April 16, 2005
Belief and GraceJn 6:60-69
Many of the disciples of Jesus who were listening said, "This saying is hard; who can accept it?"
Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, "Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe." Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father."
As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer walked with him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?" Simon Peter answered him, "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."
"No one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father." There is more to faith than my own will and initiative. God has loved me before I was born. My belief in God comes from God first. There is still a free will and I have the choice to respond to that love and have a belief in God or not. It is not my worthiness, goodness or intellect that determines my faith and believe. There are many aspects of being a disciple of Jesus that include acceptance of words and concepts that are difficult to live and follow at times. The Spirit gives the heart and state to receive and follow and the Spirit is from God as gift also. The Spirit is renewing and receieved in different ways especially in the words of Scripture and the act of worship. The reading above is Trinitarian in nature. My full name in community is Sister Joan Irene of the Holy Trinity.
Many of the disciples of Jesus who were listening said, "This saying is hard; who can accept it?"
Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, "Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe." Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father."
As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer walked with him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?" Simon Peter answered him, "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."
"No one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father." There is more to faith than my own will and initiative. God has loved me before I was born. My belief in God comes from God first. There is still a free will and I have the choice to respond to that love and have a belief in God or not. It is not my worthiness, goodness or intellect that determines my faith and believe. There are many aspects of being a disciple of Jesus that include acceptance of words and concepts that are difficult to live and follow at times. The Spirit gives the heart and state to receive and follow and the Spirit is from God as gift also. The Spirit is renewing and receieved in different ways especially in the words of Scripture and the act of worship. The reading above is Trinitarian in nature. My full name in community is Sister Joan Irene of the Holy Trinity.
posted by Joan Morris at 6:34 AM
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