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Discernment. A dictionary definition says this: “the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure.” And a dictionary definition of “obscure” is “keep something from being seen.” How do we grasp and comprehend something that is being kept from our eyes? Answer: it’s not easy! It takes time and patience. It takes a certain level of attentiveness, looking for clues, being open to the unexpected. Discernment can mean taking a second look at something, or simply taking more time to consider alternatives instead of automatically doing something that seems safe or familiar.
Consider the Easter story from the aspect of discernment. The author of the gospel according to Mark leaves us with women who say nothing because they are afraid. They did not understand what they had just seen and heard. They did not immediately discern the good news at the heart of the strange events they had experienced. They ignored the content of the news the messenger gave them. It was just too obscure for them in those initial moments. And yet, we know that eventually they broke their silence. They told the story. At some point, they must have discerned the truth: Christ is risen! When did they reach this point of discernment? We don’t know. It seems likely that even as they first told the others about what they had experienced, they were still uncertain. It was so overwhelming!
The author of the gospel according to John gives us many more details that reveal a process of discernment. Mary Magdalene finds the empty tomb. She is confused and runs back to tell the disciples. Peter and one other go running to the tomb. They also see it is empty, they are also confused. Mary Magdalene encounters the risen Jesus, but she thinks it is the gardener, so she has also not yet discerned the truth. And even when Jesus speaks to her and she knows it is him, she does not know what it means.
The gospel according to John continues with Jesus appearing to the disciples on the evening of that first Easter, and then again a week later. And even though the disciples are convinced that it is Jesus, it’s pretty clear that they still don’t know what that really means. I love how the gospel writer makes a point to tell us that Jesus also did “many other things” that are not written down. It’s as though he wants to reassure us that even if we still feel confused and things are obscure, God is with us and God is continuing to be revealed to us.
No one can claim that they instantly understand everything there is to know about God. In a sense, God remains obscure, hidden. But God is constantly revealed to us, in many and various ways. And together, we can help each other grow in understanding. Together, we seek to discern, to understand, how to live as disciples, students of Jesus. This is what it means to live lives of faith: to be constantly seeking to understand God and God’s will for our lives.
Discernment takes patience. There is no pre-set timetable. It’s not like an eclipse that can be reliably predicted. But remember that even with the predictions that let us know where the eclipse would happen, no one could predict exactly what the weather would be! I watched one news clip where a weather reporter complained about how clouds got in the way of his view of the eclipse. We never know how and when discernment will help us understand. But God has promised to be with us always.
Throughout the remainder of the Easter season, I will continue to speak of discernment.
Christ is risen!
Pastor Sue
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