When we least understand, someone sends us some understanding.

Those of you who know a fact or two about Zen Buddhist practicemay know what a koan is. A koan is simply a short phrase, or a question,designed to bring us to a point of enlightenment, but which also tends to confound any rational attempt to understand it.The most well-known example may be,“What is the sound of one hand clapping?”

Proverbs and St. Paul suggest that we have a choice to make as people of faith,a choice as to which “spirit” we will let influence us:We can follow the quick, easy seductions of the foolish spirit,a spirit that works (as Proverbs will go on to say) – like a prostitute – a prostitute who flatters us into thinking that things like our college degrees . . . our careers . . . or our good looks have set us up for a sweet life, a reasonable life, a comprehensible life.Or – and this is the plea of Proverbs, of St. Paul, and of Christ himself – we can admit that there are limits to our understanding, things, no amount of professional training or native intelligence have helped us to comprehend. Loved ones die too soon . . . chronic illness or addiction interrupt a life . . . Metaphorically and (too often literally) our bodies are broken and the blood of those we love is shed. There are times when life itself throws a koan our direction and leaves us asking “how can a good God let such things happen?”But friends, it is precisely when our own comprehension breaks down, when we cannot figure out what God is up to, when we have been “simplified” by the complexity of our family circumstances, this is the moment the voice of God, like a wise woman, calls us back to her table, not for cheap fare . . not for sugar water. (Here is where the metaphors mix and we enter this mystery with image, poetry). God sets this table with her meat . . . the bread that came down from heaven, the flesh of God’s Son broken for the life of the world. Unlike our ancestors who quarreled about how any of this could make any reasonable sense . . . and then died, we can live forever . . . .if we have the humility to live openly before so great a koan. For when we lack understanding of why we suffer, then this bread we break, and this cup we share, becomes our communion with Christ’s own suffering. And though this is incomprehensible, it is this mystic, sweet communion with Christ that is our food.“Let those who are simple turn in here,” God says.“Let those who lack understanding come, eat of my food.”
This food is for the life of the world!__________________________ Proverbs 9:1-6Ephesians 5:15-20