Being Found Under a Fig Tree

 

Blessed be God who animates our lives and knows us and calls us from our fig trees to live full meaningful faithful lives. AMEN

It is very significant I believe that we go from the mystical prologue of John’s Gospel at Christmas to this passage of call of ordinary human disciples later in the same chapter. 

John’s Gospel is certainly known for its reverberations between heaven and earth, between the cosmos and the universe. And in the passage today, in the calls of Philip and Nathanael, the cosmic christ touches the ordinary earthy experience of two men and by extension all of us and launches a conversion program!

It has been said that at this point in John’s Gospel the foundational theme which bursts all human expectations and appears early in the narrative is laid bare: “God’s very own eternal Word is made available to us wayward creatures in the life of a human being from Nazareth, particularly in that life’s mysterious coincidence of descent(crucifixion) and ascent (exaltation).” (Lee Barrett) 

As such the evangelist not only echoes the image made holy in Jacob’s story of angels descending and ascending to the realization of God’s presence (note the order) but also offers a new tune, a new context, for God’s entering our lives, through dreams and encounters to call us to our authentic true selves.

This is no less true in the story of God’s call to Samuel. Needing some assistance by Eli, Samuel responded with a turning and identification of his whereabouts, his spiritual location!

The question of call and response, the discernment of God’s voice seeking us to come and follow, requires an open orientation to the divine. This can be a very different perspective than we ordinarily employ. Albert Einstein famously stated that ‘no problem can be solved from the same consciousness that created it’. 

Samuel, Philip and Nathanael responded to Gods call with a turning toward and opening to the Holy. Each of them said either actually or metaphorically; Here I am Lord! Each of them metaphorically or actually realized the authenticity and specificity of their call because they had been known, truly known, in their lives, under their fig tree and thus, when summoned, this knowing perfectly met them and embraced them as an outfit designed  and custom fit just for them.

Many of us, having not achieved this open state, or as many call it contemplative state, do not realize or recognize God’s call. Many of us expect a clear clean message addressed neatly to us and reject or are not aware of the messier, confusing messages which God may be delivering consistently and persistently. In short we are suspicious instead of trusting, protected instead of open, and Here I Am Lord is buried deep within.

I recently had the opportunity to listen to a most amazing, if jolting, poem written by the brilliant and vulnerable poet, Julie Cadwallader Staub. It invaded my consciousness and made my fig tree sitting a little less comfortable which is, after all, the point.

Jesus Buys a House in South Burlington, VT 

by Julie Cadwallader Staub

I live in a lovely neighborhood

or at least it used to be,

before he moved in next door.

Now there’s a stream of raggy people 

on bikes, in cars, most trudging up the street on foot

to his raised ranch.

Those old unkempt men who live

under the bridges and back in the woods.

Those women, streetwalker-types, 

and old ones with walkers or canes.

Children too, and

migrants, immigrants, illegals, college kids

all the riffraff

plus a few decent people

some fancy cars mixed in.

And he feeds them.

Has an old Weber grill 

set up in the front yard.

I called the police 

and saw them pull up—

I thought they would shut down the operation—

but apparently he’s not breaking any laws

not even disturbing the peace

and today the paper reported 

that the officers resigned from their positions

and moved in with him.

And it’s true—I’ve seen them working 

side by side with the others

serving food

cleaning up

weeding that big garden in the front yard.

The article didn’t include what Jesus said, though,

that made those officers leave good jobs to stay with him.

What does he say that makes all those people want to be near him?

Every night he builds a bonfire out front.

Stands there in the light with everyone gathered around him

and I have to tell you—

I don’t know why I’m doing this,

I’m not the kind of person who does this kind of thing—

but here I am, standing in my bedroom next to my open window 

to listen.

---------------

Goodness knows things are happening around us which might cause us to shut our doors and windows or even pack up and move! But the simple response in this poem to ‘listen’ is for me so life- giving, courageous, and humble. It is in short a response to a call to the margins, even if uncertain of action and participation. It is the ‘beginning’ of a changed consciousness! It is the call to understanding.

We have some daunting and frightening problems in the world today! God is calling us to listen and to discern what our response to them will be, can be. 

I certainly don’t have answers but I can get on board with a shift in attitude or consciousness especially one which helps diminish judgement and allows mercy to fill in, one which realizes a soft shaded hope just peeking out of dark shadows. 

Samuel, Philip and Nathanael had to listen in order to discern a divine call. They had to shed assumptions and need for certainty and comfort in order to take a step out and into new consciousness and mission.

 

I invite us to listen. 

I am not sure of some things but of this I am certain: God is speaking to us in the midst of this life, in the midst of chaos and abundance, in the midst of joy and sorrow. May you hear that voice of loving you and the world in a new way in a renewed you and be able to say yes to new life with new vision and commitment and faith. This is “God’s eternal Word laid bare” and invading us by incarnation. This is grace.