Paul was right - our religion is a mystery. Jesus was revealed in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, proclaimed far and wide, then take up in glory. On the surface it seems fantastic - couldn't God have chosen an easier way? But God works in many ways that we do not expect, and God always involves human beings in the plan. If we are attentive, we can discover ways in which God calls on us to play our part too.

People are never satisfied. They have definite ideas about how God is supposed to operate and what a holy person is supposed to be like. If they are not open to God's word, it is always easy to find something to criticize. Jesus pointed out that there were those who rejected John because he was a hard and ascetic man. But now folks were rejecting Jesus because they considered him too lax and self-indulgent. Like the children's song in the marketplace, the men and women of God did not dance to their tune. We need to put aside some of our expectations and notions about God and allow God to be God. Usually God comes to us in surprising - even shocking - ways and continues to challenge us.

God can communicate with us in different ways than the past, so our hearts and minds must be open to the signs of the divine presence in every person and event. The person we laugh at or turn away from may have a message for us from God.