Saturday of the Third Week of Easter

Lectionary: 278

Many of the disciples of Jesus who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?”

This third Saturday of the Easter Season brings us to the denouement of John 6, and the decision. Fully aware of the moment, Jesus demands, "“Does this shock you?

What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?" 

The only visible ascension in John's Gospel is his being lifted on a cross. He will tell Mary Magdalene of his invisible ascent to the Father, a mission he accomplishes while she goes to tell the disciples what she has seen, heard, and touched. 

The challenge of his Good Friday ascension will make this one seem simple. And yet our response must be the same, even as we look on the lifeless body of Our Lord, 

“Master, to whom shall we go?

You have the words of eternal life.

We have come to believe

and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

As I minister in the VA hospital I often encounter the patients' particular spiritual challenges, the waiting and not knowing. Some people cannot handle the stress and announce they will leave AMA (Against Medical Advice). Occasionally we hear a "code green" which means we should drop everything and search for a Veteran who may be wandering in his confusion. More often, they're found at home, perfectly aware of where they are and what they have done. 

Jesus's disciples, too, challenged to wait and not know, are sometimes missing in action: 

As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer walked with him.

In the summer of 1962, the Church experienced a tremor as Pope John XXIII called for a Vatican council. Few could imagine what it might mean but many people knew that church councils are rare and there had been none since 1868. I remember my mother's remark, "There will be changes; we must pray that we'll be to make the adjustment."

She did pray and she remained faithful. Many returned their former way of life and no longer walked with him. 

The Church continues to learn and grow as we live in an ever-changing world on a dynamic planet. And we still lift up our eyes to see our Risen Lord raised on a cross.