Gone Too Far

The Gospel for this past Sunday was the fifth in a series about Jesus as bread of life. In this reading, Jesus shocks some good Jews and God-fearers in the synagogue by proclaiming that unless one eats his flesh and drinks his blood, that one cannot have eternal life.

This is a scandalous saying on two fronts. First, he's addressing people who have a strict dietary rule against eating human flesh and second, a law against drinking the blood of any living thing. Jesus is, in effect, asking them to overthrow all they have believed in, that is, Torah, and follow him.

Their response is understandable, "This saying is too hard." John then goes on to say that some of Jesus' disciples leave and follow him no more. Notice, it is some of those who have been following him, who have been gladly hearing what he has to say, who have perhaps benefited from his healings and feeding who leave. It's not unbelievers; it's those who have believed in him. But finally, he has gone too far.

I wonder if sometimes when we take seriously Jesus' teachings and are faced with bringing justice to a world full of injustice, of caring for the poor--some of whom seem to neither have interest in caring for themselves nor appreciation for our caring for them--if we don't agree with those who left: Jesus has gone too far. When he expects us to love the unlovable, maybe we find it hard to do because Jesus has gone too far. When he expects us to forgive those who do harm to us, maybe we can't because Jesus has just gone too far. What other reasons can we find for our general unwillingness to graciously accept those who believe differently from us? Loving them would just be going too far.

Wounded, when many leave, Jesus turns to the Twelve and asks if they will also leave. And Peter, God bless him, says, "To whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life." Yes, and staying will cost these men dearly. Maybe that's another reason our ardor is not equal to theirs. That, or perhaps we don't really think Jesus has the words of eternal life. Not sure. What do you think?

Peace,

Jerry+