Word to the Wise
Wednesday, April 18, 2018 - 3rd Week of Easter - Wed
[Acts 8:1b-8 and John 6:35-40]WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2018. WEDNESDAY IN THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTER [Acts 8:1b-8 and John 6:35-40] “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.” [John] These words follow Jesus’ declaration: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” The theme of being the one whom the Father has sent is strong in this passage and reflects the intimate connection between Jesus’ mission and his relationship to the Father. I find it very encouraging to hear that Jesus’ intent is not to lose anyone who comes to him in faith. Here we also see another theme in the Gospel According to John: the platoon the words seeing and believing. This theme will be particularly strong in the accounts of the man born blind [all of chapter 9] and the appearance to Thomas [John 20:24-29]. In today’s passage, Jesus confronts the crowd with its unbelief when he says, “[A]lthough you have seen me, you do not believe.” The old expression “Seeing is believing” is turned on its head. Jesus speaks of the eyes of faith. Tomorrow the discourse will shift meanings in the bread of life. We will move from a purely personal belief in Jesus to acceptance of him as he gives himself to us as flesh and blood. For the moment, it is faith in him as the one whom God has sent that brings salvation. That is our starting point for accepting what is about to come. Stay tuned! AMEN
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