20 April 2013 - not our thoughts

20 April 2013 - not our thoughts

“This saying is hard; who can accept it?”

We would like to think that we're past the stage where we question the teaching of Jesus but we aren't entirely.  His thoughts are not our thoughts.  This will always be the case while we are yet imperfectly transformed.  Even so, let us trust him.  When we trust at such times we release great grace in our lives.  Let us not be like the crowd that returns to its former way of life.  

As a result of this,

many of his disciples returned to their former way of life

and no longer walked with him.

Walking with Jesus makes such a big difference and our former way of life just can't compare.  Even when we don't understand what he tells us we can cling to him because we know who he is.

You have the words of eternal life.

We have come to believe

and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

Peter has been walking with Jesus long enough that he can trust him even when doesn't really understand what Jesus is saying better than the crowd that leaves.  When we are tempted to return to our former ways of life we ask "to whom shall we go?"    We don't understand, Jesus.  But we know it is you or nothing at all.   You are the Holy One who alone has these precious words of eternal life. 

If we cling to him even when we don't understand he will be able to work through us to bless his whole Church.

She was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord,

and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit she grew in numbers.

Peter's trust is so strong that he doesn't hesitate when the LORD calls him to heal a paralytic and even to raise the dead.  These things clearly defy merely human understanding but Peter has learned to take Jesus at his word.  Because it is all based on trust there is no room for pride.  That is why he is able to attend fully to the situations at hand and not just the supernatural and exciting parts.

He gave her his hand and raised her up

She is already alive once more but he doesn't leave her on her own after this.  He gives her his hand.  The LORD wants to use our hands to raise up our brothers and sisters as well.  He wants the whole Church to be able to pray with the psalmist:

How shall I make a return to the LORD

for all the good he has done for me?

Now, transformed by love, we can better understand the words of Jesus about the Eucharist.  And so we answer our own question:

The cup of salvation I will take up,

and I will call upon the name of the LORD