Friday, December 23, 2005
Holy Images?
It's another one of those news stories:
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Employees at The Stadium Club Restaurant on Beach and Southside Boulevards say they see an image of Jesus in a cooking pan used to heat water. The pan, which is usually used warm nacho cheese containers, actually has mineral deposits from water left on it. The kitchen staff at The Stadium Club say they won't be using the pan anymore in the kitchen, but people are welcome to come check it out anytime.
I don't think that stain looks much like Jesus. I think it looks a little bit like Chewbacca, but I just don't see Jesus in it. Maybe it's just me. Wendy says it looks like a monster from Where The Wild Things Are. I don't really see that. I kinda see Jar Jar Binks, though. (Not that I'm Star Wars obsessed.)
Hat tip: Blonde Sagacity
This, of course, is not the first time that people have believed they've seen images of the sacred in everyday items:
Remember the grilled cheese sandwich, auctioned on e-Bay, which some believed contained an image of the Virgin Mary?
Wendy says it looks a bit like Marilyn Monroe. I guess. If I squint.
In the Chicago area, a steady stream of the faithful came to see a stained highway underpass concrete wall that, according to some, was another image of Mary.
Some claim that this tree, at the home of the Kilburn family in Harris County, Texas, features an image of Mary and/or an image of the finger of God, pointing skyward. No, I am not making that up. It's a real story.
Ditto Dalcher (real name, as far as I can tell) noticed what he believed to be the image of Christ in this brick from the fireplace in his home. Of course, he immediately put it up for sale.
Wendy thinks it looks a little like Che Guevara.
Office building windows in Clearwater, Florida, are believed by many to reveal the 60 foot tall image of the Holy Mother.
Oh, I don't know. I guess this stuff is harmless. If it leads anyone to lead a more reverent life, then it's a good thing. I just hope that people don't get so involved in looking for the holy images in Fritos and mud puddles that they forget to look for holiness in the people around them.
Permalink -- Posted by Darrell at 10:07 
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Darrell,
Personally, these things trouble me a bit as a pastor.
It seems to me that one of the characteristics of our fallen human nature and one of the chief strategems of the Enemy is to get us to look for God where He has not promised to be found. I think your caution against being distracted is right on.
Of course, God is omnipresent and is manifested in some quite unlikely people.
However, where has God promised to be found? Where is God distributing His gifts of grace? I would point to the objective means such as Holy Baptism, Preaching, Absolution, and the Eucharist. These are the spots in creation where the Creator is located distributing the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation.
Is God trying to communicate to us through a grilled cheese sandwich? Though nothing is impossible with God, it seems unlikely. I say that because He has not promised to meet me there.
The danger is that people will seek to find God, find meaning, find solace in such illusions while ignoring the far more ordinary means of Word and Sacrament.
Personally, these things trouble me a bit as a pastor.
It seems to me that one of the characteristics of our fallen human nature and one of the chief strategems of the Enemy is to get us to look for God where He has not promised to be found. I think your caution against being distracted is right on.
Of course, God is omnipresent and is manifested in some quite unlikely people.
However, where has God promised to be found? Where is God distributing His gifts of grace? I would point to the objective means such as Holy Baptism, Preaching, Absolution, and the Eucharist. These are the spots in creation where the Creator is located distributing the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation.
Is God trying to communicate to us through a grilled cheese sandwich? Though nothing is impossible with God, it seems unlikely. I say that because He has not promised to meet me there.
The danger is that people will seek to find God, find meaning, find solace in such illusions while ignoring the far more ordinary means of Word and Sacrament.
Ditto!
Seriously, Pastor Scott, you've said exactly what I'd have liked to say, if I'd posessed the eloquence and focus.
Seriously, Pastor Scott, you've said exactly what I'd have liked to say, if I'd posessed the eloquence and focus.
I do kind of see Marilyn Monroe, if drawn by Jim Lee. Seriously though, good points all around about the danger of taking these things too seriously.
Thanks for your holiday wishes over at my blog. Hope you and Wendy and the kids have a great Christmas!
Thanks for your holiday wishes over at my blog. Hope you and Wendy and the kids have a great Christmas!
Darell- what "Pastor Scott Stiglemitterf" said. He has some good points.
I like the last line of your post.
Merry Christmas to you, Wendy-Poo and the Loudermilk clan!
PS- I have to type in "ehcfblzd" for word verification, and it kind of looks like "eucharist blazed". I don't know what that means. Perhaps a warning from God? Is he speaking to us through word verification now?
I like the last line of your post.
Merry Christmas to you, Wendy-Poo and the Loudermilk clan!
PS- I have to type in "ehcfblzd" for word verification, and it kind of looks like "eucharist blazed". I don't know what that means. Perhaps a warning from God? Is he speaking to us through word verification now?
I'm with Pastor SS. Wait ... that doesn't sound too good...
Although, I think it's worse in that this could prevent folks from coming to your faith (I'm not of a specific faith, even though I respect the Christian faith) because these goofy 'miracles' make the faith look bogus to people who know anything.
Just came across this blog. It's a cool one. I'll be checking the archives...
Although, I think it's worse in that this could prevent folks from coming to your faith (I'm not of a specific faith, even though I respect the Christian faith) because these goofy 'miracles' make the faith look bogus to people who know anything.
Just came across this blog. It's a cool one. I'll be checking the archives...
Good post.
I agree somewhat with Pastor SS. Unfortunately in most highly liturgical services even the sacrements (Baptism and Communion) themselves become nothing more than idols and images and rituals that give no real power for holy living.
If anyone is looking for Christ in a toaster, or His mother under a bridge, I would question their salvation altoghether.
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I agree somewhat with Pastor SS. Unfortunately in most highly liturgical services even the sacrements (Baptism and Communion) themselves become nothing more than idols and images and rituals that give no real power for holy living.
If anyone is looking for Christ in a toaster, or His mother under a bridge, I would question their salvation altoghether.
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