Look what happens to God's Beloved

The First Sunday Lent tells the story: Jesus is baptized. The "beloved" one is then driven into the wilderness to meet Satan and the wild beasts.

This is Jesus as the scapegoat, the sinner-bearer. The rest of the gospel is perhaps an unfolding narrative of temptation at every juncture of Jesus' mission and ministry. Lauded by the common folk, Jesus met the "wild beasts": hated by the authorities who steadfastly opposed both his methods and his teaching of the Kingdom of God. Finally comes Holy Week and the Cross. Mocked, whipped, spit upon, jeered, and duly executed. The beasts of power and authority licked their chops, and then, satiated, padded off to their dens, believing themselves secure in their positions and rectitude.

Jesus suffering is what happens to God's "beloved." I doubt that most of us are really ready for this. And only the insane among us will consider themselves Christ. But it is not insane to believe in the church as the body of Christ. And if the body of Christ, then the church as community can and should expect to suffer as Jesus suffered--but that God-born suffering will happen only when and where the church is intent on living its corporate life as Jesus lived his: steadfastly on the side of the poor, the outcast, the marginalized. Criticizing the powers that rule us. Naming oppression for what it is for the sake of announcing and living into the coming reign of God.

The beloved of God--the body of Christ--will do such things. And perhaps more. Quietude in the church is not necessary a virtue. It is often the greatest of sins, when, for fear of losing face, position, or experiencing conflict, the church remains silent at precisely those points where it ought to speak--and act.