I was interpreting once a long time ago for a group of Deaf
people at a worship service and the closing hymn was “When the Storms of Life
are Raging.” The last verse said “when
my life is but a burden and I’m nearing chilly Jordan” and I signed “when I
become sick, burdened, near death.”
“Chilly Jordan” is a symbol for death.
When the Israelites crossed over the Jordan they arrived in the
“Promised Land.” The “Promised Land” for
us, of course, is heaven. After the
service a Deaf congregant came up to me and said “why did you take away the
Jordan?” I explained that when one is
interpreting in American Sign Language it is translating one language into
another. The truth of the text was
rendered in my interpretation. The
consumer countered that he wanted the exact text of the hymn. Some Deaf people prefer translation and others
transliteration. It is important for the
interpreter to know their audience so they sign in a way that fits their
language preferences.
Perhaps the exact Latin text of the Nicene Creed is what the
Roman Catholic Church is aiming at as they unveiled their updated version of
the creed that will be used beginning this week. Where it used to say “I have sinned through my
own fault” it now says “I have greatly sinned, through my fault, through my
fault, through my most grievous fault.”
Those words are the true rendering of the original Latin, not the
shortened one-liner that has been used in the past.
According to National Public Radio there has been a strong
reaction to the change, some positive and some negative. I think this change, which includes an
unmistakable emphasis on personal admission of sin and the gravity of sin,
should give us pause to think as we enter the season of Advent. What is a more proper preparation for the
coming of Christ than an admission of sin?
Sin is grievous to God and it spills over into self-abuse and pain or
neglect towards one’s brothers and sisters.
Sin separates us from God and from people and it always leads to more
sin and more separation. We are quick to
excuse ourselves from our sins, minimalizing them, rationalizing them, or
blaming other people. In this new Nicene
Creed three times it says “my fault” so there is no getting around personal responsibility
for sin. The ancient writer knew
humanity’s propensity for passing the buck.
As you prepare for the coming of Christ this Christmas of
2011 and as you prepare for the coming of Christ at the end of the age, two
realities that are as sure as the sun, what sins do you need to confess? What do you need to change in your life that
is grieving the Lord? Make a list of
those things before you write a Christmas gift list. Make amends with those you have offended
before you plan a holiday party. Write a
plan for living in a new and Christ-like way before you address your Christmas
cards. Repentance and reconciliation is
the true heart of Christmas. It is why
Christ came. Through his death on the
cross Jesus brings us life everlasting when we cross the
“chilly Jordan” and enter the “Promised Land.”
