From the Pastor's Desk

March 2007

I’ve been hearing a lot lately about The Lost Tomb of Jesus, the documentary film that suggests that an ancient tomb uncovered in a Jerusalem suburb in 1980 contains the ossuaries (and the earthly remains) of Jesus, his father Joseph, his mother Mary as well Mary Magdalene and a son named Judah.  Not surprisingly, these are very controversial claims to be making.  Newspapers, television and the internet have been a-buzz with comment both defending and rebuking the claims of the documentary and its makers.

This is the latest in a series of Christian controversies to have caught the attention of the mainstream media in the last few years.  Remember the excitement generated around the purported discovery of the ossuary containing Jesus’ brother James’ remains a few years ago (which turned out to be a forgery)?  Then there was the hoopla surrounding the release of Mel Gibson’s film, The Passion of the Christ.  Last year no less a respected institution than the National Geographic Society released fragments of an ancient document they called “The Lost Gospel of Judas” that shone a much different light on Judas Iscariot than that to which most of us have been accustomed.

This latest revelation, however, that Jesus’ very remains have been discovered, may be the most controversial of all since there is a direct link between this claim and the most foundational of all Christian beliefs, that of Jesus’ resurrection.  And – wouldn’t you know it? – the documentary and the ensuing controversy happen again just before Easter.  What a coincidence!

I have no quarrel with these authors and filmmakers.  I’m sure they sincerely believe that they are contributing to the discussion of religious matters – shining light on deep, dark ancient mysteries.  However, I am concerned that few of us are equipped to sift through the material and engage it appropriately.  Some of us, when confronted with such controversies, get our backs up and simply denounce it out of hand as wrong, offensive, or sacrilegious.  Others of us, eager to be open-minded, accept it uncritically and then wonder why our scriptures, prayers and liturgies cease to speak to us.

My advise for anyone feeling at all troubled by these modern challenges to faith is to immerse yourself in a community where the gospel continues to be proclaimed unapologetically, reinforced by traditions of Word and Sacrament, but where questions are welcomed and dialogue encouraged in a safe and nurturing environment.  I hope St. Ansgar is that community for you.  I hope this is a place where Christian tradition and Lutheran heritage sustains you, but where faith is seriously explored in the context of modern realities.  That, I believe, is one of the reasons (perhaps the only one) for being church today.

While Lent and Easter are the seasons of the church year when the angst of modern religious controversy is most keenly felt, it turns out that they are also the seasons that best equip us to deal with such controversy.  The season of Lent has gently been guiding us on our journey with Jesus towards Jerusalem.  Soon, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday will help us accompany Jesus to the Cross.  This year a new ritual dynamic has been added, The Great Easter Vigil on Saturday night, which will take us through God’s saving acts through the Old Testament to Jesus Christ as Light of the World.  And finally, of course, Easter morning and the glorious celebration of the empty tomb.

All of these services help us understand our faith without requiring that we check our brains, our doubts and our questions at the door while at the same time forming us as a community of compassion and justice where not even the (alleged) discovery of Jesus’ bones can distract us from being people of God in this time and place.

Peace,
Pastor Brian