John 7:14-36
After reading today's passage you have to admit that Jesus is pretty ballsy. He walks right into the temple, starts preaching (like only he could) and starts lambasting the temple elite. Again. Perhaps he is not worried because the people 'in the pews' get it. The people understand, feel and know the truth of what Jesus is preaching. The temple elite however have power to maintain, they have to justify themselves to themselves and in some way they too recognize the truth of which Jesus speaks and it is very indicting of them so they get angry, very angry.
For the most part, people are rather civil in daily relationships. Every once in a while a friend or stranger may say something to you that most everyone else wouldn't dare say. Or perhaps someone says something that is a bit too close to home. Maybe embarrassing. Perhaps indicting. I doubt any offense is intended but truth sometimes stings.
Ideally, we would not be so oblivious to our own behaviour or walk around in ignorance so such things would not happen. Sadly we get so wrapped up in our lives and just 'making it through the day' that there is often no time for prayer, self reflection and any semblance of a search for truth. When I speak of truth it is truth abut ourselves and the big truths, the truths of life, the truth of how valued and loved we are by God. People can go through their entire life it seems and not understand those basics. Perhaps they have found 'truth' in big business, in money or in any other hollow substitutes for what life is really about. These are people who on their death bed lament what they should have or could have done. These are people that often are very fearful of death.
The truth that Jesus was speaking is not a truth born of ... yes, rules and rubrics, one of my favorite expressions. That is why the temple elite got so upset. Speaking truth with no will to power as Jesus did is very unsettling to those with the power. It's unsettling to those who make all the rules that others must follow for their redemption. Along comes Jesus with no will to power and he poo-poo's all the rules. This is very reminiscent of Martin Luther King, Jr. He spoke truth with no will to power and it is very powerful and very unsettling. Like I said, especially those who are vested in the power - in this case it was "the man".
I hope I can tie all this together but here goes, the idea of marriage equality and respect and dignity for gays is something that is gaining much traction in society. That power does not come from some gay lobby. The power comes from the two gay guys in the house next door living good and decent lives, silently and peacefully life everyone else. People see that and it is good. The power comes from your brother, or cousin, or coworker or friend whom you know is gay because they are casually "out" and they live good, decent, caring and loving lives. There is power in that. It rubs some people the wrong way because it undermines all the rules and logic they have vested themselves in. But, the truth is apparent to all who have eyes and are willing to look.
People that get carried away with right wingnut fanatics are those people who long for a simpler day, people that are wrapped up in getting through the day and never take the time to pray openly with God. They are people that can't see the truth about themselves, God or society (the world of people God created in love), because they just are trying to get through the day. They don't see really, they see what other people tell them they are seeing. That is very dangerous.
Take some time and put it aside every day or at least once a week to revel in solitude, in self reflection and prayer. God will speak to you in the silence of your heart. Many people do this and they are happier and more well adjusted for it. It may be going to Mass, walking a labyrinth, sitting on a bench in Central Park, Zen or some other practice. We must divest ourselves of the world's concerns and intrusions and we must be able to reflect and listen to our creator. The truth is there for us to see. It is truth about ourselves, our lives, our God, our neighbors and our world. It is powerful and it is not born of someone else unless that is God and God my friends is all about love.
About the middle of the festival Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach. The Jews were astonished at it, saying, ‘How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?’ Then Jesus answered them, ‘My teaching is not mine but his who sent me. Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own. Those who speak on their own seek their own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and there is nothing false in him.
‘Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why are you looking for an opportunity to kill me?’ The crowd answered, ‘You have a demon! Who is trying to kill you?’ Jesus answered them, ‘I performed one work, and all of you are astonished. Moses gave you circumcision (it is, of course, not from Moses, but from the patriarchs), and you circumcise a man on the sabbath. If a man receives circumcision on the sabbath in order that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I healed a man’s whole body on the sabbath? Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgement.’
Now some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, ‘Is not this the man whom they are trying to kill? And here he is, speaking openly, but they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Messiah? Yet we know where this man is from; but when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.’ Then Jesus cried out as he was teaching in the temple, ‘You know me, and you know where I am from. I have not come on my own. But the one who sent me is true, and you do not know him. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.’ Then they tried to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come. Yet many in the crowd believed in him and were saying, ‘When the Messiah comes, will he do more signs than this man has done?’
The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering such things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent temple police to arrest him. Jesus then said, ‘I will be with you a little while longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. You will search for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.’ The Jews said to one another, ‘Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? What does he mean by saying, “You will search for me and you will not find me” and, “Where I am, you cannot come”?’
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