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Recently I posted a few thoughts regarding “telos”, a word with a rich background in the search for purpose/meaning of what we’re doing here on this planet and life.  The “purpose/outcome/result/goal” word has come up once again in this past week’s Scripture, 1Peter 1:3-9.

This time, it is not the “end/result” of a specific path over against another.  Verse 9 highlights the “telos” of our faith.  This is a pretty important declaration, for several reasons.  It’s can also be a humbling/uncomfortable verse for us to read openly.

If we look at churches in Western Christianity, and asked “What is the perceived Goal of our faith?”, we would probably get some answers that make us shift in our seats.  Influence, power, financial well-being, name recognition, growth in numbers, self-preservation, and oh yes…saving us from hell, and tickets to heaven.

But I didn’t intend to critique the Bride of Christ here, plenty of other sources/books out there currently can do that.  Much of it is needed and helpful, as long as we are being pointed in a healthy/new direction.  I think the only “goal” in the above list that we may hear embraced out loud would be the goal of “going to Heaven someday” as the purpose of our faith.

Verse 9 declares “..you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”  It does not say “You will receive…”, or even “You have received…”.  So what is being spoken of here?  This entire chapter seems wrapped up in a few messages to encourage those believers being persecuted in Asia Minor:

1. God has some great and eternal things in store for us. (salvation)
2. Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we share in a taste of those things even now. (salvation)
3. Sharing in these things now is not automatic/passive, but requires faith and obedience, resourced/enabled by the Spirit of Christ that we have received. (salvation)

On the path to a wedding, there are many celebrations that occur.  Wedding showers are awesome, and any young couple that has traveled the aisles at Target with a laser gun knows how much fun it can be.  But no matter how many showers you have, or how incredible the gifts you receive at them are, a wedding shower is nothing compared to a wedding reception.

We are the bride of Christ.  We believe someday there will be a coming together of heaven and earth like never before.  The celebration that will take place, and “inheritance” we will receive is indescribable.  But while we wait, we have weekly “wedding showers”.  We journey toward that wedding day, reflecting two who desire to become one.

We are freed from the confines, powers and bindings of a selfish lover.  The world that whispers how great things can be, and makes promises of wealth, security, happiness, and power…even when these things occur, they are found to be empty.  We are receiving the goal of our faith – the salvation of our souls.  The tastes of our ultimate inheritance.

The question is…do you wait for the wedding day to realize all of the shower gifts you could’ve opened?  Will we live as someone who is receiving the salvation of our souls even today?

I hope the best for the new royal couple, for sure.  I whispered a quick prayer that this ceremony is not something they view as an “arrival”, but rather a beginning.  (I think that was actually in the message from Diana’s wedding.)  But looking through the transcripts of what was to be said, I realize how “traditional” the ceremony seemed.  The name “Jesus” spoken many times, and credit given to God as creator, asking God to bless their marriage, and that they would live “through Jesus”, etc.  I suppose the main “non-traditional” element echoes the last royal wedding, in Princess Kate not wanting to promise to “obey” the Prince.  All the religious talk is a bit surprising for a European “trendy wedding”, unless you consider the throne is also the head of the Church of England.

But what we see in the royal couple is, unfortunately, a microcosm (10 points if you can use that word this week) of what weddings and marriages often become these days.  As seen in a quick confirmation of Kate last month, and the fact that neither she nor her parent were actively involved in a church previously, it seems the role as head of the Church of England may hopefully be the catalyst that moves this marriage toward a foundation in Christ.

It seems like many of our weddings (and marriage relationships, for us already-weds) are a fancy/fairytale way of making the statement: “God, please bless this thing we’ve been doing, and we’re going to do with or without you.”  Instead of saying:  “God, please show up and move, because we cannot make two become one without you.”

Prince William and Princess Kate had been living together since mid-2010.  Minus the obligational references to God, this ceremony seems to simply be the beginning of their official economic and royal partnership.  Many of us, similarly, go days, weeks, and sometimes longer in our marriage relationships without acknowledging the need for Jesus to be regularly present if this thing is going to be more than just two people making a family together.

It’s no mistake that the relationship between husband and wife connects so deeply with the picture of Christ and the Church.  God desires to reveal Himself to and through us.  But just as the Church without the Holy Spirit can easily become simply an optimistic Jesus-club…a marriage without an active foundation in Christ can easily become two people who live together.

And so, as we high-five our friends across the seas and talk about how beautiful the ceremony was….we are at the same time challenged to invite Christ to be actively involved in our courtships, engagements, weddings, and marriages.  May His presence bring transformation and new life in ways we could never accomplish on our own…

This past week for Easter, we heard from John chapter 20. Mary has returned to find the tomb empty. She brings Peter and John back with her, and they leave after seeing what she has described. She remains, weeping.

She sees two angels, who ask her why she is weeping. She tells them, she doesn’t know where “they” have taken the body of her Lord. As she continues to weep, Jesus enters the scene, and asks her why she weeps.

The scripture tells us she “turns” and sees Jesus, but doesn’t realize it’s him. She gives the same response as with the angels. We can imagine, knowing how someone sobbing with tears would respond to a curious onlooker behind her. A casual glance of acknowledgement, and she continues to weep. After all, what solace could this person offer?

But everything changes, when Jesus speaks her name. “Mary.” No doubt spoken gently. Spoken in a way that communicates things like “I’m right here.” in a loving, joy-filled, and gently spoken way. A way Jesus has spoken to her before, and called her by name. Immediately as her name is spoken, she knows this is no gardener. No random cemetery caretaker. No traveler wandering through. This is Jesus. Rabbi. Lord.

How often do we give Jesus the precursory “glance” over the shoulder? Assuming He can offer nothing to our current situation. Assuming this “Christianity”, “Church”, “Bible”, “Worship”, or whatever is just another thing going on in the background of a life that really matters. A life where genuine existence is painful. Where we experience loss. Mourning. Grief. Frustration. A world that too often, we don’t actually bring before God expecting anything other than what we’d hope for from the gardener.  Glancing at Jesus from the corner of our eyes, while we remain fixed on whatever pain, challenge, or even blessing and joy we’ve found ourselves in the midst of.

But to us, this week and beyond, Jesus remains present. Not silent. He calls out our name, waiting for us to turn completely to him, realizing just who this is beside us.  For us to recognize and look to Him as Lord, Teacher, Savior, and receive all that the resurrection offers us and our world.

It seems to ask us the question – how are we looking at Jesus?   It could radically transform what happens next…