Luke 24:35-48 Startled and TerrifiedAre our eyes deceiving us? Could it possibly be the Lord? The Apostles were nothing less than terrified and startled to find the Lord once again in their midst. When will we ever learn? When will we finally get it through our thick skins and skulls that no walls, no doors, no human inventions can remove Him from our lives. Nothing can remove God. Nothing can ever replace Him. The Lord is real. He has not been invented. We have been invented!
Today's Gospel account reminds me of a beautiful article I recently read.
It's author, Alex Renton, an English journalist, wrote that his six year old daughter came home from school one afternoon with an assignment. She had to write a letter to God. The little girl sat down and wrote, "To God how did you get invented? From Lulu ox"
Poor Alex could not write the response. You see, he is a devote atheist. Neither could his wife. So instead of making something up, he asked the experts. He sent his daughter's letter to the Episcopalians and the Presbyerians, but they never replied. He also sent the letter to the Scottish Catholic Church and to Lambeth Palace, home of the Archbishop of Canterbury. He states that Monsignor Paul Conroy, of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of Scotland, wrote the following: "My reply would be along the lines of 'God is like us - he wasn't invented - but unlike us he has always been there. God is like someone we've always loved - we don't remember when he came into our lives because like the people we love who have been there all our lives it's as if we can't imagine what it would be like without him.'"
It's not bad, but a little heavy for a six year old to read.
Lambeth Palace waited a couple of weeks and then asked Alex to wait a couple of more weeks because someone special was going to write to her. It was the Archbishop himself who wrote a beautiful response. Although he is Anglican, it is a touching example of how a Bishop can humble himself and take the time to write a letter in response to a little girl's quest for truth. Here is his response in its entirety.
Lambeth Palace waited a couple of weeks and then asked Alex to wait a couple of more weeks because someone special was going to write to her. It was the Archbishop himself who wrote a beautiful response. Although he is Anglican, it is a touching example of how a Bishop can humble himself and take the time to write a letter in response to a little girl's quest for truth. Here is his response in its entirety.
Your dad has sent on your letter and asked if I have any answers. It's a difficult one! But I think God might reply a bit like this -
"Dear Lulu - Nobody invented me - but lots of people discovered me and were quite surprised. They discovered me when they looked round at the world and thought it was really beautiful or really mysterious and wondered where it came from. They discovered me when they were very very quiet on their own and felt a sort of peace and love they hadn't expected.
Then they invented ideas about me - some of them sensible and some of them not very sensible. From time to time I sent them some hints - specially in the life of Jesus - to help them get closer to what I'm really like.
But there was nothing and nobody around before me to invent me. Rather like somebody who writes a story in a book, I started making up the story of the world and eventually invented human beings like you who could ask me awkward questions!
And then he would send you lots of love and sign off.
I know he doesn't usually write letters, so I have to do the best I can on his behalf.
Lots of love from me too. + Archbishop Rowan
The letter not only moved Alex's young daughter it also moved him beyond his imagination and tore down some of his walls. He was impressed with the Archbishop's kindness and wisdom. Well done Rowan!
Yes, God does not write letters but the Archbishop was doing what he was supposed to do: He spoke in God's name, just like His ancient followers, and bore witness and gave testimony that shocked and shook the world back in its place! The Apostles were terrifed and startled beyond their imaginations. Alex was shocked beyond his wildest dreams. Love is shocking and terrifying, but in its very essence, love is surprising! The greatest mystery in the world is why in the world did the Lord choose men and women to help him? We already know the answer: Because we can love!
The world is a different world today because He changed us and "You are witnesses of these things."
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