There’s a lesson in this week’s gospel that might challenge what we think Christianity is about. At least it seems to defy the popular, American identity of Christianity as being about the affirmation of Jesus, his resurrection from the dead, and the whole doctrinal basis for the church through its creeds and traditions, even to the point of saying specific words as a sure and certain means of one’s own personal salvation. Jesus puts the onus before all this.

He puts in the mouth of Abraham a speech about believing Moses and the Prophets. With their witness, one already has enough to go on to be one of God’s children.

The posture I’m used to seeing in the church is something that vacillates from being way to confident to way too insecure. There has to be something more down the middle, right? Something that puts us in a healthier spot than overconfident (hubris) and underconfident (insecure); more like Goldilocks right level of confidence in what we’re supposed to be doing.

This idea, that we have access to the truth if we just listened to it, however, offers greater security. It’s the posture that makes the most sense. Precisely because it is more humble than hubris and more confident than insecure — but the real difference is that it turns one’s internal camera from inside to outside. We stop obsessing about our own behavior and pay attention to what others can help all of us with.

With this, we are showing a more attentive, loving disposition to those willing to share Christ’s love with us. That is how we might be: in loving and trusting enough to listen.