The Journey Begins

LENTEN ADVENTURE 2011
WEEK #1 EXPERIENCES
3/6/11 THRU 3/13/11

Impressions of Week 1 from the perspective of Amos:

Amos (as he is known to his fellow travelers) has journeyed far this week and has witnessed many strange events. He sits at the mouth of a cave in Bethany, where the group has stopped to rest for a few days, sipping the Sanhedrin’s wine and gazing at the stars shining over the Jordan River. He reflects on how he arrived at this point in his life.

Ten days ago, he set out on a buying trip to procure supplies and household items for the Roman Villa he occupies. He would be gone several weeks and even though his back was giving him trouble (he dared not report this malady for fear of being replaced), he was excited about this annual break from the boredom of his status in life. Traveling east, he had encountered a group of villagers speaking excitedly about a so-called prophet who was stirring up the populace along the northern mouth of the Jordan River. Amos’ curious nature beckoned him to stop and listen, for they were gesturing with their hands, in Jewish fashion, as they spoke of a man claiming to be a baptizer, dressed in camel-skin, who emerged from the desert.

A particularly beautiful Jewess, in Amos’ opinion, was raising her arms as if in amazement as she proclaimed, “He submerges our people into the water shouting, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.’” The inquiries from those gathered, hushed as they noticed Amos approach. These Jews, it seemed, did not speak freely around Gentiles.

“You need not fear my presence, Jews. Though a non-believer of your god, I have no political ties, at least not by choice. What of this man you speak? Please continue.”

Amos was a Greek scholar, brought to this land of sand and desolation as an educator to the Roman occupiers’ spoiled offspring. The children he taught loved his lightheartedness and wit. When asked about the gods, their hierarchy, and their realms of power, Amos would oblige his students with answers from antiquity, but silently wonder about these stone and gold deities’ realism and truth. He felt there ought to be more to this life since this was all there was. After death… well there was just nothingness after death. He was always seeking a truth yet to be discovered.

As he listened to this lively discussion, Amos learned that a group was gathering at a wealthy tradesman’s spacious dwelling in Gadara to learn more of this Baptizer and his message. Evidently, this merchant was also a member of the Sanhedrin and was concerned about yet another deceiver of his people. Amos was intrigued, and being away from his duties at the Villa, he felt free to do as he pleased. So he set out south along the shores of Lake Tiberias determined to infiltrate this secret meeting and accumulate knowledge to quench his mind’s thirst. After two days travel, he arrived at the dwelling and cunningly entered on the cloak-tails of other guests making their way through a shadowy foyer which opened into a candle-lit meeting room. He was greeted by a gracious host wearing the colorful robes of the Sanhedrin who leaned over and whispered a warm salutation using Amos’ real name.

How could this be? Amos thought. No one knows of me here, nor of my impromptu intention to be here. His host offered the guests wine and cheese from a table of plenty, and began to speak.

“Welcome, stranger. You are welcome here. Because of the Law, we must meet only in groups of 8 or less, and we must stand. That is why there are no chairs or comfortable cushions to sit upon. To do so would mean instant arrest and death. Of course, we have nothing to fear, for we are children of the Law. I hope you will find our meager accommodations satisfactory. It is a surprise to me that we have been called here, as well, I assure you.  I believe it has something to do with the Baptist…”

The well dressed Host went on with his explanations to the gathering, but Amos wondered why he addressed the group as “children of the Law” when he himself was obviously a clean-shaven Gentile as were a few others in the room. All in good time—All in good time, he told himself as he listened, drank, and ate; all the while studying his fellow arrivals with skepticism. When another guest asked his name, in his quick wit, Amos offered the Hebrew name for “troubled” for he was indeed ‘troubled’ to be in a dimly lit room surrounded by Jews, Gentiles, Sanhedrin, and possibly Roman forces. But the name also suited a deeper analogy of a troubled heart longing for answers.

Over the next few days, their host read a letter from a committee sent to investigate the baptist. This committee deemed him as a danger to the people and the law. There was a discussion about the power of one’s word as a promise or commitment, but it was said that John the Baptizer used the terminology of the ‘word’ to describe the one to come who will redeem the world of their sins.

Amos listened intently to all that was being said, saying little, agreeing with some, disavowing others. An elegant meal was laid out after the guests relaxed and bathed in their host’s spacious villa. Discussions continued and stories of the Baptist and his preaching were exchanged. Just another ranting prophet, Amos thought. There is one in every village.  But when one traveler dining next to him began to recount that John had referred to the questioning Pharisees as “broods of vipers,” he listened more intently. Amos learned that John had proceeded to dispel any lofty thoughts of these High Priests’ who were pompously declaring they were sons of Abraham. John’s reply was quick and well played.  Another reported how John boldly reproached the King for his adulterous relationship with his brother’s wife. Amos was, indeed, beginning to have a different take on this man from the desert.

So the journey began to Bethany that evening, and Amos witnessed, first hand, the declarations of John at the River Jordan. He laid eyes upon this scruffy, bearded man dressed in camel skin—exactly as he had been described—and noticed not a ranting mad-man, but an educated orator on fire with conviction. His words were clear and pronounced in the native language of Aramaic. Amos, being a scholar and teacher, knew this and many languages, but was amazed at the apparent education of this man called John.

Amos watched as many Jews made their way into the river and allowed themselves to be baptized by John who greeted each one tenderly as he cupped his hands into the Jordan and poured the water over their heads saying, “I baptize you with water that you may be purified and ready for the coming of the kingdom. Open up your hearts to God. Receive this cleansing life. Let this water wash away your sins.” Amos thought these were strange words indeed. A coming kingdom? There can be no kingdom here. This is Roman occupied land. Amos further understood, from his studies of these people’s Law and beliefs, that John had just committed heresy in their eyes, for only their god could wash away sins. Who IS this man?

Then a man appeared, standing erect as if he possessed some special position which his apparent status belied. He passed through the crowd and approached John. He did not speak. Amos was drawn to his eyes. They were intense, knowing, even a bit mournful. This quiet man and John studied each others face, as if they were acquainted, and John said, “It is I who need baptism from you, yet it is you who come to me.” The man silently lowered his head, and John pour water over his coarse, dark hair. Just then, a white dove appeared directly above the quiet man. Amos knew the dove was a sign of peace for these Jews. He thought it odd that a dove would appear at this moment, out of nowhere. Then a voice was heard as if coming from John but it was not John’s voice. It was deeper, authoritative, powerful; yet loving beyond all compassion Amos had ever heard. “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” Then the quiet man rose and slowly walked away from the crowd and into the mouth of the desert, never turning back. 

By all the gods of Olympus, that was odd, Amos thought. John continued to baptize and the people continued to repent. Then John turned to two of his disciples, Philip and Andrew, and pointed to the quiet man as he disappeared into the desert. “Behold the Lamb of God who takes unto himself the sins of the world. It is him you must follow now. He must increase and I must decrease.”  Amos knew the lamb was a sacrificial animal for Greek, Roman, and Jewish gods alike, so why, he wondered, had John called the quiet man a lamb of god, and why did he vanquish his own followers to the man’s side? 

Unlike many of Amos’ fellow travelers, he did not step into the Jordan for the baptismal ritual. He had no sins he cared to profess, for he had no beliefs. Besides, no man can take away another man’s sins. Amos starred off into the desert as he sat on a hot rock, and he wondered about the quiet man and his intensive eyes.

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Impressions of Week 1 from the perspective of Winnie:


Write all that you have learned thus far about your faith, as you understand it.

I was born and raised in a family rich in the Christian faith—generations of Catholics on one side and strict Baptists on the other. I have been educated in parochial schools, entered religious life for a time, and worked many years in the church on committees and counsels. I knew the prayers. I sang the hymns in the choir. I donated to the poor and visited the sick. But I’m learning now that I have been a Pharisee, a High Priestess who knew the Law but failed to ‘feel’ the Law. I knew the words, but I didn’t know the WORD. Getting past that revelation has allowed me to be open to a new study of just who Jesus is, a new faith in something much bigger than me. The Advent Adventure began the process. This Lenten Adventure is cracking the egg and getting to the yoke of the matter. For instance, I have read the first chapter of John for 60 years but never knew what impact it had until I recently discovered the fact that John is introducing Jesus as the WORD which had always been used before to identify the ONE true God. John tells us that the WORD was always with God, from before the creation of the universe. This was new to me and a very exciting discovery. Not the fact that the Trinity is eternal. I knew that. But the fact that this is the first time Jesus is referred to as ‘Logos’—the WORD. This is actually the beginning of Christianity. I’m still trying to grasp the implications of this truth. I’m even working on an article that further explains what this discovery means to me. I’m sure some nun back in 6th grade spoke of the WORD as it pertains to Jesus, but I seriously doubt that she compared this terminology to the Old Testament WORD. If Sister Immaculata did cover this, I must have slept through that class.


What has spoken to your heart most about our time together?

The very first activity for the journey, after reading 2 Samuel 11 & 12 about David’s sin and his repentance and return to God, was to write the ONE big sin in my life on an index card. This activity proved to be difficult, for what I knew to be sin, deep in the truth chambers of my heart, I had denied for many years. I must have been awarded a kind of insight or grace to finally name it for what it was, and before I could change my mind, I wrote it on the card. Burning the card with the sin written upon it and donning the ashes on my forehead elevated the sin from denial to reality even further. This reality saddened me for I had waited so long before admitting its offense against God who loves me so much. Burning the sin gave me a sense of repentance, but the remnants, the ashes were still there. . It was only after hearing my fellow journeyers assure me that the sin was forgiven and forgotten by God was I able to truly feel free and at peace. I am human. I am a sinner. But I don’t have to be a prisoner to the sin.


What is it that has helped, or hindered you the most?

The In-Character Forum and the whole idea of adopting a biblical character, actually becoming him, have made this adventure come alive for me. To speak in dialogue, strictly from the perspective of one who lived in 28 AD Galilee, who walked the same path that Jesus walked, is an eye-opener. I feel I am truly in Gadara and Bethany with the other characters. I can feel the roughness of my tunic and the leather of my sandals fill with sand. I can explore the vista of the River Jordan and the Sea of Galilee from the roof top of my host’s Villa. I can understand the vast difference between Jew and Gentile, Pharisee and King, freeman and slave. I’m not a very good actress. I’m a terrible liar (thanks to my Dad’s strict teaching of honesty). But I am thoroughly enjoying my character, with all his warts and shortcomings.

The only thing that has ‘hindered’ me in this Adventure is Ole Ugly. He keeps telling me I don’t have time for such nonsense. I should be mopping the floor or trying to find a job (which believe me, I’ve tried). I don’t listen much to him anymore, which must make him mad because he’s pulling at my aching neck right now and telling me that I am wasting my time. Fact is, he is wasting his time. I’m in my Father’s lap right now and He’s holding me tight.


Have you seen some amount of "distance" between where you began the adventure, and where you find yourself today?

Much like my wine-drinking, back-aching, non-believing, disillusioned character, Amos, I am experiencing this adventure as I go: one remarkable revelation at a time. But I can tell you that Amos and I have learned much this first week as we circle around the Sea of Galilee.


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