This Teaching Is Difficult

Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live for ever.’ He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.

 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, ‘This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?’ But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, ‘Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, ‘For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.’ John 6:56-69

Tomorrow morning, or sometime in the next few weeks, children across the country will start a new school year. It's a scary and exhilarating moment for everyone, parents, teachers and children alike. Many parents thrilled with the return of routine while tearing up as the gentle summer time is lost. Children, in new clothes slung with new backpacks, run to join the fray or drag their feet fearful for all that is ahead. And teachers, hope they can be better this year, lose their temper or focus less, and pray for good kids and kinder parents. They all know, from the kids to the adults involved, there will be all sorts of unplanned and unwanted moments. Teaching, learning, and raising children is so very, very, very difficult, even on the best of days.

Jesus is saying some really gritty, gruesome things and the people around him are drawing back. They all want their image of God's love to be something tidy, acceptable and ultimately gentle. Hearing Jesus' words make them very nervous because they smack of their real, lived lives. They want bliss on earth not hard work. Yet real faith is hard work as we all know. Real love is hard work, not a happy slappy, fabled, starry-eyed existence. Loving and raising children calls for fierce love, a love that is disciplined and respectful, ever vigilant and ever exhausted (if we are doing it right). Love, the kind that is eternal is at once freely given and hard won. Love lived out requires are all in, every moment, selfless, exhausted, imperfect selves. God invites us to dive head in to this tough teaching.

Today, I ask God to renew my spirit and commitment to love. May we all, as exhausted and scared as we might be, commit ourselves to the hard parts of loving so that the world might know God's love in the midst of so many troubles and so pain.