No Code Needed

Mystery gets our attention. How can we figure this one out? We’re intrigued. The DaVinci Code, book and movie seek to convince us that there is a body of hidden writings which claim that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and even had a child with her. This blood line is the real “Holy Grail” so the story goes. Oh, really? And we’re plunged into cryptic analysis, clever plots and groups who either want this “truth” divulged or purged.

Yet the down-to-earth truth is that “In the name of God” bloody crusades, inquisitions, witch burnings and holocausts have scarred our human history and perpetuated atrocities right up to our era of suicide bombers and genocide. Fear, pride and jealousy can do terrible things.

Though there is something to be learned from this, the DaVinci Code can, I think, provide us a backdoor to where our deeper solution lies. The “sacred feminine” … which is a big part of the current DaVinci hype … seeks to elevate the status of the woman through Jesus’ own supposed marriage. We’re asked to look again at the contribution of Christ … not as a Jewish messiah but rather as a “great man” whose love was the foundation of all that is good. The self-serving, power manipulations of the Church are vilified and the beauty of Christ’s family is honored.

Are you convinced? Is this the way to inspiration and spiritual renewal … that is, debunk the “Church” and embrace a more “human” approach to spirituality through the hidden lineage of Jesus?

Certainly, many have argued that there was something special to their place on earth due to their lineage. The ancient Jews had Abraham … as do the Muslims. Latter Day Saints claim that Jesus made a special trip to a “lost tribe” in the Americas and left them the final word embossed upon golden plates. Jehovah Witnesses want very much to be part of the 144,000 who will be specially blessed by God. Human nature: we want to think we’re special … at least more special than certain others.

Here’s the problem I have with this whole business. It just doesn’t hold Jesus. Jesus held us all. He embraced children and thief on the cross, the woman caught in adultery and the crazy man who had a legion of demons, those supposedly “cursed” with leprosy, blindness or epilepsy; those rejected because of their corrupted religious beliefs (Samaritans) and those with no valid religion at all (Gentiles). Jesus inspired his disciples not to judge but to show mercy. When presented with his “family” he said, “Who are my mother and my brothers and sisters … aren’t they those that do God’s will?” And to those who thought they were special because they were children of Abraham, Jesus told them that God could raise up stones to be such children … that he had found greater faith in a non-Jew than among the Jewish religious leaders! Yes, the Jews knew that he was “no respecter of persons” and that he considered all based on their faith. Indeed, the story of the New Testament Church shows the “Spirit” of God trying to use people like Peter and Paul to reach out to the non-Jews with God’s love … just like Jesus did.

For God so loved the world! This is Jesus’ message that he died to communicate. And now we have the “DaVinci Code” telling us that there is something special about a particular lineage? It just doesn’t match up (at all!) with Jesus’ teachings, actions and sacrificial death. If I understand correctly the inspiration of Jesus, he simply (and profoundly) wanted us to love our NEIGHBOR as he loved us … with the transforming love of God (who IS love). Is Sophie, descendant of Jesus a Princess to be adored? Or is every person, a miraculous creation of God, to be embraced with the love of Christ?

When we make value distinctions, we lose the Spirit of Jesus’ teachings and the gritty power of the cross which tells us that to truly embrace Jesus as Lord means a death to our human pride and a daily openness to the long-suffering, compassionate love of God for all. That doesn’t need a code to figure out. It’s as simple as a child in our midst, not aware or even caring if the child next to him/her is black or white, girl or boy. Get along now children! It’s right here, right now in the work we do, the diapers we change, the food we share. Glamorous, mysterious, hidden? Hardly. But everything is worthy of conversation for the sake of balance and wisdom!

Living in a loving relationship with our Lord …our brother … and with one another as fellow travelers in this part of God’s creation, I would suggest the true “Holy Grail” and the only one that truly matters is the Spirit that fills our baptism, worship, communion, music and service: “Love one another as I have loved you. Abide in my love.” DaVinci or DaWhoever is not our Lord.