“Can Loose Ends Be Good ?!?”

I often experience a certain “literary tension” when I’m preparing my BLOG. It goes something like this: I’m trying to make a particular point, but realize that several loose ends are hanging . Yet in order to write a daily BLOG, I’m limited in time and unable to tie up all the loose ends; this BLOG needs to be rushed to the publisher to meet the deadline. Nevertheless I know that if I was submitting this BLOG to Sister Rose, the proverbial Dick Butkus of English teachers, I would probably hear “Mr. Touhill, you asked several questions and offered few answers….. you get a “D”….. Oh no not a “D”…please Sister Rose. Stop that whining or I’ll change it to an “F”.  

Well since I’ve published well over a thousand BLOGS, I’ve had to learn to not be overly concerned with loose ends. Part of my coping mechanism is to consider myself the next Alfred Hitchcock. Great writers and movie directors like to keep their audience guessing. There are always a few questions that never get answered… a few lose ends still hanging. Let the viewer or the reader do a little thinking. I’m not here to spoon feed the audience….. my readership are obviously geniuses and want a challenge. Hmmmmmmm, is there a point to this BLOG today….. Maybe.

As I was reading through the scripture today, I was struck by how the simplest story or conversation is filled with such wisdom. You can ponder even a few lines for days….so much richness and so many life lessons. Today’s gospel reads: “As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem…..ten lepers met him…. raising their voices: “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. ….. Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”(Luke 17:11-19)

There is so much to ponder in this brief passage. At least three things strike me:

• Jesus listens to the desperate: The lepers are desperate…crying out. Master, have pity on us. Jesus listens to the desperate who are beyond being tepid in their request. The lepers aren’t texting or leaving a voice mail for Jesus. They are beyond being polite. They are desperate.
• Gratitude is the appropriate response: The leper who realized he’d been healed, is overwhelmed with gratitude…. Glorifying God in a loud voice, falling at the Lord’s feet in humility, thanking him. This was no half hearted response. When God visits us in our great need, our response should be dramatic and wholehearted…. Almighty God has noticed me and visited me and helped me and loved me. Wow!!!
• Jesus sends us forth: The Lord tells him to stand up…get up …you’re healed …. you’re ready…GO! Your faith has saved you. It’s time to get up and GO. Go and tell the good news to others who are desperate. I bet the Lord didn’t whisper this to the leper. I bet he shouted it with a big smile, perhaps with roarous laughter. 

Whenever Jesus shows up, it’s never boring or routine. God is not tedious, tame, or lifeless. Jesus like to shake up the troops. Stand up and GO. The first command the Jump Master gives to paratroopers when it’s time to get ready to exit the airplane, is STAND UP !!! The final command is GO ! 

I just realized that Jesus always leaves a few loose ends. He never seems to answers all the questions. “Jesus, what happened to the leapers who didn’t return to give thanks… what did the priests say to the healed lepers…. What ever happened to this grateful leper….” Hey, maybe it’s not so bad to leave a few loose ends.