Reflection for 21st Sunday of Year (23 Aug ’09)

Fr James McTavish FMVD

Hardening of the heart kills

Sclerosis is a word derived from Greek which means hard or difficult. It is used in the diagnosis arteriosclerosis to signify hardening of the arteries which can cause heart attack leading to many deaths. In the gospel of today the disciples complain of ‘sclerosis’! Not arteriosclerosis but that the teaching of Jesus is too hard (sclerosis). But what is it that is too hard? The teaching of Jesus or just their hearts? As the psalms remind us “If today you would hear the voice of the Lord, harden not your hearts”. The Gospel will challenge us. There are moments when the teaching may see too hard. Not just hard but impossible humanly speaking. But nothing is impossible for God. Jesus asked “Does this shock you? It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.” (See John 6,60-69).

There is a saying “Love without demands spoils me, demands without love degrades me but love with demands exalts me”. Our love for Christ demands that we respond with an ever growing charity. Our faith promises not only blessings, favours and feelings of consolation but also some challenges. The Canon law of the Church teaches us that Christians not only have rights and privileges but also duties and obligations “to work so that the divine message of salvation is made known and accepted by all persons everywhere in the world. This obligation is even more compelling in those circumstances in which only through them can people hear the gospel and know Christ” (#225). This is not bad news but good news! It is the greatest thing and the greatest project to share the Gospel! As Tina Turner would sing “Simply the best! Better than all the rest”. ‘No business of this world, no dedication, ideal or task of any man can ever give us an idea of the transcendence, repercussion, influence and responsibility which implies the mission of the genuine evangelizer of Christ’ (Rev Fr. Jaime Bonet).

To follow Christ implies a certain hardship and for that reason “many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.” How can this be explained? Thomas a Kempis, a German mystic in the 14th century in his famous “Imitation of Christ” wrote ‘Jesus has always many who love His heavenly kingdom, but few who bear His cross. He has many who desire consolation, but few who care for trial. He finds many to share His table, but few to take part in His fasting. All desire to be happy with Him; few wish to suffer anything for Him. Many follow Him to the breaking of bread, but few to the drinking of the chalice of His passion. Many revere His miracles; few approach the shame of the Cross.”

Jesus even asked the Twelve “Do you also want to leave?”. He valued their freedom and their free response to his love so very much. Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Peter's response to Jesus' question is striking. Father Thomas Rosica notes that “Peter doesn't say, "yes, of course," but he doesn't quite say "no" either. Instead, in good Gospel-style, he answers back with another question: "To whom else can we go?" It is not the most flattering answer in the world, but it is honest. Peter and the others stay with Jesus precisely because he has been a source of life for them. Jesus liberated them and given them a new life. Following Jesus and the teaching of the Church may not always be easy, or pleasant, or even totally comprehensible, but when it comes to the eternal-life business, there's not much out there in the way of alternatives.”

Peter was aware of the greatness and difficulty of the task at hand but also realized that what was important is to listen to the words of Jesus. Even after Peter’s denial the words of Jesus will save him once again. “Do you love me? Feed my sheep”. Let us ask the Lord to be responsible, to be able to respond. Not to be infantile or always asking “gimmee gimmee gimmee” but seeking how best to respond to Christ’s great love for us.

It is not simply a matter to be “good Catholics”. Of course we need to be good but not to use this as an excuse or an alibi to remain as we are. The real sin of omission is not that we are good but that we don’t strive to be perfect. Of course as Cardinal Newman commented “He who wants to be perfect must change often”. Sometimes we just don’t want to change. But seeing our lives, seeing the world around us it urges us to live an authentic Christian life. To sincerely try our best to follow Christ, to imitate him.

And really, Christ seeks not merely admirers or adorers but decided imitators. A well-to-do young man entered missionary life and found himself begging for fruit in a market in Spain. The stall owner scolded him and told him to get a job. The missionary overcame his shyness and told the man that before he was wealthy but had abandoned all to serve Jesus and in service of the Gospel. The man said “Wow, I really admire you”. The missionary responded “I don’t want admirers. I want imitators!”

Let us ask for the grace to follow Christ, to hold onto his word especially when the going gets tough. To be aware that sclerosis kills and what kills our spiritual life is hardening of the heart. To be sensitive to the realities around us. Lord help us not to close our eyes or our hearts to the realities around us. You are the heart expert. Perhaps we should have the confidence and trust to ask him, “Lord, is my heart hardened? To whom? Why?” Monitor us closely Lord and make sure our hearts do not harden. When the way ahead seems hard may we always remain open to you, for truly the words you speak to us are ‘spirit and life’. Amen.