Saturday of the Third Week of Easter
Easter • Sermon • Submitted
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· 1 viewWe will have hard sayings or experiences, but they are not cause for turning away from Jesus but for reaffirming our commitment to Him. Once we know who he is, we can allow the him to grant us through the Spirit to find Spirit and life in those issues that need transrational understanding.
Notes
Transcript
Title
Title
Hard Sayings
Outline
Outline
Some things I understand very well in Scripture, but they are “hard things” - I struggle with them
Some things I understand very well in Scripture, but they are “hard things” - I struggle with them
I wrote a third of the book Hard Sayings of the Bible, but while the sayings were all hard for someone, not all is equally hard for me
Hell is a “hard thing” in scripture, both in imagining it, since a different terminology is used, and in the painful thought of eternal separation from life
The binding of Isaac is a “hard thing” in that I get the test of trust and the cultural context, but it is hard to put that with the all-knowing God and the re-structured relationship between father and son that ensued
We all have our lists, and in our cases surely none of our lists are turning us away from Jesus - “to whom shall we go, for you have the words of eternal life?” - but they do turn some away. For us it is more, “Questions I want to ask when I see Jesus” only I suspect I will never ask them, for the experience will obviate all questions.
Jesus gives us his response to hard sayings
Jesus gives us his response to hard sayings
Jesus has fed the 5000
The next day he transitions the discussion from earthly bread to “bread from heaven” using a play on the Hebrew natan - noten.
The people want the bread from heaven, but balk at the idea that he is the bread from heaven that is being constantly given to them.
It gets worse when he says that they must eat his flesh and drink his blood - And he does not back down at their offense, but instead rubs it in
Jesus gives two responses:
Jesus gives two responses:
“what if you were to see the Son of man ascending where he was before?”
In other words, do you really trust in me? Do you really view me as the Holy One of God come from the Father? You will know by your response to my ascending (which in John includes the cross and resurrection)
“It is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.”
In other words, there are some things that human reason cannot figure out. No scientific test can find special virtue in the Eucharist. Even Eucharistic miracles cannot (quiquam esse, non es corpus Christi)
Those who trust me have the Spirit and the Spirit gives life, makes the words spoken Spirit and life in you in a way that is not irrational, but transrational - so you may not be able to explain it.
Those who did not really trust Jesus as the “Holy One of God” cannot comprehend this and so go, for they lack spiritual insight, while the disciples cannot comprehend this and stay, for inwardly they know it is true.
That, for me, has two consequences
That, for me, has two consequences
First, while I pray that what I say and do will not on the human level be cause for offense, I have to realize that some will walk away - God has not yet granted trust in Jesus, so it is not yet their time - and it is good for me for my trust to be tested by standing to some degree alone
Second, when I struggle with something, I return to Jesus as the Holy One of God and to my trust in him (as I do before the Blessed Sacrament) and I leave it with him. I do not need to understand, for I know him, but I know that in his love when he chooses to take me deeper he will through the Spirit make those very issues Spirit and life to me.
Readings
Readings
First Reading
First Reading
So the Church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was built up; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit it was multiplied.
Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints that lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas or Gazelle. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him entreating him, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter rose and went with them. And when he had come, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping, and showing coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, rise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling the saints and widows he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.
Gospel
Gospel
Many of his disciples, when they heard it, said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at it, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of man ascending where he was before? It is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are Spirit and life. But there are some of you that do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who those were that did not believe, and who it was that would betray him. And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
After this many of his disciples drew back and no longer walked with him. Jesus said to the Twelve, “Will you also go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
Notes
Notes