[ Today's Readings ]
Jesus said to his disciples:
"I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now."
Jesus, you know that we are works in progress. You give us only that for which we are ready. But we think we're ready for a lot less than you actually give us.
When they heard about resurrection of the dead,
some began to scoff, but others said,
“We should like to hear you on this some other time.”
Even if we don't scoff we often put often dealing with your revelation. But tell us this because we can bear it. We can believe it just like Dionysius and Damaris.
What are we missing? We do we try to absolve ourselves of the responsibility to understand what you want to teach us?
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth (see Ephesians 1:7-10).
We have all wisdom and insight to know the mystery of his will. And clearly we don't feel this way. Clearly we would rather say, 'Let me come back when I have more wisdom.' But you are calling us to a greater boldness so that we can have a greater understanding. But what are we missing? Why don't we feel ready for this?
But when he comes, the Spirit of truth,
he will guide you to all truth.
Oh, right. We're trying to understand on our own apart from the Spirit. Even intellectual processes in theology are not merely or even primarily intellectual. They are first and foremost revelations inspired by the Spirit of truth. Our minds are guided by the Spirit and they confirm the logic of his teachings but they themselves are not the source of our knowledge or wisdom.
Head knowledge is cold and abstract. It exists in isolation apart from life and the world. Not so with the knowledge of the Spirit.
He will glorify me,
because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
This knowledge is oriented to glory. We want to see you glorified Jesus. Send your Spirit to us to teach us so that we can see you glorified! We are not like the peoples who need to grope and seek for you. Unlike them we already know that you are not far from any of us. We should rejoice that we are so highly favored. We must then set out to call people everywhere to repent because God has "established a day on which he will 'judge the world with justice' through" you Jesus. Then they too can rejoice. We know this beyond doubt because of the confirmation of your resurrection. Let us find all the shrines of unknown gods in the world today and teach them all, "What therefore you unknowingly worship, I proclaim to you." We can do it because we have the Spirit of truth in our hearts!
Let the kings of the earth and all peoples,
the princes and all the judges of the earth,
Young men too, and maidens,
old men and boys.
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