Jesus

In my sermon this morning, I took up the theme of Incarnation by revisiting the Christian model of divine enfleshment. The relevance of this model to present-day Unitarian Universalism derives not from its uniqueness in the world (for there are numerous faiths that depict the Holy in human form), but rather from its historical proximity to our religious heritage.

Abtei St. Hildegard

Ever since the Transcendentalists dislodged Unitarianism from its explicitly biblical foundation in the nineteenth century, our tradition has seen a steady decline in interest in the figure of Jesus. Today, in many Unitarian Universalist congregations, the mere mention of Jesus arouses suspicion and disapproval. How the tides of history turn: banished once from the Church for heresy, we now cast out the very figure for whose humanity these heretics risked their lives.


First Parish in Milton, thankfully, blessedly, still extends the hospitality shown to Buddha and the Goddess to the figure of Jesus as well. Equal opportunity inspiration.


That does not mean, of course, that every member needs to find spiritual sustenance in the Jesus story. But she would do well to maintain an open mind and swelling heart. And my sense is that she does.


So, what then of Jesus?


Former Unitarian minister of Boston's Second Street Church, the Rev. Henry Ware Jr., once described Jesus as "the personification of religion." Rev. Francis Greenwood Peabody, former minister of First Unitarian Church in Harvard Square, added this: "The supreme concern of Jesus throughout his ministry was, — it may be unhesitatingly asserted, — not the reorganization of human society, but the disclosure to the human soul of its relation to God. Jesus was, first of all, not a reformer but a revealer; he was not primarily an agitator with a plan, but an idealist with a vision."


This morning, I offered the following gloss:

The story of Jesus is more about us than it is about Jesus. [...] Heaven is not outside this life, but inside of it, concealed. Jesus reveals to us the location of this worldly heaven: it’s inside of you. You are the site of God. Or as we read in the lesser known Gospel of Thomas: 'The Kingdom is within you.' We commonly conceive of the Incarnation as God touching down to earth. Our Unitarian heritage, though, challenges us to see the Incarnation as humanity touching up to God. Jesus lifted us to the heavens by showing us that we already possess everything we need to live divine lives.

[...]

Jesus lived at a time when the smallness of prejudice clouded society’s vision – not all that dissimilar from the present age, unfortunately. The Roman leaders of that world exploited race and class for imperial gain. Military triumph abroad diverted widespread social inequality at home. And yet, somehow, Jesus saw God where others saw danger, fear and disgust. Jesus saw forgiveness where others saw judgment. Jesus saw love where others saw condemnation. Jesus saw God because he knew that God was personal, that each person serves as the site of God. The clarity of his vision was not perfect eye-sight, but wondrous heart-sight. It was 20-20 vision of the soul.

I shouldn't over-state my reverence for Jesus. There are countless episodes in the New Testament when I want to speak out against his actions (or the way his actions were remembered and recorded). Jesus can be a deeply disturbing figure. That said, it is precisely this counter-cultural challenge for which I appreciate Jesus the most. In the words of Rainer Maria Rilke's classic poem, Archaic Torso of Apollo: "You must change your life."


Who is Jesus to you? And do you believe that Unitarian Universalists should spend more or less time with Jesus?


Please: continue the conversation.