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“The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
God said, “I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain.”
-Exodus 3:9-12
I’m something of a cinephile. I enjoy a good deleted scene as much as any good film. Unlike books, more gets cut for time than quality. I recently found a gem from the first Marvel Avengers movie. In it, Bruce Banner, the mild-mannered scientist who sometimes becomes the huge green monster known as The Hulk (think Jekyll and Hyde) wakes up in a warehouse after returning to his human state. A kindly old security guard finds him just before the climax of the film, asking him where he needs or wants to go. The audience is meant to hope he will join the other heroes in New York City and save the world.
Bruce ruefully replies, “I know where I can do the most good. But, unfortunately, it’s also where I can do the most damage.” The old man’s deadpan response is simple. “That’s true for just about anyone, son.” It is. Most of us, if we are at all thoughtful and aware, have experienced just such a quandary. It’s what Dr. Seuss calls The Waiting place. If we go on a mission trip, do we risk injury and illness? If we visit a friend in mourning, do we risk saying the wrong thing? If we volunteer with youth or VBS, do we risk being a bad example or not having the right answers? Who are we to help? Anywhere we go carries risk. Mercy is always a risk. Love is always a risk. We cannot afford to stay in the warehouse. We are called to be where the action is.
The security guard can see in Bruce’s face that he’s hesitant, but that he knows what’s right. He tells Bruce his body will follow what his mind has decided. The body, the Church, will follow where we know we ought to go. If you’re worried you won’t be perfect or good enough, you’ll never head where you’re needed most. In the end, Bruce heads into danger because he’s needed and because he remembers he’s not alone. The other heroes, the rest of his unlikely team of misfits, they’ll be there too. And your ragtag team will be there when you enter the fray. I hope when you are called, you’ll join us. The body is only a body, ready to do the work, when it is fully... Assembled.
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