Fr Ben Garren

Stan: Once you wanted revolution
Stan: Now you're the institution
Stan: How's it feel to be the man?
It's no fun to be the man.
—The Ascent of Stan by Ben Folds

Dear Siblings in Christ,

As our Lenten journey continues and we reflect more on the Gospel of John it is a good time to reflect on the issue of The Man, the slang term that gained prominence amid the Vietnam War protests. A phrase to reference The Institution, The Government, the bureaucratic nightmare that had reduced each male citizen to a number in a deadly lottery amidst the Cold War that was not very cold. The passion of a generation taking up protest, counterculture, and defiance of the systems put in place to not only control their lives but risk them in a distant part of the globe. All their frustration wrapped up in the term The Man.

Whenever we find ourselves being ground down by some institution, especially one whose nominal purpose is to support us in various ways, we find ourselves using some term like The Man. Disgruntled laity in a parish may speak of the machinations of The Clergy. Disgruntled clergy and laity feeling frustrated in their lack of support can grumble about The Church. When, amidst our frustration, we use terms like The Church, The Clergy, The Government, The Institution, The Man… what we are getting at is our desire for churches, clergy, governments, institutions, the people in charge, to be doing their jobs well.

Which brings us to the frustrations found in today’s Gospel lesson felt by the person who has been waiting at the side of the pool near the sheep gate for healing, of Jesus as he goes about his ministry, of John as he relates to us the story. This frustration that comes from existing under a religious institution that is grinding people down instead of lifting people up. The same frustration that brings us to grumble about The Clergy or The Church brings these individuals to grumble about The Jews. The Man was more interested in getting soldiers to the front lines than in the lives of those young men during the Vietnam War. The Man was more interested in making sure no one carried their mat on the Sabbath than in the lives of those who longed to be healed.

John, throughout his Gospel, is frustrated with The Man. His frustration is with The Institution that is failing to provide for those in need. He is disgruntled with The Bureaucracy that is more focused on numbers and rules than human life and wellbeing. Instead of shaking his fist at The Church or The Clergy he shakes his fist at The Jews but by this he means the tiresome administration that simply does not get what the people need. What he is truly saying is best summed up in that slang term: The Man.

Pax,

—Ben