Lent 4

How’s your health?

Obviously this is a loaded question – but the theme throughout the readings today seems to focus on health. And not just health in general, but very specifically YOUR health.

We have the story from Numbers of people being bitten by snakes – and these would not have been just garter snakes that we’re used to – these were poisonous, nasty, I’d imagine LARGE snakes. I’m not a fan of snakes – the very thought of these nasty slithering biting things makes me squirm. So the thought of avoiding that, or of being promised health should a bite take place is calming for me. And to be so calmed by the image of a serpent on a pole – seems a bit odd at first, but this imagery has been used for centuries.

This particular image, the serpent on a staff, is called the Nehushtan – we’re told of a brazen snake. Now, the word brazen may mean that the snake was in a bold or feisty position, or that it was made of brass – or possibly both. A little play on words is welcome now and then, and allows us to use our imagination a little bit. And this imagery continued in the Jewish tradition, even in the temple there was a symbol of a snake on a pole that was believed to help cure snake-bites.

There are other examples of health-related symbolism that uses snakes on poles. The single snake can be found on Asclepius’ rod, an Ancient Greek symbol of health and well-being. What we may consider more common, however, is the Caduceus - two snakes, wrapped around pole with wings. This is actually a symbol of commerce but was co-opted by US Army medical corps in 1902, and since then North Americans have seen it, and used it, to represent ‘health.’

So we know that symbols are important – they are generally cross-cultural, so even if there’s a confusion in language, the symbols are similar. Think about it – road signs are similar, no matter what language we can find the washrooms or airport or train station. We use symbols regularly, whether we’re aware of it or not. And these symbols, in and of themselves, don’t necessarily have specific meaning. Staying with health, for example, we might consider a stethoscope, or a person wearing a white coat, or an apple – they all have unique individual meanings, but they also act to remind us of the concept of ‘health.’

So what about our SPIRITUAL HEALTH – what do you look to in order to remind us of our spiritual health?

Let’s think about some spiritual symbols – even narrowing it down to this season of Lent. The colour purple reminds us of suffering; the crown of thorns remind us of the mockery Jesus faced, and the nails remind us of his Crucifixion; the Greek letters Alpha and Omega remind us that Christ is at the beginning and the end, encompassing all things at all times; the red crosses denoting the violence and bloodshed of the death of Christ. And this is visible just on my stole.

We have other symbols that remind us of our Christianity year-round, when we wish not to focus on the daily distractions (or snakes) but on the healing powers that are promised to us. Symbols such as the Cross; loaves and fishes; Eucharistic bread and wine; the Jesus fish (ixthus); the Bible, etc.

We also look to the Saints.

If I were to ask you to name a saint – chances are that the first one you might think of is Patrick. And what did Patrick do, that we have just celebrated his feast day? He drove the snakes out of Ireland. Except Ireland didn’t have snakes – the climate didn’t allow it; nor did it’s geography. So what did he drive out? The Pagans. Patrick was enslaved in Ireland as a youth, escaped to England, where he dreamed that he was called back to the Emerald Isle to convert the pagans to Christianity. And back he went – and used symbols that were known to the local people as a means to introduce Christianity to them. There are lots of Celtic symbols that have been changed over the years; it’s a fascinating history.
But Patrick is not our only saint this week. We also celebrate:

March 18: Cyril of Jerusalem – from the early 3rd Century, named one of the “Doctors of the Church” (only 33), as someone who made an important contribution to doctrine or theology

March 19: St. Joseph of Nazareth – Jesus’ earthly father – enough said.

March 20: St. Cuthbert of Lindisfarne – an Anglo-Saxon monk and bishop in the 7th Century. Cuthbert is now the patron saint of Northern England, and celebrated in the monastic community at Lindisfarne

March 21: Thomas Cranmer – English theologian and Archbishop of Canterbury; he headed the committee that wrote the Book of Common Prayer, and he wrote the 39 articles. Cranmer was the first protestant head of the Church of England under Henry 8 and Elizabeth; eventually he was condemned as a heretic under Mary and martyred.

March 22: Thomas Ken – an English bishop and poet, hymnwriter – most famous for “Praise God from whom all blessings flow” -

March 23: Gregory the Illuminator –A 3rd century Archbishop, credited with converting Armenia from paganism

All of these people – and the rest of the saints, those we know, those we don’t – we’re meant to look to these as people who will help us come to, and stay in, the light. They are people whose lives demonstrated the wish to live in the light – that true light of Christ - and they inspired others to do the same. They are here as symbols of the faith, of the great gifts that God has bestowed upon us. They’re here as living symbols to remind us of that quintessential scripture passage we hear today: God SO LOVED the world that he gave his only begotten son, that all who believe in him will not die but rather have everlasting life.”

We have been promised an equal share in the light – if we just believe. We have been promised spiritual health and eternal life in that same light – but we have to make the choice to turn to I over and over again. It can be difficult – we have all had times in our lives that have seemed overwhelmingly dark. We have all done things in our lives that could be considered deeds done in the darkness. But we also have all received the promise. The promise of health, of welcome into the company of the saints in light. We have that promise held up before us, just like Moses with the serpent on the staff. And we are reminded of it daily. In the people that we meet, in the experiences that we share, in the very symbols that permeate our lives. So whatever moves you to a place of faith, of deep and true belief, I encourage you to go there, to live out your faith to the best of your ability. To look toward the light; to see Jesus held up before you as a personal guarantee of his love. God so loved the world – all of the world, including each and every one of us – God so loves US - that he gives us his only Son – celebrating when turn to him and accept the promise of eternal life.