Ignorance Can Be Bliss

These words are something you probably never thought you would read in this blog. Since our first blog entry, Be Transfigured Ministries has been about removing the ignorance of our traditions. Since when do we consider ignorance a good thing? It is….and it isn’t.

Brethren, comfort one another with these words. But as to the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need to have anything written to you.  For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When people say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as travail comes upon a woman with child, and there will be no escape. But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But, since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we wake or sleep we might live with him. 1^st Thessalonians 4:18-5:10

In today’s reading, Saint Paul reminds us that we have no idea, we are ignorant about when the Lord is going to return. We only know that it will be a surprise.  He says this reality should comfort us. That is the bliss part of ignorance.

We don’t have to know when. We just need to know, and be prepared for, the reality that the Lord will return. For centuries Christians have attempted to predict His return, and they were wrong every time. Remember the recent panic of 2012?

If we understand Saint Paul’s urging, we see that our life is about being ready, not getting ready. You see, getting ready implies when we know when we are leaving. Being ready means it doesn’t matter when we leave. When the time comes, we leave. That is bliss.

So, how can we remove the anxiety of not knowing when the Lord will return? First, and I think most importantly, we must fight the urge to think we will be the ones who ‘finally’ figure it out. It is the epitome of arrogance to think we will know something even Christ doesn’t know.

Once we accept the gift of arrogance, and it is a gift, then we can focus on being ready. Can you imagine the anxiety of knowing the moment Christ will return? I recall the lump in my stomach when I was a child on ‘fire drill day’ at school. Knowing the drill was about to ring drove me crazy.

Ignorance can also bring anxiety when we are not prepared. Living in Florida during hurricane season has helped me understand this. Not being prepared for the storm is much more frightening than seeing it approach when we are prepared. Christ’s return is the same.

If we live unprepared for Christ, then His sudden return will create panic. That panic will be our condemnation. We think knowing will bring us comfort, but knowing tends only to delay our preparations, which increases our panic.

So, my dear brothers and sisters, take advantage of the Nativity Fast and reorient your life toward being prepared for the return of Christ. Be comforted not by dates and hours, but by the peace that comes from knowing His love and grace.

The fast is given to us as an exercise in focus. It is like the weather report of the storm a few days out. It reminds us that the day will come. It reminds us to be ready. It reminds us there is more to life than food. Then if the storm passes, that’s ok. We’re ready for the next one.