullies, shame, guilt, and hate. If we don’t hold our own comments accountable to make transformation possible for ourselves and others out of love and forgiveness, then, how can we make a positive impact?
Now, let’s go back to these two criminals next to Jesus. What was going on in the heart of the one acting sarcastic? Certainly, he lacked the skill of seeing God’s image in anyone including himself. He might have made those comments out of desperation, insecurity, or jealousy. We don’t know. His comments and his attitude certainly were not helpful at all. On the other side, another sinner saw Jesus as holy and pure. He begged like a beggar to be remembered. And Jesus granted his wish. May we reclaim the ability to see God’s image in others and ourselves and use the ability as a necessity in our life. And may our being and doing be our offering to God like Abel’s offering. By faith through God's grace, let us give thanks to God for remembering those who beg. Amen.
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