We come at last to the end of our exploration of Jesus as the Bread of Life in the gospel of John (Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Proper 16 (21) John 6) only to find that this teaching is difficult. The way of Jesus asks everything of us and yet is the way of life. Where else could we go?
Dear fellow companions on the way, I have had surgery this last week and find that I am not able to concentrate or sit for very long but I wanted to share my simple and semi formed reflections on this text. I would suggest that you read what I wrote three years ago on these texts for a more comprehensive response. (I shall be back full strength next week I trust)
“This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” And a lot of those who had come to be fed, to listen, and to ask questions stopped following. In what ways was this teaching – that Jesus was the bread of life and needed to be consumed – so difficult? We are not directly told but we can understand why we would have, and do find, the teaching difficult.
Firstly John’s gospel presents a series of scandals including the unfolding scandal that the chosen people of God do not recognise Jesus as the holy anointed one, even when he claims the title of the bread of heaven that will sustain. In John’s gospel of course Jesus also claims that he is true Shepherd, the light of the world, the truth, the way, the life. And yet scandalously he is not believed or understood by many.
And this sense of scandal is only increased by Jesus’ question “Does this offend you?” and describes how he will ascend (with the hint of being lifted up on a cross beforehand – certainly John’s audience would have heard that reference as well). We might reflect that this is where the image of bread, the flesh needing to be consumed, becomes difficult. We are being asked to take Jesus the Christ into our selves and that in doing so we enter into his life, death and resurrection life. (Which is what Paul says in so many ways)
The controversy for us, in so many ways, is that in choosing to follow Jesus and his teachings, we choose to be on the vulnerable side, the losing side, the outside - not on the victor’s side. In an ironic way this is what our text from the letter to the Ephesians makes clear. Whilst we focus on the imagery of the spiritual battle dress of the person of faith it is being written by the one, St Paul, who wields not a sword but ends his life in chains for the sake of this Jesus. And so for those who have eyes and ears it is the same for us, we who choose to follow this Jesus and his difficult teaching, choose to not wield power but to be vulnerable.
Even in Christian nations where we are scarcely persecuted for our faith, we who choose to follow the teachings of Jesus, will find that we are called upon to side with the poor, the marginalised; will be reminded over and over that we are called to a fullness of life that does depend on the emptiness of others; that we are called to humility rather than to be standard bearers doing victory laps. And maybe most of all the teaching is difficult because taking Jesus into our very being unseats our ego from the throne and our sense of control and self interest.
It is not simply that we are to be nice and inclusive and generous – although we are in a sense called to all of these things – but that we are called to empty ourselves out as did Jesus. And this being self emptied is not as a sacrifice or a punishment but as a path of transformation. And this teaching is absolutely counter-cultural, this teaching is difficult.
So when Jesus asks if, given it is so difficult, “Do you also wish to go away?” will we like Peter answer “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” Not the easy or most rational way, but the way of life and love, the way of transformation and fulfilment, the way of being emptied and filled. Where else is worth going, who else is worth following?
Even so, come Lord Jesus Christ, come feed us with your very self.
This is my work informed by all I have heard, read and experienced. I am indebted to the wisdom of others. This week I am especially grateful to:
Cynthia Bourgeault, “The Wisdom Jesus: Transforming Heart and Mind – A New Perspective on Christ and His Message”, particularly chapter 6 Kenosis: The Path of Self-Emptying Love, Shambhala, Boulder, 2008.
Rev. Eric Fistler & Rev. Robb McCoy www.pulpitfiction.com
John T Squires ‘And still more bread: the Johannine remembrance of Eucharistic communion’ (John 6)” www.johntsquires.com
Comments