Word to the Wise
Wednesday, May 3, 2017 - May 3 - Sts. Philip and James, Apostles
[1 Cor 15:1-8 and John 14:6-14]Jesus said to Thomas, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him." Philip said to him, "Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father." [John]
The "Bread of Life" discourse is interrupted today by the feast of the apostles, Philip and James, but the gospel scripture is still from the Gospel According to John. It is taken from the last supper scene. It features the characteristic "misunderstanding" which enables Jesus to clarify. There are two instances here: Jesus as "the way and the truth and the life," and "seeing the Father" in Jesus.
Part of understanding the whole experience of the resurrection of Jesus is to see the apostles and those who came after them learning bit by bit the meaning of the event and what it says to them about Jesus. Although the scene in today's passage takes place before Jesus' death and resurrection, the telling of the story comes much later and is done with the bigger picture in mind. The Gospel According to John is dated 90-110 A.D.. In other words, much interpretation has occurred by the time the gospel was composed. These understandings were incorporated in the story. Scripture scholars and theologians call this "high Christology." News reporters today would call it a "spin," but if so, it is an inspired "spin."
This whole process took time. If one reads the first scripture today from First Corinthians, one can see from Paul that many people were involved in the post-resurrection events, so there was a great deal of testimony going on. We benefit from more than 2000 years of reflection, but we still have to tell the story ourselves. When we return to the "bread of life" discourse tomorrow, our understanding journey will continue. AMEN
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