If I do not perform my Father's works, do not believe me;
but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me,
believe the works, so that you may realize and understand
that the Father is in me and I am in the Father."
Then they tried again to arrest him;
but he escaped from their power.
W hen Jesus insists that his opponents should "believe the works I do" he appeals to their experience. They should believe their own eyes rather than what anyone has told them; because they have been told only doctrine.
And doctrines, over time, can be corrupted by misreadings, diluted by alien notions from other religions and human philosophy, or misinterpreted by the changed meaning of words. Doctrines become frail and brittle over time and must be continually reconsidered and strengthened by graced experience. We know what resurrection means because hope, vitality, and courage have called us from the dead many times. Despite our own unworthy sinfulness, we know the Lord has never abandoned us because we have found strength, hope, and courage in prayer time after time. And if we have known long periods of God's apparent absence, we have discovered they were often brought on by our pigheaded failure to turn and return to the Lord.
The Jews in today's reading oppose Jesus because he speaks from his personal knowledge of God his Father; and their religion has rarely spoken of God as a father, nor have they known his loving attention. With their minds continually fixed on reciting the standard doctrines of religion and insistently teaching others what they had learned by rote, they had no patience with one who knew God as a father. That persistent rehearsal of brittle teachings and frozen attitudes caused them to sin against the Holy Spirit; and so long as they persisted in that sin, there could be no grace, forgiveness, or rebirth.
Our faith begins with our experience of God's mercy. It becomes a commitment to the Way the Lord has revealed to us. That is, our convictions are confirmed by the vows of baptism, and then strengthened by a consecrated life, often in marriage, religious life, or ordination. Where our testimony about God's mercy fascinates and draws people to the Lord, our dedication proves our testimony. We lead people to the altar of sacrifice and remain there with them.
Neighbors, coworkers, and strangers should know us as men and women of faith. We testify to it by our manner of life, by our shunning sinful behavior and reflecting grace, by our speech, and our dependability.
They may, at one and the same time, admire and despise us as the Jews feared but could not ignore Jesus. And, despite their insistent disinterest or open hostility, they cannot dismiss us. To use Saint Augustine's analogy, they are drawn to love like iron to a magnet. They know we are here and they know what we represent, and they must deal with Truth's intrusions.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.