The World View of Jesus

Children’s book author Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) once said, “I like nonsense; it wakes up the brain cells.” Jesus would certainly agree with this statement!

One definition of “nonsense” is “an instance of absurd action.” In the view of much of the world, Jesus’ instructions to love your enemy, seek the lowest rather than the highest place of honor, forgive others, sell all you have, and take up your cross are nonsensical. However, people who follow Jesus’ instructions wake up to a new way of living that is outside the world’s system of power, money, and control. As Fr. Richard Rohr says in his book The Wisdom Pattern: Order ǀ Disorder ǀ Reorder, “Rather than “fighting the system, he [Jesus] ignores it and builds an alternative world-view where power, prestige, and possessions are not sought or even admired.”

Dr. Seuss and Jesus had another thing in common: they used stories to help people gain new perspectives. Through a tale about a Grinch and the Whos in Whoville, Dr. Seuss taught us about the real meaning of Christmas, and his story about a creature called the Lorax helped us imagine a world without trees. Jesus, for his part, helped us expand our concept of neighbor through the parable of the good Samaritan and guided us to see God as a loving and forgiving father in the story of the prodigal son.

In recounting the transfiguration of Jesus, the disciples reported that they heard a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” Apparently, God approved of the “nonsense” that Jesus taught. We should listen and allow the words of Jesus to wake up our brain cells (and our heart cells).