Bulletin August 26, 2012 21^st Sun Ordinary Time B

Joshua 24:1-2, 15-18; Ephesians 5:21-32; John 6:60-69
This is the fourth segment on John’s Bread of Life Discourse found in the 6^th chapter of his gospel.
Many people heard this discourse of Jesus and no doubt the Pharisees, as always in the forefront trying to catch Jesus in His words so they could put the label of blasphemy on Him. By this time in this discourse they must have felt they had enough evidence and felt that Jesus was possessed. So now John talks about some others in the audience, specifically Jesus’ followers, His disciples who had listened and followed Him. Many of them said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it.” They had listened to what Jesus taught, believed in much, but had doubts, and still were deciding whether to stay with Jesus and believe that He was from God or the Messiah or a prophet or one who would free them from the Roman tyranny. This did it; they would leave. Jesus responded, “Does this shock you?” He’s putting the questions directly to them: ‘Have you been listening to Me? Are you willing to learn or do you have preconceived notions about God and what the Messiah will be? So what would you do “ if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before?”
They had only been used to animal sacrifices to God; they hoped God accepted these offerings. Now Jesus is telling them He is God and the sacrifice God demanded was His life to redeem and save all humankind. Then He said that some do not believe and He knew who would betray Him. “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to Me unless it is granted him by My Father.” John then says that many left Him.
How could they have believed? They never knew of anyone rising from the dead…they never imagined that God would ever come Himself to inaugurate the final phase of God’s kingdom. Should they have? Should I believe? I have to put myself in this scene in the roused audience of lovers, haters and uncertain ones. But what have they seen Jesus do; what have I seen Jesus do? Do they discount His words and accept His miracles? Is that what I do? Do I accept miracles or try as some scripture scholars say that they never happened they are just there in symbolic language in the gospels? Am I qualifying the words of Scripture and the words of Jesus to be those I like and fit in with my comfortable life zone? Am I like them and judge because I know that I am right? Should they have believed? Yes!
What does this all mean? What did Jesus do: He demanded an answer right then and there: are you going to leave me or stay with me? He does not allow wishy-washy…decide! That’s what He told the twelve apostles: “Do you want to leave?” Peter was the only one who answered, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that You are the Holy One of God.” I look directly at what Peter said, he didn’t say, ‘I understand what You mean’ but that’ Your words are words of life, whether we understand them or not.’ So I have to decide each day whether to listen to the corruptness of the devil and all his lies, or to ask for the grace to trust in Jesus, to have faith that God’s gift of faith will always keep growing me closer to Him?

‘John, a Devotional Commentary’ has a wonderful meditation: “Jesus had just delivered a central teaching to the people concerning the gift of His body and blood as a source of life to all Christians. The reality of this truth must be as much a part of our spiritual lives as food and drink are to our physical lives. Yet, even Jesus’ own disciples found the teaching hard to understand, and even harder to accept.

John tells us that some of those who listened to Jesus turned away at this point and followed Him no longer. As a consequence, they received nothing more from Him. However, those whose minds were open to God were able to receive the promise of eternal life, even though their understanding of His words remained incomplete. This contrast between those who left and those who remained illustrates an important spiritual truth. A mind dominated by the flesh insists upon understanding before it will believe. However, the spiritual mind will believe even before it has full understanding.

If we try to grasp the truths of God’s kingdom with our human minds alone, we will conclude that the gospel is foolishness. In order to understand what pleases God, we must call upon His Holy Spirit for enlightenment—in prayer, in scripture, and by seeking His will throughout the day.” So I reflect on:

• I have to decide each day: am I totally for God or against Him?
  
• Do I realize that the path to be for Him is the total path of love, all the time and not when it’s convenient or when I want to?
  
• Do I understand the words from Revelation 3:15, ‘I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” My decision is that imperative…and must be lived.
  

Sacred Space 2012 says: “Love welcomes us to the companionship of Jesus. In the enjoyment and the challenge of such love, would we want to go elsewhere? Some did, and the evidence is that their departure from Jesus did not bring happiness.

What Jesus offers reaches deep into all our human desires, joys, tears, laughter, and love.”