Why can’t politicians ever give a simple answer? Because journalists never ask them a simple question. Nowadays, sadly, we are so used to interviewers trying to trick politicians or celebrities into saying something that they later regret. Perhaps this is not a new situation – after all, that is what we hear in the Gospel story this Sunday. Pharisees come to Jesus intentionally trying to trap or trick him. It is very clear to everyone involved – including Jesus himself – that a vicious word game is going on. First, ask a difficult multi-layered question for which there is no innocent simple answer. Then, manipulate whatever has been said to make the person look bad – someone to be scoffed at, ridiculed and embarrassed. Finally, get people on your side as you now have an opponent who everyone else must surely dislike. They do this daily in the media today; they tried to do it to Jesus in his day.
What is going on? People who ask such distasteful questions are seeking to paint themselves as pure – as right – as clever – as on the side of the good. This will increase their power and, they hope, magnify their importance. But what is a different way? What is the opposite of ‘seeking to be pure’?
I think the opposite of ‘pure’ is ‘engagement’. When we get our hands dirty, when we try to say the right words (even if they will be misunderstood), when we give to one charity (even though there are a hundred other worthwhile causes) … we may not be perfect, but we are seeking to do the work of God’s Kingdom. We may be criticized for our attempts – but the one we are seeking to help will walk away a bit stronger, a bit taller, a bit more confident.
The Intercessions during Sunday worship is when we bring all this muddle to God. This is when we can name the people and causes which require God’s grace. This is when we can offer to God our own attempts (however misguided we think they may have been). We bring to God whatever we have done – God accepts that, and says back to us “Let’s go forward from here”.
Revd Bob.
