“Does this shock you?”
It’s a little hard to imagine Jesus’ words “shocking” anybody, isn’t it? As the very foundation upon which we build our lives, we accept his teachings with a mixture of blind faith (“If Jesus said it, then it must be true,”) historical context, professional commentary and indepth analysis forged over 2,000 years of theological study.
But we didn’t hear them first hand and I can’t help wondering how some of those big “I am” speeches played to his early followers. Did they have the same kind of backlash that John Lennon’s “Imagine” did when it came out in 1971. Although today, it is considered one of the best rock songs in music history, it got a mixed reaction upon its release. Some people loved it. Some people hated it. Some people were strangely comforted by it and I suspect there was that one faction who were still nurturing hopes that The Beatles would get back together.
So maybe Jesus’ words were a little shocking. It’s so easy to take them for granted in 2017, but imagine if you were there? It would seem…weird. Today’s gospel shows what happened the first time the disciples heard the demo of Jesus’ “I am the bread of life” speech, some were turned off by it. I don’t know if they just didn’t get it or possibly thought it was some kind of commentary on cannibalism, but they walked away. I’m sure some thought he had gone too far and I can almost hear a few well-meaning fans encouraging him to go back to the parables and beatitudes, which had gone over so well in the past.
“Your core demographic wants simple statements and folk tales, not philosophical metaphors. If you stick with your hits, you won’t rattle as many cages,” they probably cautioned. “Oh yeah, you may also want to consider cutting your hair.”
I’m joking of course, but somehow I can’t see Jesus following the trends any more than John Lennon would have. You see, true innovators…the game changers…the people who rock the world…well, they are a little shocking. They explode onto a scene. They push the envelope. They call old ideals into question and they challenge your impression of them.
While I don’t equate the Son of God with the slain musician, I can’t help seeing similarities in their styles. Both spoke their truths and got in trouble for it, but they did not apologize for their words. Their careers changed their respective fields forever and as they evolved and changed, they knew some people would not get it and would not be able to follow. They knew some people would jump on board to be part of the trend. But they also knew that only the hard-core believers would take the message at face value, look for deeper meaning and somehow stay the course.
Yes…Jesus knew how to shock the people.
Imagine that.
Today’s Mass Readings: ACTS 9:31-42; PS 116: 12-13, 14-15, 16-17; JN 6:60-69
