In name only?

John 6:60-71

         There is this man named Newt Gingrich, a stalwart of the conservative agenda, pro-life, 'pro-family' and onto the litany of what it is to be a true conservative. One problem though is his personal record in the holy state of matrimony. Not only is it trouble as a conservative but to claim at the same time to be a good Catholic - well, it's laughable.

           When you want to claim something for yourself, in this passage, a follower of Christ, you are called to believe and act a certain way. Not perfect mind you, but give some convincing evidence you are trying. That's not for me to judge really, one way or the other, but it is certainly true. In this passage Jesus has lost some followers because they have the decency to say or know, they are not going to measure up. Part of this of course is the gift of faith but that is not my point.

            Basically you can't claim to be one thing and act as another. The media is full of high profile examples of televangelists gone amok with drugs and/or extramarital affairs.  Politicians who have acted and voted profoundly anti-gay but have been outed as being gay themselves. The same has been true of countless religious. Called to act in a celibate way and they are discovered to have affairs and secret lives. I have sympathy for them in a way because they are called to a standard even Jesus did not demand of his disciples. I could only say that if you agreed to live such a life you should have the decency to live up to it, not live some bifurcated life.  I know it was suggested to me. Married? Clergy? Gay? No need to tell anyone, just be quiet about it. Really? Really? 

              The part of this passage that strikes me the most is the decency these people had to walk away. A poor choice in my estimation but to discern that you will not be able to measure up and to walk away in respect and honesty is quite powerful to me.

              If we are called to a holy celibate life, if we are called to dedicated service, if we called to poverty and chastity then we really have to make a good faith effort to do as we say, walk the walk. The world seems full of people who want it both ways. If anything Jesus is saying if you want to follow me, then pick up your cross. Don't carve a life size balsa wood cross and throw it over your shoulder saying whoa is me.   We really need to have the decency to act in a way consistent with who we are as a person and who we claim to be as a person of faith. 

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.’

Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, ‘Do you also wish to go away?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Did I not choose you, the twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.’ He was speaking of Judas son of Simon Iscariot, for he, though one of the twelve, was going to betray him.