Holy Smoke! Is This the Pope?
A recent photo of a bonfire has revealed a flaming image that some are saying is the late Pope, John Paul II making an appearance from beyond.I have to confess that I am quite skeptical about the whole thing. I believe in the miraculous, but I have always thought it odd that God would communicate with us in flame-like appearances, french toast, and tree bark.
What interests me is why so many people are quick to believe such things. It certainly is the case that some people are gullible, but I can think of a couple of very intelligent people I know, who are already passing copies of the photo around as proof of a miracle. It is true that the matter of why people believe in the miraculous is complex; 84% of Americans surveyed, believe in miracles. Surely, it is beyond reason to conclude that 8 out of 10 people are simply obtuse.
I would venture to suggest that the major reason people believe in miracles is because they hope that there is more to this existence then... well this existence; and many people will latch on to anything that confirms this. The human desire to believe in something beyond ourselves is strong indeed.
The problem, it seems to me, is not believing in the miraculous, but believing in the ridiculous. I suppose it is not always easy to separate the two, but, perhaps one consideration that guides us is discerning the purpose of a miracle. Jesus did not perform miracles just because he could; they were signs of the in-breaking of God's Kingdom. So the question I would ask is how does a vague image of a flaming dead pontiff or the face of the Virgin Mary on stale toast reveal God's Kingdom among us?
It's just a question.
4 comments:
Great Question Allan! I think my initial reaction to this is similar to yours, but then I started thinking. Maybe this is just an extension of diligently searching for the grace of God in every aspect of our lives.
In other words, if we are truly "detectives of grace," seeking out the smallest sign of God's grace-filled action in the world, why wouldn't that extend to the natural world revealing God in surprising ways.
Needless to say, that begs the question about whether or not a flaming Pope would be such a sign. :-)
Matt:
Interesting thoughts.
Thanks!
Allan,
interesting. I think Jesus' miracles were signs of God's inbreaking kingdom and within that works of compassion and love.
I find this more in the realm of helping people whose faith is faltering, weak or nonexistant. Maybe some who have strong faith get enthusiastic over this because they think it can help others to come to have a clear faith in Jesus. I don't know.
In regard to this I'm completely agnostic, and probably usually on the sceptical side. I'm glad you brought it to our attention. It is an interesting phenomena, how people take things like this and how they think of it. I'm not sure what to make of it, though knowing that God is a god of grace. But people's faith must come to go beyond these kind of things, for sure.
Ted:
I like what you have to say concerning works of love and compassion. It is with deeds of love and mercy that the Kingdom does come.
At the same time, God does break into our midst in unexpected ways to remind us that the Kingdom is his doing. So, the miraculous is not only possible, it seems to me, but necessary.
That does not mean, however, that every so-called "happening" needs to be assigned to the miraculous. God does not do frivolous things, including frivolous miracles. I am raising the question as to whether such supposed sightings trivializes what God is doing in history.
Thanks again for you helpful insights.
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