A-levels

 

Today is A-level results day. Many young people will be celebrating getting into their first choice of university. Through Clearance, others will be offered an opportunity — a degree course, a location — previously unconsidered. For others, today will mark the end of academic study and open the door to a different future, just as valid.

The first-century biographer Luke records Jesus as saying, ‘I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!’ Jesus is speaking of the Holy Spirit, poured out with wind and flame at Pentecost, but not before Jesus will be stretched out on a cross, a Roman soldier piercing his side with a spear.

Luke’s Greek audience would have immediately thought of Prometheus, the titan who, according to Greek mythology, had created the first humans from clay, and who, for love of his creatures, stole back fire for them from the Olympian gods, thus giving the means of technology, innovation, and ultimately civilisation in its broadest sense, for which Zeus had him chained to a mountainside and sent an eagle to eat his liver — which regenerated every night — day after day after day.

For Luke, the stories of Prometheus are a culturally-embedded longing that points to Jesus. To his suffering for love of the human race; and to his ushering-in of the age of the Spirit, along with all the benefits the Spirit brings.

These benefits are not limited to life-giving animation of our spirits; charismatic gifts; and character formation; but also include the skills by which we might participate in the shaping of the world towards creative fruitfulness. Gifts of music and all the arts; of science and technology; of the means to discover more of the cosmos God has created; of architecture and medicine and engineering.

Jesus not only brings fire to the earth, which will be apportioned out person to person; he is also the Clearance officer, by whose gift we are allocated our place: some to this role and some to that.

Today is A-level results day. A day of fire, apportioned according to Christ’s call, for the greater blessing of our and every civilisation. None are left out, regardless of results, regardless of the plans our parents might wish for us and whether we have made them proud or disappointed them. Each young person has measureless value; has a role to play in society. Today, may they know the love of Christ Jesus for them, and something of the meaning and purpose he holds out.