Friday of the Third Week of Easter
“But that’s impossible!” Surely this must have been the response of people who heard that the well-known Paul of Tarsus had suddenly become a follower of Jesus. How was it possible that this Jewish super zealot who had broken into people’s homes to arrest anyone claiming to follow The Way had been totally changed? History has provided the proof. It must have been mind-bending. And yet the whole experience of The Way, everything associated with the life, death, and rising of Jesus of Nazareth, was mind-bending.
Our reflections on today’s liturgical readings take us to the brink of what we would consider rational and to the brink of what we must acknowledge as faith. Reason can only take us so far and then faith while respecting reason takes us beyond to a further dimension of truth. With the experience of the Paschal Mystery and its alleluias still ringing in our ears, we are encouraged to move further into the implications of our Christian faith.
Is it any wonder that “conversion” becomes the bottom line for the active disciple? In today’s Gospel Jesus declares that doing the Father’s will means he himself must give of his very self in order to become food for his disciples. This calls the listeners to an ongoing “conversion” far beyond conventional wisdom. For some, this was too much, and they sadly walked away. That leaves us standing there! Can we proclaim our “yes” with joy and hope?
Reflection by Fr. Daniel Petsche, OSB
Posted in Article for Easter, Daily Reflections