Friday of the Third Week of Easter
This Easter season, my thoughts keep returning again and again to the women at the tomb who ask each other, “Where is Jesus?” This is such an important question. We find ourselves confronted by a world that is unjust, violent and depressing, so of course we seek Jesus, who has promised us salvation. But where is he to be found?
Today’s texts are meant to astonish people – and in the midst of being astonished we come to realize where Jesus is. Saul’s conversion to Christianity (Acts 9:1-20) following a whole career bent on persecuting Christians always amazes, as does today’s gospel (John 6:52-59) about how we have to eat Jesus’ flesh and blood in order to have life. These scriptures are astonishing exactly because they feature things people would never dream they’d do or say. The people involved in these stories are plainly a bit horrified at the idea of eating flesh and blood, and likewise Ananias is perplexed (to say the least) that God asks him to heal a man who has been so evil.
The key to reading both scriptures, though, is to see Jesus as he asks us to see him. The gospel suggests that the one who eats Jesus’ flesh and blood “remains in him.” We Catholics have always read this scripture as referring to the Eucharist, the way that we remain in Christ. And in Saul’s conversion story, Jesus equates himself with all the believers whom Saul has persecuted.
So we have two very distinctive ways of seeing Jesus in our world: in the Eucharist and in the Body of Christ, the believers. These are, indeed, odd. Most people would dismiss any idea that a crucified man has risen from the dead and now comes to us via bread and wine, and via his followers. Odd, indeed. But can’t God be where God wants to be? God has promised to be in these particular places of bread, wine, and the Body of Christ.
Very odd – and it all leaves us with more questions. How can these things be linked to salvation? The story in Acts shows Ananias protesting to God about how bad Saul is. But Ananias becomes convinced, to the point that when he sees Saul for the very first time, he calls him “brother.” Entire relationships change. This is how salvation happens. Rather than remaining angry at Saul’s persecutions, Ananias welcomes him as a brother. How difficult that must have been, but what an amazing moment that saves at least the two people involved, and eventually, many more are saved!
We should not underestimate the power that relationships have for us. This past week, we drove back to Virginia to the small town where our first daughter was born and baptized. We showed her around town – “here is the baptismal font where you were baptized just like your baby sister was baptized a couple weeks ago…” But mostly we visited with friends there, people who are amazing examples of hospitality and generosity. A couple times during our trip people asked, “Are you here to see family?” We did not see family – at least not in the way that is usually meant. But we DID see some of our family in Christ: people who have nurtured us in our faith. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ, in the ways that so many of you are also.
This week, let us seek Jesus in the places where he can be found, together.
- Jana M. Bennett