Priest's Letter

Not winning the race (with apologies to the apostle Paul)

"LOSER!"

A sound heard at many a teenage sporting gathering up and down the nation. For creativity's sake, such a sharp and rather distinct utterance is often chanted in unison by laurel-bearing members of the victors. Like some ancient duel between Roman forces and the Barbarians, only with more blood and gore (have you seen Sunday morning football??!!!??).

It is fair to say if I was ever on any team that uttered such jubilation, it was more in spite of me rather than because of me. I was certainly not on any competitive team that's for certain. My sporting prowess was not so much limited as annihilated.

I was always the "LOSER"....

In sharp contrast to my two older brothers, both selected for the Olympics (but turned down the offer - who does that????!!!!???). They could just about succeed at any sport, game, physical activity that came their way. They were adored for it by peers. Especially girls. It's fair to say there was a definite genetic split.

Now before you think I'm begging for sympathy, don't. I'm not. It is a mere statement of fact, painful at the time, but such is life. No, in fact the experience of being a loser is something that I've come to embrace. To a degree. Still wish I could play cricket, though.

You see, being a 'LOSER' is all part of the Christian experience. In fact in many ways it defines it. Looking at Jesus himself, through the eyes of his opponents, and not theologically, one would proclaim him an outright failure. Disciples - they desert him. Family - they think he is seriously deranged. The establishment - opposes him. His home town - drive him out. By any standard measure, Jesus is a serious loser.

Then there is the ultimate mark of his loser credentials, the cross. Understanding his power to oppose the empire without violence, they make the ultimate example of him - strung up as an enemy of the state, the sarcasm of his charge, "King of the Jews" marking the extent of his failure.

Yes, Jesus is a failure. A loser. Thank God.

Jesus was all too aware that his Way and the ways of the world were at complete odds, with the world having the lion's share of the support, something he pointedly says to Pilate when he says his Kingdom is not of this world. His entire mission was not based upon the criteria of success or failure but because it was the only thing he could do to live life, as he in his bones knew, God intended. God is not a God of success criteria but a God of love, and love means open and alongside the loser.

"He eats with Tax collectors and sinners" was a charge against him - a catch-all designed to show his lack of righteousness by polite standards. But it is the standard required by love, even if that means standing with the loser outside of polite society. Jesus stands with those who have not made the grade, reached the standard, not 'succeeded', failed. Therein lies the path to resurrection - no matter the judgement of the world, no matter the rejection or the condemnation of the world, God's final and ultimate answer is the loving embrace that does not let go, "even unto death". The theological and spiritual acclamation of "Jesus is risen!" is not about reanimation. It is about the ultimate triumph of the ultimate failure - the gates of the underworld itself shall not prevail against it.

For we who proclaim ourselves as Christians, then, our task is not to be buoyant over mega-church size congregations, or eye-catching building projects, the success of outreach programmes, the delight of 'bums on pews'. It is to grow into the knowledge that to love is to not let go of one another, neither let go of the outsider, the straggler, the condemned, the hurting. There's a reason Jesus talks in terms of mustard seed, grains, the two or three. It's not about keeping score. It's about loving till your heart bursts, and then some besides - to count neither cost nor score.

And, as we know, we will often be losers at that too! Over and over again. Whether we be losers in the eyes of the world or losers in our own eyes for believing we have failed God, ultimately we win because we are held tight by the Love that will not let us go.

The Way is narrow. It goes against everything we are led to believe - sometimes even by the Church itself. But, by God, it is THE Way, THE Truth and THE life.

So go on. Be a loser. I dare you.

Chris