(The text was previously published on 26.03.2020.)
Reading: And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. (Apostles’ Creed)
Reflection: Yesterday, Bill Rieflin passed away. You probably don’t know who he is. He played drums in some of my favorite bands like Lard, Ministry, and Swans. However, he will be remembered as the second drummer of R.E.M. This band, the flagship of American alternative rock, introduced us – Bosnians and Herzegovinians – to the terrible year of 1992 with the song ‘Losing My Religion’. Upon hearing this news, I remembered that time and the strange feeling I had every time I heard the infectious tones of the mandolin intro. It was during that period of my life, through reading the Gospels, that I began to discover the person of Jesus Christ, who did not leave me indifferent. Soon I made the decision to become a follower of Jesus – I accepted Him as my Lord! While radio and TV stations echoed a song that, at least it seemed, spoke of someone losing their religion*, I was just finding mine. You can imagine how many times I felt like a complete idiot, in a world where losing religion was a hit, questioning the correctness and consequences of my decision. In that struggle, in which I wrestled deeply within myself and with God, ‘religion’ won.
In the first letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul writes (1,22-25): “Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”
Perhaps the earliest statement of the Christian faith, which probably preceded the Apostles’ Creed, consisted of three words, Jesus Christ Lord. A brief analysis of these three words in the light of what Paul wrote to the Corinthians speaks of the magnificent folly of our ‘religion’. Jesus, a historical figure from Galilee over 2000 years ago, was convicted of blasphemy because, in His speeches and teachings, He equated Himself with God, and died miserably on a Roman cross.
For those who believe in Him, He is Christ (the Greek word for the Hebrew term Messiah, which means Anointed One). The Messiah was supposed to be a unique and powerful figure who would appear in the history of the Jewish people, free them from all their enemies, restore the people’s relationship with God, and establish an eternal kingdom that would have no end. I don’t have to tell you about the shame that overwhelmed His disciples and followers as they watched the crucified on the cross of the one they believed to be the powerful Messiah of God.
And not only that, the members of the earliest Church worshiped Jesus Christ as Lord, the Divine Lord of the whole world. This title, if we can call it that, began to be attributed to the so-called ‘divine’ Roman emperors at that time. The statement that Jesus Christ is Lord brought many members of the early Church into trouble because this simple confession of faith mocked the ‘divinity’ of the Roman rulers. Some lost their religion in these troubles, while others strengthened it in their hearts – often at the cost of death.
Will the current troubles strengthen or cast doubt on your faith? Even when the cloud of doubt hangs over your life, you can say together with the father of the boy whom Jesus freed from the evil spirit: “I believe, help my unbelief” (Mark 9,24).
Prayer: Father, I pray that you will help me to remain firm in faith in these difficult days. Help me in my doubts and fears. Jesus Christ my Lord, be my strength and my wisdom today. As I acknowledge my weakness to you, I believe that your strength is perfectly revealed in my weaknesses. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
* According to Michael Stipe, “Losing my religion” is actually an old Southern expression for the moment when you are “at the end of the rope” and when politeness gives way to anger. But if, like me, you missed that crucial detail, you might think that Stipe’s ambiguity is an obvious commentary on the Judeo-Christian tradition.