Grabbing the Snake
What does it mean to be condemned.
When it comes to a building, it is a warning not to go inside for fear of the roof falling in upon you, but when we talk about a person, we have a different perspective altogether.
For them, condemnation is damnation.
Later he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were sitting at the table; and he upbraided them for their lack of faith and stubbornness, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. - Mark 16:14-16
In today's Gospel reading, we have a stern warning and a reprimand, though not in that order. Jesus is disappointed in the disciples for not believing the accounts of his resurrection.
The women told them and they didn't believe. Then two encountered him on the road and they still didn't believe them. We blame Thomas for his failure to believe without seeing, but they all shared in that folly. Despite living and traveling with him for three years, they didn't know him, and didn't understand his message.
That alone is a form of condemnation, isn't it?
If we know that God loves us, and that he loves us so much that he took human form to be with us and show us we could be one with Him always, yet we fail to put our faith in that, what was the incarnation for?
Without the resurrection, would we believe?
Without our own first person encounter with Jesus, we are living in self-condemnation, choosing to be alone when we could be totally in synch with God.
It is our choice, and we make our decisions based on a variety of factors. We confuse ourselves with false priorities, thinking we are in control of our destinies, when there is only one, to be with God.
We read the passages above and think we have an advantage over all non-Christians, that we are saved and they are not. But what if, like the disciples on the road, we fail to see what God puts before us?
We could easily find ourselves on the wrong path, not realizing there is a far better life within our grasp.
When Jesus told his disciples to believe and to go and spread the Good News, he knew they would need signs to know they had attained a level of faith that was worthy of the call to go.
He told them they would cast out demons and handle snakes and drink poison without harm. He challenged reason and wisdom, causing them to fear taking him literally.
So, what does it mean to us? Do we take him literally, and if so, who will be the first to grab the snake?
We are all called to share the Gospel. It is in our covenant at Baptism, and yet we find it easier to do in actions rather than words. We filter our thoughts more than our actions, and so we would probably never tell someone he could handle a snake and not be bitten.
But if we go beyond the literal for a moment, we can talk about the snakes we handle at work, in our places of business, in our churches and on the streets. We can explain our fearful fearlessness in walking with God, in knowing his Spirit is with us always.
Our lives are condemned within this world if we live without knowing God is with us. Jesus wanted his disciples to continue walking with him long after he was gone, but they wouldn't have done that without seeing him alive after being tortured and crucified.
If there was no promise of life after death, of being raised on the last day, or of being with God in some form, how would we live our lives?
Would we go out of our way to help, to feed, to comfort, to nurture, to visit, to heal, or would we focus on ourselves?
I think we would think twice about grabbing the snake, and in doing so, the world would be condemned.
More to come...