This Is Intolerable Language
By Fr. Dexter Brereton
In the Gospel reading this week, Jesus reaches a “make –or-break” point in his relationship with many of his followers. For many it would be the point of no return and St John observes somewhat ominously: “After this, many of his disciples left him and stopped going with him.”
After the euphoria of the feeding of the multitude, the “fete” dissolves in misunderstanding and bitter disappointment. After listening to his teaching some of them remark: “This is intolerable language. How could anyone accept it?” One may think here of our own beloved Pope Francis. He came to the position of Bishop of Rome amid great fanfare and general adulation. Who could forget the acclaim of the (especially liberal) media with his famous statement on gays: “who am I to judge?” and saw in him a champion for the kind of reform or ‘change’ in the church that many wanted to see. But Pope Francis was not so easily pigeon-holed, he was not so easily categorized and continued to stridently proclaim his message about the need for deep reform in the way the world does its business. He continued his bruising critique of the “throw away culture” – that is, a culture in which unwanted items and unwanted people, such as the unborn, the elderly, and the poor, are discarded as waste. He has enthusiastically embraced the concept that human activity is certainly influencing climate change, something which has been resisted by social conservatives. He has stridently critiqued the structure of international capitalism. In Bolivia, quoting a fourth century bishop, he called the unfettered pursuit of money “the dung of the devil”, and said poor countries should not be reduced to being providers of raw material and cheap labour for developed countries. All of this, especially in places like the United States has caused a sharp decline in his popularity, driven by his comments on the world economy and climate change.
As we read in the Gospel many, especially political conservatives have said: “This is intolerable language. How could anyone accept it?” Jesus, in the face of his make-or-break moment illustrates a striking degree of inner freedom. As we read in the Gospel: “…For Jesus knew from the outset those who did not believe, and who it was that would betray him. He went on, ‘This is why I told you that no one could come to me unless the Father allows him.” Jesus knew that in the end, he could not cling to his followers by force or by any means. It was all ultimately in the Father’s hands. Interestingly enough, the U.S. ambassador commenting on Pope Francis’ upcoming visit to the U.S. stated: “I also don’t think he’s reading the polls about his acceptance or lack thereof. I think he couldn’t care less.”
It would seem that the Holy Father is also blessed with the same kind of inner freedom that Jesus had. Some of us have had our own ‘make-or-break’ moments with our blood relatives over issues like politics or who to marry. Many people have had to painfully challenge the rejudices of their own family as they made the choice to marry someone outside of their own ethnic group. To do so was “intolerable language” for their family members. We may have lost friends over our stance on abortion or over our refusal to vote for a particular political party.
Lord we pray for the inner freedom to allow others to disagree with us, especially over those issues that involve our most basic and precious values. Help us to know as Jesus did, that everything is in the Father’s hands and that no one could ‘come to us’ (walk with us) unless the Father allows them. Amen
