This greater truth

Last Thursday Lucas came into this world. He lives next door. And we who have met him have come to know that even though he has done nothing to earn his keep, nor has he brought anything to this world in the way of productivity, he is cherished and valued. He is fed and held, smiled upon and touched tenderly. People gather around him and are immediately filled with joy. He has not been successful or earned wealth, he has not given a fine speech or won a race, he has not run for office or taken up a cause. Yet he is loved.

His two brothers have already welcomed Lucas into their home and into their lives; no test to pass, no initiation. “That’s our brother.”

His parents have no doubt that he is both gift and responsibility. Is he going to disrupt things? For sure. He will need almost constant attention for quite some time. He will remind his parents and his brothers that he is only concerned about his own comfort and wants, and he will need to be taught to share, to wait his turn, and to look out for the welfare of others, including his brothers.

But before all and above all, Lucas is loved. Before he showed his beautiful face to the world, he was loved. While he is wailing out his desire to be fed or changed or held, he is loved. The greatest truth about Lucas is not that he will exhibit selfishness or that he will at some time fail or that he will do things which are not good or helpful. No, the greatest truth about this child is that he is loved.

Lucas is a sinner and therefore he will sin. Someday he may hit one of his brothers. He will certainly disobey his mother and argue with his dad. He will do things that are not good or kind, but that is not his identity. His identity is not sinner; his identity is child of God. He is not, first of all, someone who commits sin, who does wrong; he is, first of all, someone who is loved. He is created in the very image of God and he is meant to reflect that image.

Genesis, the first book of the Bible, tells of our disobedience and rebellion against God. We are reminded of our pride, our desire to be like God, our jealousy, and even our willingness to taken another life. But before that, when God first breathed into humankind the breath of life, we are told, “God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31).

The way we see Lucas and value his life is the way God looks upon each child of God. In our Lutheran tradition we are quick to acknowledge we are sinners. We press home that truth by beginning worship with a confession of our sins. That is one truth about us, and our lives bear witness. But there is this other truth, this greater truth that we are made in the image of God. We are loved, unconditionally.

Like Lucas.

Gary