Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter

 Lectionary: 268

If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?
No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."

Given the explosion of knowledge, no one can be surprised that there is much confusion and widespread ignorance about "earthly things." As I recall, Sherlock Holmes refused to know anything about the planets. Why should a detective from Scotland Yard study something irrelevant to criminology? 

But many people, especially "experts," dismiss out of hand the spiritual life. They cannot see, taste, touch, or measure it; and its definitions seem imprecise and arbitrary. Why should they suppose we know what we're talking about when we speak about heavenly things? Because we have listened to "one who has come down from heaven," they're inclined to dismiss whatever we say of death, judgment, heaven, and hell. 

During the past few weeks we have seen "the Son of Man lifted up," and we have believed in his heavenly origin, his wonderful birth of a Virgin, his teaching and example; and in his passion, death, and resurrection. Because we believe in him, we also believe we have eternal life in his eternal life. We heard him very clearly command us to, "Do this in memory of me." 

 Our practice of eating his Flesh and drinking his blood has had no small part in our faith. 

And so we know that our flesh and blood must be raised up with Him on the Last Day, whenever and however that might come. That we cannot prove it by any standard of "science" means nothing to us, for the sciences of theology and philosophy assure us: 

What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard,

and what has not entered the human heart,

what God has prepared for those who love him,”

this God has revealed to us through the Spirit.

For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.