Today we celebrate these two saints who didn’t “get it.” Well, at least it appears that Philip had difficulties “getting it” when Jesus seem to chide him for his statement, “Master, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” “Oy vey! What am I to do? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father…” Now, be honest. Do you get it? Does that not only make sense to you, but serve as the foundation of your belief in Jesus Christ? When we see Jesus on the cross, we see the Father. Get it? Well… Well, we get more chances in this Easter season to “get it.” St. Paul addresses the Corinthians by proclaiming again the story of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and appearances to James and others… in the off chance that they had in fact believed in vain. What I take from both of these passages has to do with the continual purification of our faith, of our believing in Jesus Christ. It always seems as though just when I think I really “get it,” that Life pulls the rug out from underneath me in such a way as to expose my tattered faith. I guess I didn’t “get it.” For example, by May 3rd, God willing, I will have been rector of this Jesuit community for 2 years, 8 months, and 12 days. In the midst of what seems to be quite a few months of encountering, working with, and trying to bear my own weaknesses, much less the ‘whatever’ of my community members, there are days I want to just say, “I quit! It’s all too much to bear!” In some ways, that’s “getting it.” Yet, also in the midst of it all, I’m learning to hand over the care, the healing, the hopes, and concerns for these fine men to God. I feel like I’m being taught in a different way what my limitations are. It’s like God is trying to help me “get it,” to contemplate the Father in Jesus on the cross. Geez, this is tough learning. I think that the capacity to be taught may be the crucial quality of discipleship in our era. What about you? |