"The Bean and You"

Chicago's "The Cloud Gate"

Friday, during our Annual Diocesan Convention's Pastoral Address, Bishop Stevenson shared the story of “The Cloud Gate” A.K.A., “The Bean”, a sculpture by the British sculptor, Anish Kapoor.  The sculpture finished in 2006 has its place at the heart of Chicago’s downtown.  It is a large – 66 ft long, 42 ft wide, and weights 110 tons.  It is a hollow structure, covered by 168 highly polished stainless-steel panels.

As an aside, and as an illustration about how things are these days, last July someone began to spread the story that the artist kidnapped a child and placed him inside the sculpture and that the city government was complicit in not opening the sculpture to free the now grown-up man.

Now, going back to “The Bean”, as I said, it is highly polished and crews keep it clean.  There, looking at the mirror-like surface one can see oneself, but due to the curvature one can also see well beyond what we can see normally. 

It is a new and sometimes disconcerting perspective.  And due to the shape, one has the impression that one is smaller than the surrounding landscape. It is, awe inspiring.

Another quirkiness is that is that every single point offers a different perspective.  And, of course, children and adults as well love to see themselves like in Carnival’s mirror.

Bp Stevenson noted that the nature of the surface leads to having distorted views of reality.  But then again, unlike a Carnival’s mirror, “my” distortion is different from the one that the one my neighbors see.  And so, insisting in “my” distortion is the only “real” was the kind of thinking that led the Sadducees to question Jesus about eternal life.

At the time of Jesus, the Sadducees were influential in government affairs.  And to be influential, they had to compromise.  Like having the wrong guy as the High Priest and even Herod, who under the eyes of the orthodox Jews was unfit to be Israel’s king. 

For such and other social and religious issues, the Pharisees were dead set against the Sadducees who were – to paraphrase a contemporary phrase – Jewish in Name Only.

As you know, eventually, with the fall of Jerusalem, and due to the Roman’s scorched earth policy, the Kingdom came to an end.  And so, there were no more opportunities for the Sadducees’ wheeling and dealing, and consequently, they disappeared.

Going back to today’s gospel, Jesus told the Sadducees had it all wrong.  Their distorted view led them to miss the point – God is a God of the living and not of the dead.

In today’s story we find Jesus challenging the Sadducees’ assumptions and by reframing the conversation, Jesus invited them to see beyond literal interpretations and rigid traditions.

Jesus emphasized that God’s promises go beyond human limitations, offering hope and life that endures beyond earthly categories.

Accordingly, Jesus encouraged his listeners—and us today—to seek a broader, more gracious vision, one that recognizes the presence of God in every moment, in every place, and in every face we encounter.

Just as “The Bean” reveals new perspectives with every glance, faith invites us to look again, to be open to transformation, and to discover the living God at work among us.  Our challenge is to resist clinging to comfortable distortions and instead to embrace God’s perspective.

And here is my take.  It doesn’t matter where you stand in front of The Bean.  Wherever you stand at look at it you will always be at the center of the reflection.

Let me suggest that such is the way that God looks at us.  We are at the center – You are at the center.  Everything else kind of fades away. 

Therefore, you are never a burden to a God.  A God who chose to send His very own Son so that in Him you may get close enough to God as to be fully embraced in his everlasting arms.

If things do not go as you were expecting or your circumstances don’t appear to change, or worse, they tend to get worse, please be assured that you have not been placed on hold because God is taking care of something else in a galaxy far away.  Like in The Bean, you are always at the center of God’s gaze.

If things do not change, it is not because God is taking a nap.  You are God’s all and everything, and if the circumstances do not change, for sure God will strengthen you so that you may stand firm by God’s power and grace.  And that in the end, as Job tells us, “You shall see God on your side.”

Therefore, when you feel unseen or overwhelmed, remember that God’s attention never wavers away from you.  In all and every circumstance you still remain deeply valued and cherished.

My friends – God’s love is steadfast.  Trust God, place your hope in Jesus, and when the going gets tough, just lift your eyes and you will see Jesus by your side.  And Jesus will stick with you until kingdom come.

Fr. Gustavo