29 May 2014 - engage
(readings for the day, not the Ascension)
So some of his disciples said to one another,
“What does this mean that he is saying to us,
‘A little while and you will not see me,
and again a little while and you will see me,’
and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?”
Why don't they ask Jesus directly? He just told them that they aren't ready to bear everything he wants to say. Fine. But is that an excuse to not even try to understand? Apparently not always. Jesus has more to explain here.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices;
you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.”
Yet even with that said there is something here which the disciples aren't ready to bear yet. They have to experience the Paschal Mystery, have to see the death and the resurrection of Jesus, in order to understand more fully. Even so, it is important that they keep trying to understand leading up to that pivotal event. It is important because doing so helps to build up their hearts in hope. They are able to look back at this partial understanding and remember it in the midst of their grief. Jesus tells them that their will be grief. Then when the grief comes they can remember that he also says it will become joy. This is hope to which they can cling.
We see hope fulfilled in the resurrection of Jesus. And this teaches us how to relate to the Ascension. Jesus is also talking about the Ascension when he says, "A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me". But now that Jesus is risen we know even better how he fulfills our hope. We can now live the time after he ascends waiting in joyful hope for his second coming (and his daily coming into our lives). Our understanding is a work in progress. Our faith, our hope, and our charity need the constant input and inspiration that Jesus wants to give. We must stay engaged even when we don't understand everything right away. When Jesus has more to tell us that we cannot bear we should still stay in constant contact with him so that we don't miss the things he has to say which we can.
Paul himself is famous for his dramatic all-at-once conversion. Yet even with Paul it is a process. He is first blinded for three days before Jesus sends a follower to heal him. He too must enter in to the three days of Jesus' passion in order to bear the message which Jesus entrusts to him. And even after this his ministry is marked with opportunities to grow in understanding, such as when he goes to Jerusalem to get the official fellowship and support of the Church there. The first time which he enters into the passion of the LORD, when he is blinded, is not the last. We remember the "thorn" in his flesh which the LORD does not remove. He learns instead that God's grace is sufficient for him. Because he is able to stay engaged with Jesus like this Jesus is able to use him so effectively. Even hardships and roadblocks don't stop his efforts at evangelism.
When they opposed him and reviled him,
he shook out his garments and said to them,
“Your blood be on your heads!
I am clear of responsibility.
From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
And because he continues his efforts he bears fruit for the kingdom, fruit that will last.
Crispus, the synagogue official, came to believe in the Lord
along with his entire household, and many of the Corinthians
who heard believed and were baptized.
The Lord wants to use us to reveal his saving power to the nations just as he uses Paul. To do so effectively we must stay engaged with him. We must let him refine us like gold in fire, to sharpen us like swords, so that the truth of the gospel can be seen clearly in us. His words are meant to cut to the heart. But before they can he must clean the cobwebs that cover them in us. Once they are clean they become a joyful song which we cannot hide.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
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