Earlier this week, I saw a quote from popular American priest, author and speaker on spirituality, Richard Rohr. Over a picture of him in his Franciscan habit, casually patting an elderly black dog, it said “Jesus never said ‘worship me,’ but he often said ‘follow me.’”
I like Richard Rohr. He’s sometimes criticized for straying from traditional church teachings, being too progressive and over-emphasizing spirituality over religion, but that seems to me more like a compliment than a criticism. This quote’s a really good example.
It reminds me of the age-old question: if Jesus were to walk into a church today, would he be happy about the way we worship him? As often as people may have brought it up, I also think we’ve tended to ask it with the perspective of what we perceive to be the quality of our worship. Is it good enough for Jesus? Is it solemn, sacred, holy, respectful, repentant and righteous enough? Is it meaningful enough? Meaningful for what? I’m not sure anyone questioned why.
By the way, one of the people commenting on the post of Rohr’s quote said that the Bible says we should worship God, and isn’t Jesus God? They quote the opening verses of John’s gospel to support that and then also several places in the gospels where it indicates people “worshipped” Jesus.
Okay, that’s a fair perspective. But I’d also suggest that the point of “the Word became flesh” wasn’t simply so that we’d learn to worship God in a different way. I think the point was to show how the divine was present in our humanity - in all humanity and in all creation - and help us reconnect with God’s presence, within us, around us and between us. Jesus shows us how to reconnect with the divine that’s in each of us and live the good that’s in us. That’s the “heaven on earth” Jesus talks about. Jesus shows us how to live whole and well, not so that we can worship better but so that we can live better.
And, by the way, I don’t think Jesus was at all comfortable with people worshipping him in person, either. I think he tried to get away. I think he knew that if people worshipped him it would be so much easier to set him apart and see all that he did as something “only Jesus could do.” That wasn’t the plan.
Getting back to that question, about Jesus being happy about how we worship, I think Rohr’s right on. I think Jesus would reply by asking if we’re caring for each other, especially the poor and the sick, if we’re loving our neighbour everyday, not just an hour on Sunday, and loving ourselves. He’d ask if we’re trying to build peaceful, honourable relationships with those we think are our enemies. He’d ask if we’re welcoming people just as they are and getting to know them, affirming and honouring different traditions, thoughts and beliefs. He’d ask if we nurture and encourage people to be true to themselves and the good that’s in them. He’d ask if we were following his lead.
He’d probably look around and say this is all very nice if it helps you do those things. But don’t worship me. Live me.
