April 1, 2008
Fool
Today is April Fool’s Day, and it was once, according to Garrison Keillor’s Writer’s Almanac, New Year’s Day in some old calendar. When January First took over that responsibility, the word didn’t get around so fast, and some kept celebrating New Year’s Day on April First. They were called April Fools.
I am one. I like to think that on rare occasions, I can be, after St Paul or somebody, a Fool for Christ, and this can also be Fool for Christ Day and become a rare occasion of its own. And in this exalted capacity, may I suggest that we churchers foolishly consider adopting this day into our own Calendars of Lets Pretend. We can start the day by everybody taking the Baptismal Covenant foolishly rather than seriously in the hope that it might be realized right before our surprised eyes. Maybe reading it again might be one way.
Like it says, to continue in the apostles’ teaching and all that. And to resist evil just for today, remember you can repent afterwards and return to the Lord if he’ll still have you which, of course, we foolishly presume he will. And then when the rubber hits the road — go tell it on the mountain and if you’re not in to climbing, on the plain will do. Then if you still recognize Christ when you see him (you know, somebody feeding the poor and being kind and unpretentious and not torturing anybody and maybe just listening to you) look for him in your neighbor all the while you’re striving for justice and peace and respecting the dignity of everybody whether they act like they have any or not.
And have a blessed time just fooling around. After all, it’s only for a day, and you deserve it for a change. If you’ve not enough foolishness to pull it off, ask God for some more. She’s used to it.
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