I’ve been watching a few classic movies, like Titanic, during the pandemic. An author named Carl Warner argued that what really sank the 45,000-ton ship was a three-ounce key. In the lookout crow’s nest was a lock box containing binoculars. Unfortunately, when Titanic went to sea, someone forgot to leave the key with the lookout. They coudn't use the binoculars to look for icebergs.
The binoculars can be understood, in an analogous sense, as the eyes of our faith through which we can see what lies beyond immediate appearances.
The Word of God first carries us back to a man named Jonah. God orders Jonah to go to Assyria (what we know as Iraq) to preach to the Ninevites. Jonah is shocked. The Ninevites aren’t Jews. But Jonah preaches. Then the Ninevites shock Jonah. With new eyes of faith they recognize the awesome presence of God in their lives.
Paul, in his letter to the Christian community at Corinth in Greece challenges us to focus on the things of God.
And in the Gospel according to Mark, the disciples follow Jesus with the eyes of faith. They see in him more than appearances.
Back to the binoculars: the
eyes of faith can help us see all of God’s beauty around us, and avoid
the icebergs.
Our faith, a gift from God, empowers us to relate to God. This faith
attempts to answer the fundamental questions of human life: who am I? Where is
my life going? What ultimately matters?
And the content of our faith is expressed in belief statements such as the 4th century Nicene Creed we profess in our liturgy.
We say: I believe in one God, despite many folks who question the existence of God.\
Yes, we say, God is almighty, maker of heaven and earth. Someone completely beyond ourselves, who created everything.
And yes, we believe in one lord, Jesus Christ, who came down from heaven for us.
And this Jesus who for
our sake was crucified, and rose again is our reconciler, our pledge of
life beyond earthly life.
And yes, we believe in the Holy Spirit, the lord, the giver of life. The power of the
Spirit is within us.
We believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic community where Jesus Christ in all his fulness dwells. As we conclude the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, all Christians acknowledge one Lord, one faith and one baptism and look toward the resurrection and the life to come.
The Nicene Creed underscores the essential content of faith; what we believe truly matters.
May our faith be the binoculars through which we see beyond immediate appearances, to the reality and beauty of God all around us. And may we always remember we are co-creators with God in building up a society of justice, truth, peace and love as well as stewards or guardians of God’s creation tending to God's beauty all around us
