Luke 7:11-17 (Did you click it?)
One of the things I enjoy doing is surprising people with what I would call basic magic tricks. The disappearance of a coin or correctly guessing a card picked at random always puts a smile on my face as I watch the look of surprise emerge from unsuspecting people. After the revelation of the trick, I am always asked to do it again; always.
Being a good magician I always say no, because I know that my moves will be watched closer and how the trick is done might be discovered. I know from experience that once the secret of a trick is discovered, the wonder and joy that magic brought disappears. To a magician there is nothing worse than taking away someone's expectation through imagination. Magic has to exist within the realm of reality in order for it to be a source of joy.
Today we read a short story which has Jesus deep into his ministry around the Sea of Galilee. According to Luke he has just healed a centurion's daughter in Capernaum and is now arriving at Nain, a town about 25 miles away. Let's remember they had no other form of transportation except their feet (if they were lucky or rich they might have had a donkey too). The journey would have taken 2 to 3 days, or more, which would have given the people traveling with Jesus lots of time to discuss the miracle they just witnessed in Capernaum.
They get to Nain, and the first thing Jesus does as they enter the gate is raise the son of a widow from the dead. I don't want to get into the significance of all of that - son, widow, raising the dead - instead I want to talk about the magic.
A good magician, a very good magician, will be able to perform the same trick as often as she/he wants and never have their secret revealed. It's as though the magician and the magic is, for lack of a better word, real. One gets a sense that there has to be another reason, one we don't understand, that is responsible for the "trick" to be successful every time. I have seen David Copperfield float in thin air on several occasions and not once can I see how it's done. I think I know how it's done, but until my hunch can be proven, to me he is really floating in mid air.
Jesus, in what is a succession of healing stories that reaches a climax at this point, is just that kind of a "magician". Except, he is not a performer, rather his magic is real as it comes from another source; the love of God. If we, as Christians, are to understand how to fully live as Christ did we need to understand that through God's love even we can change lives.
We may not be able to literally raise people from the dead, but I guarantee we can bring new life to people. When we help the homeless regain love in themselves we help them find new life. When we talk to a friend who is being bullied and let them know they are loved by at least one person we help them find new life. When we find the time and space to be still and quiet in the presence of God we find new life.
It doesn't take much to find new life. Take the journey, remember God provides what you'll need, and be prepared to make choices.
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