God's Unexpected Presence

Since 1963, the Magic Castle, a private club In Hollywood California has served as a refuge for professional and amateur magicians. Over the years the membership roster has included celebrities like Johnny Carson, Steve Martin, Jason Alexander and Neil Patrick Harris. In its infancy the club’s marquis member was the legendary actor, Cary Grant.

Grant reportedly spent a great deal of time in the front lobby of the club visiting with other members and their guests. Upon hearing someone arrive, he would open the door and personally welcome them to the Castle. Many of the guests murmured about how enchanting it was to be greeted by a Cary Grant impersonator.

People went to the Castle expecting to see illusions. You could say they expected to be fooled. A Cary Grant impersonator greeting them at the front door met their expectations. The idea of the legendary actor opening the door for them was inconceivable. Consequently, many missed a chance encounter with the real Hollywood star, even though he stood right in front of them.  

In Sunday’s gospel (John 18:33) Pontius Pilate, like guests of the Magic Castle, is limited by his expectations and cannot see the reality before him. Pilate is so concerned that Jesus is claiming to be a worldly, political king he cannot see the God-King standing right in front of him.

While Pilate is an easy target, he stands at the end of a long line of people who met Jesus, but were unable to see his divinity because of their preconceived expectations of the Messiah.

I would have fit right into that long line. Time and time again the confines of my narrow expectations have proven too small for a big God. Over the years God has amazed me by showing up when, where and in whom I least expect.

As a young man I saw Jesus in church going people, but was surprised to find him in a group of my fellow construction workers who handed me a pink slip along with three hard hats filled with enough money to send me back to college.

As a seminarian living in the Vatican I was privileged to experience Jesus’ presence in the Pope. I was shocked however, when he spoke to me in a Calcutta slum, through a dying boy’s wordless gaze of gratitude as I massaged his near lifeless body.

As a husband I experienced God’s love during my wedding, but was taken aback by his clear presence in my heart during the vague, clouded grief surrounding our miscarriage.

As a minister I witnessed Jesus’ presence my like-minded pro-life protestors, but was stunned upon finding him in the broken hearts of those men and women who proclaimed regret for their abortions.

God comes to us in ways we both expect and cannot anticipate. We’ll usually find him in the expected. Our challenge is to remain open so that we might welcome him when he appears cloaked in the unexpected, ordinary reality of our everyday lives. 

( Source for Magic Castle story is Nurture Shock by Po Brosnan and Ashely Merryman)

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