April 16, 2015
http://usccb.org/bible/readings/041615.cfm
Acts 5:27-33
John 3:31-36
The six verses presented here are the concluding verses of John's third chapter. The chapter opened with Nicodemus coming to Jesus at night because he feared the Jews. And, while he appeared eager enough to receive Jesus' teaching, his understanding was obstructed by his own ideas, ideas which would be an obstacle to his understanding. Those preconceived notions were sufficiently problematic that Jesus would exclaim: "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand this?"
The scene then shifts. Jesus and his disciples have moved to Judea where Jesus' disciples resumes baptizing. But, back at the site where John is baptizing, John's disciples are dismayed. "Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you bore witness, here he is, baptizing, and all are going over to him." John replies with a simplicity of understanding which was beyond the mindset of Nicodemus. "He must increase, and I must decrease."
At this point we arrive at today's reading. It makes little difference as to who is the source of these words, for ultimately they are the words of God's Spirit instructing the reader.
The one who comes from above.
Is above all.
He testifies to what he has seen and heard.
Since he comes from God he speaks the words of God.
And God has handed everything over to him.
The statement is balanced with the following
The one who is of earth.
Speaks of earthly things according to earthly standards.
He does not accept the testimony that comes from above.
Nor does he believe in the one who gives the testimony.
Consequently, he will not see life.
This teaching from John is played out in real life in the passage from the Acts of the Apostles; but, once again, we are presented with the tail end of the larger scene. A quick summary of the previous verses will put today's incident into context.
"Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the Apostles.
"A large number of people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered, bringing the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.
"The high priest rose up and all his companions, [they were] filled with jealousy.
"[They] laid hands upon the Apostles and put them in the public jail.
"During the night, the angel opened the doors of the prison.
"The next day someone reported: 'The men whom you put in prison are in the temple area and are teaching the people." (Acts 5:12-25)
Here today's reading begins; and the lines of opposition that are drawn are the same as those we saw in the gospel. The authorities had established, preconceived notions about the authenticity of Jesus and the legitimacy of the Apostles. While the Apostles, for their part, made it clear that "they must obey God rather than men."
Miracles manifest nothing to those unwilling to consider any alternatives to natural, physical causes. Resurrection is a laughable fiction to those whose vision doesn't extend beyond the grave. But there really isn't any other alternative. Either Jesus healed the blind man or he did not. He either rose from the dead or he didn't. There is no satisfactory middle ground; and those who would seek to find one by professing the truth of his signs and simultaneously relegating them to the dustbin of the inconsequential are deceiving themselves.
From time to time we've all witnessed amazing natural phenomena. Maybe something as simple as a sunset or sunrise. Maybe something as spectacular as the Grand Canyon or Victoria Falls. Maybe the luminosity of the night sky or one of a hundred other wondrous possibilities. Maybe for us it's a human creation like the pyramids or St Peter's in Rome. Maybe it's a scene of deeply compassionate care or one of beautifully demonstrated love. We see these things and we share them with others because we are so moved by what we have witnessed that silence is impossible.
My faith leads me directly into the midst of controversy. I verbally profess my belief in both the miracles of Jesus and his Resurrection. And I know that such beliefs have consequences. Just look at the Apostles in today's reading; they can't keep their mouths shut. "This Jesus, whom you crucified, has been raised from the dead." Who can keep silent in the face of such wonder.
I have to ask why I am so often silent.