Image – Mask
What do you see in this image? What does it represent for you?
Story: Elizabeth parents a family with biological, adopted, and foster children. Two of her children have invisible disabilities, learning disabilities, and mental health challenges. One Sunday, one of these children became overstimulated and had a major meltdown. Instead of exploring what led to the reaction, mother and child were blamed for the disruption. The family subsequently left the church.
When asked to imagine her relationship with the church as an image, Elizabeth chose to look through the eyes of her children who see things for what they are and will call out hypocrisy without fear. From that perspective, she described a mask over the church. For her, this doesn’t mean what is behind the mask is terrible or ugly. Rather, there is a façade of what the church should be, what the community should be like, and it’s not always authentic.
Thoughts? To what extent does this story resonate with you? What can we learn from this story? Would we have treated Elizabeth and her family differently? Why or why not? What difference does it make when we focus on the people in front of us? How is this valued? How is this limiting?
The study also shared the story of Lydia and Levi. Levi has complex needs and has always been a part of his church community. As Levi grew and changed, the congregation adapted to ensure Levi could participate as much as possible. After all, Levi is a long-standing, valued member of the community.
It can be tempting to focus on the needs in front of us. We wanted to include John and found ways to make that happen. We want to ensure Sandy feels included and continually seek to make that happen. However, adapting to the needs of a single individual does not necessarily make a church accessible. Adding ramps and large bathrooms does not fit all accessibility needs. There are needs related to hearing, vision, and trying to reduce the potential for over stimulation. There are needs related to food which challenge priorities. This leads to decisions like offering plain pasta alongside vegetarian and meat versions. Pasta with butter is actually a staple of many who are neurodivergent. It remains important to continually learn and be open to adapting to the needs beyond those in front of us.
Wearing a mask doesn’t mean what is behind it is terrible or ugly. Rather, there is a façade of what the church should be, who we should be which can influence the choices we make and the ways we act.
So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’
In today’s Gospel we hear how the Jews wanted to unmask Jesus. They wanted to see him plainly. Jesus’ response includes the message that: The Father and I are one.
The ‘mask’ Jesus wears is a sign of his relationship to God the Creator, the One who holds all people and the world in the palm of God’s hand. The façade that Jesus presents embodies the multitude of ways God loves all of Creation. All those who recognise this powerful truth, can hear and be guided by the voice of the Good Shepherd, the One who will lead us to green pastures and still waters, bringing us peace and comfort.
What might it look like for us, as Church, to wear the mask of Jesus? Can our façade also help reveal green pastures and still waters? Can we be a sign of God’s love today for those who need it most? To what extent can and do we keep the example of Jesus and the challenge to love our neighbours as ourselves before us in the choices we make as we embody our faith? What can we do better? This challenge is perpetually before us.
May we continually seek to ensure the mask we wear enables us to embody our faith authentically for ourselves and all who need to know that they are valued members of the Body of Christ. This we pray as we sing: For all the children
Image used with permission from Wendy Newbery
