Some years ago, I read a study of “popular girls” in high school. How was their behavior different from “ordinary” or even “unpopular” girls if placed in a group where they knew no one? The researchers observed the girls to collect their information.
I found the results to be fascinating. Popular girls, unlike others, joined a new group quietly and gradually. They stayed on the edge of the group for quite a while, simply doing what others were doing. They were friendly, but not overly outgoing. They got to know the others in the group one by one. Then, once they had melded into the group, they began to gradually assume leadership.
Other girls behaved very differently. They sought to make an impression on others in the group right away. Some took over leadership quickly. But, interestingly, several months later, it was the girls who gradually entered the group who were the leaders. The reason for their popularity was their skill at establishing relationships with individual people and working within existing group dynamics.
From John to Jesus
I am reminded of that long-ago study as I read today’s Gospel. The daily readings are currently on a bit of a different schedule from the Sunday readings. Yesterday, we celebrated Epiphany. Jesus was an infant. Next Sunday we will commemorate Jesus’ baptism. But, today, in the daily readings, Jesus has already been baptized, undergone temptations in the desert, and John the Baptist has been arrested. Jesus is beginning his public ministry.
Fascinating. Jesus is entering into public ministry much like popular girls enter a group: gradually, with not much fan fair.
Jesus had been hanging out with John the Baptist and those who came to John at the Jordan in the desert East of Jerusalem and North of the Dead Sea. He had been baptized like so many others. I imagine him in line, one of many. As he did, he surely got to know others who were there. He likely heard their stories, their hopes for a Messiah, their desire to be purified and bring about a new day for Israel. He blended in.
We know some of John’s disciples began to be attracted to Jesus. We will hear those stories on other days. Today it sounds like Jesus is pretty much on his own. He goes back home to Nazareth after his time in the desert, then moves to the larger city of Capernaum. Capernaum was on the north side of the Sea of Galilee, about 85 miles north of where John had been baptizing, but only about 20 miles from Nazareth. It was a larger town than Nazareth with perhaps a population of about 1500 in Jesus’ day.
Jesus’ beginning message was pretty much the same as John’s: “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” He went from his home base in Capernaum “around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people.”
Jesus quietly entered the groups of people who waited for the Messiah. He did what they were doing.
But then, he began to do more. He not only preached and taught, he began to do what others couldn’t do: he began to cure the sick, the possessed, the lunatics, and the paralytics. THEN his fame spread rapidly.
“The Way, the Truth, and the Life”
We are taught to follow Jesus and to imitate him. So, how is he a model now for me in the way that he began to change the world? His way of beginning seems good in every way.
Jesus’ quietly joining in John’s efforts fostered cooperation with John and his followers. It created a continuity. It worked for the common good. As I picture Jesus in line to be baptized or talking with others in between John’s preaching, the picture is one of humility, interest in others and patience. No ego determining behavior. No rush. After his 30 or so years of ordinary life, Jesus begins to make the transition to Rabbi Jesus one day, one step, at a time.
Bishop Fulton Sheen, in his book, Life of Christ, titles the chapter on Jesus’ temptations “Three Shortcuts from the Cross.” Jesus didn’t take those shortcuts. Today, in a less dramatic scene, he isn’t taking short cuts in beginning ministry either. He goes from carpenter in Nazareth to the Jordan to John to the desert, then back home to Nazareth…then on to Capernaum and his mission. Nowhere was there grandiosity. The long-awaited King behaved more like an ordinary workman. Or an ordinary American high school popular girl.
In Contrast
Today’s first reading from I John describes a community where the people aren’t behaving like Jesus. Indeed, they are arguing about what is love, what is holiness, what is evangelization. They are more like us 21st century folks on Facebook and Twitter than like Jesus. St. John urges his beloved disciples to “test spirits.” He speaks of false prophets and anti-Christs. His criteria for true spirit is: “every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh belongs to God, and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus does not belong to God.”
I looked up the word “acknowledge.” It means to “admit the truth of” or “see the importance of.” It comes from the Old English word for “to understand” and a Middle English word for “to know.” Then I looked up what Greek word was used. It was homologos, which means “of one mind.”
I find the Greek word study helpful here. I am paraphrasing the understanding that comes to me: “We can trust Spirits that match Jesus, that are of one mind with Jesus.”
Today
Today people from a variety of perspectives and behaviors acknowledge Jesus. That is not a help for me in testing spirits or choosing how to follow Jesus. But it is a help for me to question and discern from the Greek root word meaning “of one mind.” It helps me to test spirits to ask: “How does this person or perspective show the same mind as Jesus? How does he or she match Jesus?”
But then, prayer leads me to ask a more troubling question: “What IN ME matches Jesus, is of one mind with Jesus…as I begin some new projects and return to others after the Christmas break?”
How can I quietly enter a group, get to know its members, patiently figure out what the group is about? How can I check my ego and focus on the common good? How can I work for continuity, respecting what has been done before, acknowledging the leadership of others?
How can I let the Holy Spirit lead and guide me…no shortcuts from crosses, following God’s lead, yet also working in the context of others?
Good questions for a New Year.
Prayer:
Lord, you know me. You know I like to begin things with a plan, a goal. Even though I pray, such plans and goals tend to be from me and my perspective. And maybe those plans and goals are Your will, Lord. But, maybe not exactly–or maybe not at all. Give me the grace this January to be like Jesus as he began his ministry: quietly getting to know people and how they work, respecting what they already do, finding a place over time to add or guide what you would have me do. Without rush or dominance. Give me the patience and humility to follow You. Then, Lord, perhaps I can discern spirits and make sure it is Your lead I follow. Thank you for the opportunities you give me. Lead me, guide me, Lord.
