Indra's Net + Proper 4C + June 2nd, 2013

Image from: http://qwertyuiopia.com/2009/04/21/weaving-indras-net/.

M. Campbell-Langdell

All Santos, Oxnard

June 2^nd, 2013

(Prop 4C: 1 Kings 18:20-39, Ps. 96, Gal. 1:1-12, Luke 7:1-10)

“Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, ‘Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed (Luke 7:6-7).’”

There is a Buddhist concept of the universe called Indra’s Net, which is a way of showing how all beings are interconnected.  Buddhist practitioner Alan Watts describes it thus: "imagine a multidimensional spider's web in the early morning covered with dew drops. And every dew drop contains the reflection of all the other dew drops.

And, in each reflected dew drop, the reflections of all the other dew drops in that reflection. And so ad infinitum. That is the Buddhist conception of the universe in an image."[1]  Other concepts see this web as having a series of pearls at each “eye” of the web, each pearl reflecting everything else.  This sense of interconnectedness can be very powerful for us to tap into.  I would suggest that as God’s Creation, we are all part of the net, and the strong webbing that holds us all together is God’s presence in and among us. 
So take this concept of interconnectedness, this matrix of God’s love in which we all live and exist, and think about the scripture readings we have heard today.  When I see the interaction—virtual, if you will, because he never physically meets Jesus in this account—between the centurion and Jesus, I see a person who understands not just systems of authority and command, but someone who has a grasp on our interconnectedness and God’s ability to work in and through us, transcending the rules of nature or science.   God’s presence, in and through each of us, needs respect no bounds of time or space in order to heal, but at an invitation (because God is a most chivalrous sort) will heal. 

And we see this also with Elijah and the priests of Baal—Elijah shows in this comparison of the two sacrifices—one made to Baal, one made to Yahweh, how there is just no comparison.  With all the circumstances in Baal’s favor, Baal is impotent, because Baal is really just a human concept.  A cluster of pearls in Indra’s net pretending it’s the whole net.  By comparison, Elijah has them pour three amounts of water on the meat to be sacrificed and we are reminded that God can break through even the laws of science and nature.  God can summon “fire from out the water,” as mystic theologian Gregory of Nyssa put it.[2]  A commentator pointed out that Elijah’s a bit naughty here, joking around that Baal went off to the bathroom—he’s just putzing around like any of us humans are prone to do—but the Almighty God breaks the laws of science and nature.[3]  Sodden animal flesh is consumed in holy flame.  There’s just no comparison.  We as humans, in this world, Paul says are insufficient.  This is another translation of the Greek word meaning “perverse,” and a similar concept to what the centurion says to Jesus about being “unworthy”—another translation for that is also “insufficient.” And we’re not, at one level, because God is the only one fully worthy, the only fully sufficient being. 

And yet, we are each on Indra’s net, we are each a pearl.  We, each one of us, reflect the dazzling glory of God.  So we are insufficient on one level when we are trying to be what we’re not, and we are enough and more than enough when we live into who we are as children of God. 

And we see this in Jesus’ interaction with the centurion.  The centurion himself is a very important man, commanding a hundred men, and yet he sees from afar the works of Jesus and he knows that this God/man is dealing with an authority that has to do with the whole web of existence.  And yet, who does he ask Jesus to heal, but his servant, his “boy,” one who is the smallest pearl in the imperial world.  And he somehow knows that, despite the boy’s worldly insignificance, that no pearl is too small or tarnished or ugly in the net of God.  Each of us is a reflection of the brilliance of our Creator.  And so the boy is healed.  Equally worthy, equally loved, equally healed.  And notice, Jesus doesn’t have to be there!  The laws of science and nature don’t apply, because the centurion has an instinct that we are all connected, that God can reach and heal us everywhere and anywhere.

That’s a lot of faith, isn’t it?  To believe in healing regardless of time and space, healing without seeing Jesus physically in action?

And yet, is it so different from us, today?  Aren’t we doing the same thing when we ask God to bless this bread and this wine?  Aren’t we doing the same thing, when not seeing God, we thrice bless children’s heads in baptismal waters in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, asking God to help us live into being part of the family of God?  Asking God to hold us ever stronger in the web of compassion with all human beings?

Because what we as sacramental people do, the healing we receive, is never about what we do, but it’s about who God is.  A priest I know uses a prayer before she says the Eucharist, as she washes her hands: “Not because of what I do, but because of who you are.”[4]  And it’s true.  What we do here is holy, our lives are made holy, not because of what we do, but because of who God is.  Not because of what you do, but because of who God is, you are loved, healed and set free, if you allow God to work in you, today.  And I count that very good news!  Amen.

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[1] As quoted from Wikipedia, “Indra’s Net,” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indra's_net. 

[2] Glaucia Vasconcelos Wilkey, “Pastoral Perspective: 1 Kings 18:20-39,” FOTW Year C, Vol. 3.

[3] Iain W. Provan, “Footnotes to 1 Kings,” Oxford Annotated Bible, 524 Hebrew Bible.

[4] Susan Bek, Rector of St. Paul’s, Ventura uses this phrase.