May 2, 2025 Written by 

What Person does not force us to be one-sided?

«Who shall we go to?». Faith, a critical sign (not attenuated)

(Jn 6:60-69)

 

A God on our level? «This Logos is sclerotic» (v.60) - as in: to imagine that the Most High identifies himself to the ‘least’ in everything is an incomprehensible and offensive position.

Can the Eternal recognize himself in a mere son of man?

Like his ministry in Judea, Jesus' last activity in Galilee ends in failure (v.66).

Even the disciples who taste the new Word are disappointed.

Many of the people sought him as a doer of miracles - continuing to be content with the dominant reference points, with the same material bread as ever.

Christ is not for continuing to adapt, but for consistent Nourishment. Here’s the crisis: it’s not lacking when we are faced with serious choices.

The Master had a different interpretation. And the “wedding” drama could not be resolved in comfortable parentheses.

Proposals such as the communion of goods, the choice of last place, the welcome given not only to the neighbors of the clan and so on, overturn the idea of ​​greatness and failure.

 

The question becomes intimate: «But do you also want to go away?» (v.67).

Peter responds in the plural, expressing the Faith of the small group that takes risks, without too many keys of circumstance - and that can be ours.

The Galilee crisis is not a pale historical memory, but a watershed at the center of which we all are - every day. A persistent event, which divides us from easy enthusiasm, but leads the authentic journey.

Accepting this conclusive challenge, it changes the boundaries of the narrow world that entangles the soul, thus the course of existence... even the ambitious one of the disciples who perhaps did not want the inconveniences of another 'kingdom'.

The ranks are thinning, the choices no longer obvious, the voices are many [and so the half measures]. The once safe place is undermined.

Is it worth being consistent? Isn't it better to adapt to power relations or fashions?

 

Faith unites us with the Lord, Listening gives the right position, and the intertwining of natures, human and divine, is produced in the Eucharist.

Deep aspirations lead beyond calculations and the natural order. In us, the incarnation and action of the only Guide who can be trusted continues.

The purity of truth doesn’t break, rather it pours out.

 

Faced with hardship in the desert, the people had doubted the divine presence [«in the midst of us»].

The same were happening in the Johannine communities of the end of the first century, which questioned themselves about the presence of the Risen One in the ‘breaking of bread’.

Some had left the church to return to the «onions of Egypt».

In the area of ​​Ephesus there was no lack of well-being and attractions - guaranteed and sanctified by pagan religiosity.

The same devout life polarized around the economic inducement of the Artemis’ Temple - transformed into one of the major banks of the ancient East - guaranteed a carefree existence and a much more "solid" and showy quality of life than the humble Eucharistic sign.

What could those crumbs were worth compared to one of the seven Wonders of the ancient world?

 

With Jesus there remains only a small group, which however is more intimate - and the right question is asked:

Is it also dignified not to be first in the class, and "winners"?

Who... knows how to value history, and every path, even defections?

What Person does not force us to be one-sided?

 

 

[Saturday 3rd wk. in Easter, May 10, 2025]

573 Last modified on Saturday, 10 May 2025 11:59
don Giuseppe Nespeca

Giuseppe Nespeca è architetto e sacerdote. Cultore della Sacra scrittura è autore della raccolta "Due Fuochi due Vie - Religione e Fede, Vangeli e Tao"; coautore del libro "Dialogo e Solstizio".

Divisions among Christians, while they wound the Church, wound Christ; and divided, we cause a wound to Christ: the Church is indeed the body of which Christ is the Head (Pope Francis)
Le divisioni tra i cristiani, mentre feriscono la Chiesa, feriscono Cristo, e noi divisi provochiamo una ferita a Cristo: la Chiesa infatti è il corpo di cui Cristo è capo (Papa Francesco)
The glorification that Jesus asks for himself as High Priest, is the entry into full obedience to the Father, an obedience that leads to his fullest filial condition [Pope Benedict]
La glorificazione che Gesù chiede per se stesso, quale Sommo Sacerdote, è l'ingresso nella piena obbedienza al Padre, un'obbedienza che lo conduce alla sua più piena condizione filiale [Papa Benedetto]
All this helps us not to let our guard down before the depths of iniquity, before the mockery of the wicked. In these situations of weariness, the Lord says to us: “Have courage! I have overcome the world!” (Jn 16:33). The word of God gives us strength [Pope Francis]
Tutto questo aiuta a non farsi cadere le braccia davanti allo spessore dell’iniquità, davanti allo scherno dei malvagi. La parola del Signore per queste situazioni di stanchezza è: «Abbiate coraggio, io ho vinto il mondo!» (Gv 16,33). E questa parola ci darà forza [Papa Francesco]
The Ascension does not point to Jesus’ absence, but tells us that he is alive in our midst in a new way. He is no longer in a specific place in the world as he was before the Ascension. He is now in the lordship of God, present in every space and time, close to each one of us. In our life we are never alone (Pope Francis)
L’Ascensione non indica l’assenza di Gesù, ma ci dice che Egli è vivo in mezzo a noi in modo nuovo; non è più in un preciso posto del mondo come lo era prima dell’Ascensione; ora è nella signoria di Dio, presente in ogni spazio e tempo, vicino ad ognuno di noi. Nella nostra vita non siamo mai soli (Papa Francesco)
The Magnificat is the hymn of praise which rises from humanity redeemed by divine mercy, it rises from all the People of God; at the same time, it is a hymn that denounces the illusion of those who think they are lords of history and masters of their own destiny (Pope Benedict)
Il Magnificat è il canto di lode che sale dall’umanità redenta dalla divina misericordia, sale da tutto il popolo di Dio; in pari tempo è l’inno che denuncia l’illusione di coloro che si credono signori della storia e arbitri del loro destino (Papa Benedetto)
This unknown “thing” is the true “hope” which drives us, and at the same time the fact that it is unknown is the cause of all forms of despair and also of all efforts, whether positive or destructive, directed towards worldly authenticity and human authenticity (Spe Salvi n.12)
Questa « cosa » ignota è la vera « speranza » che ci spinge e il suo essere ignota è, al contempo, la causa di tutte le disperazioni come pure di tutti gli slanci positivi o distruttivi verso il mondo autentico e l'autentico uomo (Spe Salvi n.12)
«When the servant of God is troubled, as it happens, by something, he must get up immediately to pray, and persevere before the Supreme Father until he restores to him the joy of his salvation. Because if it remains in sadness, that Babylonian evil will grow and, in the end, will generate in the heart an indelible rust, if it is not removed with tears» (St Francis of Assisi, FS 709)

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