Encountering the Word
When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, “This is really the prophet.†Others said, “This is the Messiah.†But some asked, “Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he? Has not the scripture said that the Messiah is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?†So there was a division in the crowd because of him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not arrest him?†The police answered, “Never has anyone spoken like this!†[Full text: John 7:40 – 53]
Contemplating the Word
The people are in confusion yet again. As we noted in yesterday’s contemplation, confusion can be a regular state of affairs when it comes to dealing with God. The problem becomes even more apparent when trying to work out what it is God is doing (and wanting us to do) here and now. As men and women called to mission, coming to terms with what God is asking of us should be an ongoing preoccupation. Do most of us even give it a second thought?
Of course, a significant problem is always – ‘even if I want to do what God wants, how do I know what that is?’ Because we are not sure how to proceed, we settle for simply doing our best and we live in the hope that ultimately that will be good enough. Perhaps it will be, and perhaps not. I’m reminded of the parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14). The fellow who buried his in the ground was doing what seemed sensible to him, and was found wanting.
That having been said, it has to be acknowledged that some terrible things have been done through the centuries in the name of doing ‘what God wants’. Look out for anyone who stands up and says with certainty ‘this is what we should do…God wants it’. Suicide bombers do what they do because they believe God wants it, and in their minds that is enough to justify the carnage.
The Catholic approach must be different. In humility, we must acknowledge that while we are heirs of the truth as revealed in Jesus Christ, our grasp of that truth is in constant need of expansion and reform. Religious wars and intolerance of those who see things differently have plagued our history too. Discovering what God wants is something we must do together, for our capacity for self-deception in these matters is high.
Our words and ideas falter in the face of God, which is why we are to be constantly open to hearing what other people have to say about God. Not because they understand God any more than we do, but because together we have a chance of feeling our way towards a deeper understanding. Learning to know God is an important component of the journey we are on. If we are to understand and cooperate with God’s plan to work in and through us to reveal his kingdom, we must make our intimate connection with God a central focus in our lives.
Being the Word
For the Catholic, salvation is not simply something that Jesus does on our behalf (that is to say, ‘for’ us). While it starts and ends with that, salvation also involves what God is doing in and through us. We are involved in our own salvation.
This is an ‘inconvenient truth’, and yet, it is the only way to make sense of our experience. Living the life of faith can be hard. On a day-by-day basis you and I are called to take up the cross and follow the one who has gone before us. We do this in faith and in hope, knowing that Jesus’ death and resurrection has transformed everything. But follow in his footsteps we must, for we are to be ‘as Christ Jesus’ (see Philippians 2).
To be as Christ Jesus we must expect that the pattern of his life will be ours. What might this mean? Firstly, there is only one starting point. Like him, we are to be intimately connected to the Father, and our relationship with God is to be at the centre of all we say and do.
Then, like Jesus, we are to speak the truth of the Father’s love through every word and deed. On the surface of it, this sounds nice. But as Jesus experienced, truth and love shine a light into the crevices of society and into the very hearts of people (including ourselves), and that degree of clarity is not always appreciated. And so, like Christ, we can expect to be misunderstood, falsely accused and (in one way or another) put to death. You must be the same as Christ Jesus: take up your cross and follow him.
Spend a few minutes in prayer to the God who is as close to you as your breath. Ponder the reality of God’s presence and contemplate the thought that God has something for you – a plan that is as unique as you are. Don’t worry about what that plan is nor about what you are to do. Your role is simple: sit in God’s presence and wait for him.
Remain silently in God’s presence for as long as you feel inclined or opportunity will allow. Then bring before God any sincere prayers of intercession that you have. Instead of asking God to do things for you, ask that he might achieve whatever he wishes through you.
Finish by praying the great yet simple prayer of praise to the Blessed Trinity: Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
