RBWords

       We have an expression:  "the awful truth," that we give to a statement that we know is hard to accept.   After reading the quoted many-layered statement of Jesus and then the argument with "those Jews who believed in him" about Abraham, which ends in a near-stoning of Jesus (cf. tomorrow's second half of the episode), we might be tempted to ask with Pilate, "What is truth?"  [John 18:38]  As often happens in the Gospel of John, the audience misunderstands the words of Jesus, which leads to further statements that are deeper revelation!  In this case, the audience grabs hold to the word "free," which leads to the discussion of the sensitive topic of Abraham.  Slavery was a widespread reality at the time (and unfortunately still exists in some forms in our world today).  The audience, for some reason, ignores the period of Israel's "slavery" in Egypt and appeals to their descendancy from Abraham as evidence that they have never been an enslaved race!  Jesus challenges their understanding of Abraham and  tries to move the discussion toward the meaning of "free" that he is trying to communicate - a freedom that comes from knowing him as the truth about God - a truth that his audience refuses to accept and seeks to kill him!  The more "awesome" the truth becomes, the more "awful" it is to the audience!

     These "spiraling" dialogues in the Gospel of John take time and effort to understand but the time and effort are well-spent.  How many of us can handle the "awesome" truth about Jesus, which then requires us to face the "awful" truth about ourselves?  Have we, like the audience in today's dialogue, wrapped ourselves in a historical/cultural "myth" that filters the "truth" in a way that makes it "acceptable?"  How do we understand our particular notion of American "freedom?"  How compatible are our notions of freedom with what Jesus teaches?  Our beloved "Bill of Rights" has been subject to interpretations that lead to incredible violence!  Pilate's question was ironic.  The truth was "staring him in the face!"  We may need to open our eyes as well!  AMEN