Mtr Mary Trainor
All hail the power of Jesus’ Name! Let angels prostrate fall, bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all …*
Dear friend,
What does it mean to say Jesus is my personal savior?
I am not seeking to pick a fight about this, so please don’t go there. But I truly have always wondered about this language and the theology it might imply.
It’s a point of view, I suppose, and one that is claimed more by Christians other than Episcopalians. And those folks are welcome to it. But for me it is troublesome.
I think my trouble with it is that it can seem exclusive. Jesus is MY personal savior, and in that way is available to me—perhaps to me alone
Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget, the wormwood and the gall, go spread your trophies at His feet, and crown Him Lord of all …
Our Gospel today from Luke addresses this topic a bit. Following a round of some pretty heavy-duty healing, Jesus slips away for time alone.
Healing is exhausting, emotional and spiritual work, and it makes sense that the human part of Jesus needs a touch of respite.
But crowds went to find him—and find him they did. Their intent was to keep him with them. Their healer. Their personal savior. But he had other work to do.
It’s reminiscent of Peter, James, and John wanting to build three houses on the mountain of transfiguration. Make it their home with Jesus.
Or when Mary Magdalene encounters Jesus outside the empty tomb. When she recognized him, but before she might approach, he said, “Don’t hold onto me…I am ascending to the Father.”
I am almost always communicating with Jesus. And even when I am not, I feel he is always present to me. But never at the expense of someone else. He has others to care for, also.
Jesus is mine, but not mine alone. He is always available, but not only to me.
O that with yonder sacred throng, we at His feet may fall, we’ll join the everlasting song, and crown Him Lord of all …
In today’s Gospel, people attempt to keep Jesus from leaving them. He said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose.”
He isn’t only mine. Or yours. He is the Lord of all …
Mtr Mary
*”All hail the power of Jesus’ name,” No. 450, The Hymnal 1982. Author: Edward Perronet, 1726-1792 Tune: CORONATION; Composer: Oliver Holden, 1765-1844 Composer (desc.): Michael E. Young, b. 1939