Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter

 Lectionary: 282

When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he said to them:

“Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.

If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.

I am not speaking of all of you. I know those whom I have chosen.

So why doesn't the Lord choose everyone? The perennial question never goes away. It's the same question the disciples asked of Jesus, "Will many be saved?"

He gave precisely the right answer, "Strive to enter through the narrow gate?"

His was a gentler response than mine, "Who's asking? Who do you think you are that you can ask such a question of God?" 

When Peter asked the Risen Lord about the Beloved Disciple whom we call John, Jesus replied, "What is that to you?" and, "Follow me!" 

When He says in today's gospel, "I know whom I have chosen," we might respond as the disciples did to another of his remarks, "Is it I, Lord?" But a better response might be, in reference to today's gospel, "How do I pretend to be greater than the master?" or, "How do I excuse myself from the sacrifice of the cross? How do I dare to ask God questions and expect an answer?" 

Job dared to ask and was rebuked for it: 

Who is this who darkens counsel 

with words of ignorance? 

Gird up your loins now, like a man; 

I will question you, and you tell me the answers! 

Where were you when I founded the earth? 

Tell me, if you have understanding. 

Who determined its size? Surely you know? 

Who stretched out the measuring line for it? 

Into what were its pedestals sunk, 

and who laid its cornerstone  

While the morning stars sang together 

and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 

I've just sat through another homily assuring me I should not fear the Lord, despite whatever the Bible says. "Our sweet and adorable God wants only to be loved."
Please, spare me the treacly gospel. 

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; prudent are all who practice it." (Psalm 111:10)

Anyone who is not terrified by holiness must have steeled himself against ordinary human feeling. Holiness, might, majesty, authority: all of these belong to the One who has won the right by his suffering and death. 

"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing.”  (Revelation 5:12)

Learning to practice the Fear of the Lord as the Bible urges us, we come to know the enormous worth our God has invested in us. Without that Fear we cannot begin to appreciate God's sacrifice, nor can we begin to practice the sacrificial life the Lord offers to us so freely. It is a truly good life although the world might not notice or care. 

Hearing how the Father loved him and was pleased with him, Jesus fled into the desert and was tested for forty days and forty nights. At the end of that period he could rebuke Satan, "‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test!" and, "The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve."

Those who fear the Lord fear no one else.