In the Gospel According to John, at the conclusion of Jesus’ teaching about the bread of life, “. . . many of his disciples who were listening said, ‘This saying is hard; who can accept it?’.” (Jn 6:60)
Probably your reaction and mine to this would be something like that of Peter’s, when Jesus warned the apostles just before his arrest that, “This night all of you will have your faith in me shaken . . .”
Peter protested, “Though all may have their faith in you shaken, mine will never be.” (Mt 26:31-33
Here’s a simple little test for you about some of the hard stuff Jesus teaches. Are you accepting and faithful about:
– Forgiveness. “. . . whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment . . . Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Mt 5:22-24)
– Non-resistance. “I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on [your] right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.” (Mt 5:39-42)
– Love of enemies. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust . . . be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Mt 5:43-48)
– Detachment. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” (Mt 6:19-21)
– Priorities. “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Mt 6:24)
– Trust in God. . . .“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear . . . Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? . . . But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself . . .” (Mt 6:25-34)
– Non-judgmental. “Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.” (Mt 7:1-2)
Jesus summed it all up near the end of his life when he said,“This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (Jn 15:12-13)
This is a curious test to take, because it’s not over until you die. You know when you have passed the test with flying colors? When you have given all that you have and all that you are including your life itself!
19 July 2020