Avoiding the Issue

Gospel: John 8: 51-59

Throughout the Gospels we find portions that begin with a certain question or issue, only to be entirely neglected in the remaining portion.  Today we have such a scenario where Jesus talks about keeping the word of God.  The religious leaders with whom he speaks changes the topic to Jesus' identity and origins.  How adept we human beings are at avoiding a topic we would rather not address and create an entirely new topic and issue that has no relevance to our lives!

We too avoid this topic of Jesus.  We would rather retreat into abstract theology rather than address the issue of keeping God's word.  When we do attempt to address this issue, we invent a host of things completely foreign to the Gospel: the recitation of some credal formula, membership in a particular group, allegiance to some liturgical form or political agenda.  These become our pat answers, none of which correspond with anything Jesus himself actually did or taught.  

We avoid the issue and create vicarious false answers because keeping God's word is to accept the invitation to follow him.  We would rather not.  Jesus puts us in uncomfortable situations encountering people in dire needs of illness, possession, and hunger.  He bids us to do as he did - to heal, liberate, and feed others - to be agents of mercy and love in the world in very uncomfortable places and situations.  Today let us not avoid the issue, let us not create false answers to it.  Let us follow the Lord Jesus in his example and mission.